Average Cat Weight: What Is Healthy for Your Cat?
Vet verified. Written by Dr. Linda Simon MVB MRCVS, Team Vet.
A breed average is not your cat's target weight. Healthy weight depends on frame, breed, age, muscle and body condition. Use the scale to track change, then combine it with a veterinary body condition score and muscle condition assessment.
Key Takeaways:
- The average, healthy weight for a cat is around about 7.7 to 9.9 lb (3.5 to 4.5 kg), depending on their height, length and body frame.
- A healthy weight for a cat will depend on their age, size, and breed.
- A cat's weight can fluctuate as they age, or because they have an underlying medical condition. Particularly, if your cat is drastically losing weight, be sure to get them checked by a veterinarian.
Knowing what a healthy weight for cats is takes some practice.
Nowadays, about 50% to 60% of pet cats are overweight, but there are many cat owners that don't even realize it. There is a misconception for many that a lean or toned cat is 'too skinny' or 'underweight', and we are here to bust that myth.
Achieving a healthy cat weight is one of the most important things you can do for their quality of life and their life expectancy. Being overweight is a big contributing factor when it comes to chronic joint pain and the development of diseases, including diabetes and certain cancers.
How much should a cat weigh?
The normal weight for a cat is around about 7.7 to 9.9 lb (3.5 to 4.5 kg), depending on their height, length and body frame.
Most cats reach their adult weight by one year old.
Astonishingly, the average weight of a cat has increased by about 10% in the last few decades.
Average weight for common cat breeds
Published breed ranges are broad and overlap. They can describe a population but cannot set an individual cat's ideal weight. Ask the veterinary team to record the weight at ideal body condition and use that personal baseline.
There's a huge variation when it comes to weight among the different breeds.
What can impact a cat's weight?
A wide number of things will affect the number you see on your cat's scales:
Breed
A large breed like a Maine Coon or Bengal is going to naturally weigh a lot more than a petite Domestic Shorthair.
Genetics plays a big role when it comes to body size and overall weight.
Medical conditions
Contrary to what some owners believe, there are not many conditions that directly cause obesity.
Medical conditions are much more likely to cause a cat to lose weight, and the most common examples of these diseases include diabetes, hyperthyroidism and renal disease.
Age
Kittens gain weight rapidly, but this then starts to level off by about the 6-month mark.
Cats usually reach their adult weight by 12-18 months of age, depending on breed.
Weight loss in senior years is not uncommon and typically indicates that there's a medical issue, such as arthritis or dental disease.
Sex
Male cats are larger and more muscular than females, as a general rule of thumb.
Neutering
Neutering is known to slow metabolic rate and often leads to decreased activity levels.
For this reason, if we don't reduce the calories we give to our pets after neutering, many start slowly gaining weight.
Nutrition
The most important factor when it comes to our cats' weight is what we feed them.
If they're eating calories in excess of what they require, these will be stored as body fat.
How to tell if a cat is overweight
Rather than focusing on the number, it's far more informative to assess your cat's Body Condition Score.
When a cat is overweight:
It'll be difficult to feel their ribs and spine under their fat
They will not have a visible waist when viewed from above
Their tummy will not be tucked up when viewed from the side
They may have a lot of loose skin under their belly
You might also notice that they are less active and jump less
Why might a cat be gaining weight?
For most cats, weight gain is a slow creep that occurs because they are being fed too much and are not as active as they should be.
Some cats overeat due to boredom, stress or anxiety disorders.
Much less commonly, we are dealing with a medical issue such as tumor growth or ascites (fluid build-up).
How to check if your cat is underweight
If your cat is underweight, you'll find that they look and feel more bony.
Their spine, ribs and pelvic bones all become more prominent. They will have little fat covering, and their waistline will be very obvious.
Why might a cat be losing weight?
A cat that's losing weight usually has a medical issue, and some of the more common causes of weight loss include:
An overactive thyroid
Diabetes
Cancer
Dental disease
Liver disease
Kidney failure
Parasites
CIE (Chronic Inflammatory Enteropathy)
How to help your cat maintain a healthy weight
Your first step should be to determine what your cat should weigh according to their age and breed, and what their daily calorie requirement is.
You can then weigh their food portions out each day or use an automatic feeder.
Be conscious that any treats or titbits you give should be included in their daily calorie allowance.
How to help your cat lose weight safely
Planned loss requires a calorie deficit while still supplying essential nutrients. Use a complete-and-balanced food and a veterinarian-set ration; choosing food only because one ingredient appears first does not establish suitability.
Ensure your cat is getting a premium and balanced diet which meets all of their nutritional needs. Ideally, aim for a food that has protein as the first ingredient.
Comfortable movement, vertical space, food puzzles and play can support muscle and enrichment, but faster loss is not the goal. Increase activity gradually and adapt it for pain, age and mobility.
When should you feed your cat less?
There are some times in life when your cat's calorie requirements dip, and they should be offered less food. This includes:
Once they have finished their largest kitten growth spurt
After neutering surgery
At periods of lower activity, such as when in a cattery
If their Body Condition Score has increased above ideal
What do you do if your cat is being fed by neighbors?
It's a common issue for well-meaning neighbors to offer cats treats or even full meals!
To prevent this, it'd be good to invest in a collar which states 'Do Not Feed Me'.
It can also be useful to have a chat with your neighbors or to send a 'No Feed' alert in your local WhatsApp or Facebook group, with a photo of your cat.
Use a body condition score, not appearance alone
On the WSAVA nine-point scale, an ideal cat is generally well proportioned, has ribs that are easy to feel under a slight fat cover, a visible waist behind the ribs and only a minimal abdominal fat pad. Long hair can hide shape, while a primordial pouch is not the same as generalized excess fat. Feel gently and compare the same points each time.
A 6 or 7 out of 9 is considered overweight in the AAHA/AAFP feline life-stage guidance, and 8 or 9 is obese. Muscle loss can exist at the same time as excess fat, particularly in older or unwell cats, so a normal or high scale number does not rule out a nutrition problem.
Never crash-diet a cat
Rapid or prolonged food restriction can be dangerous, especially for an overweight cat, because cats are vulnerable to hepatic lipidosis when calorie intake falls sharply. A cat who stops eating, seems weak, vomits repeatedly, becomes jaundiced or loses weight unexpectedly needs prompt veterinary care. Do not wait for a scheduled weigh-in.
For planned loss, the veterinary team should calculate a starting calorie allowance, identify treat calories, choose suitable food, set a safe rate and recheck weight and body condition. Use interactive play and food puzzles at a level the cat enjoys and can perform comfortably. Change one variable at a time so the response can be interpreted.
Track trends consistently
Use the same scale, time of day and method where practical. Record the date, weight, food in grams, treats, activity, appetite, vomiting, stool and medications. Monthly photos from above and the side can help, but photographs do not replace hands-on assessment. Sudden gain may reflect fluid or a medical problem, while loss can occur with dental disease, hyperthyroidism, diabetes, kidney disease, gastrointestinal disease or cancer.
Trusted cat-weight sources
WSAVA cat body condition score, AAHA/AAFP nutrition and weight guidance and AAHA nutrition and weight management guidelines.
Continue with the cat and kitten feeding guide, why a cat may seem hungry and the Finch & Barker cat hub.