What is the average cat weight

These more petite cats can have a healthy body weight of as little as pounds. Maine Coon cats are bred to have a medium to large body frame with broad chests and strong features, and may have a healthy body weight of over 20 pounds.

The best way to learn if your cat is at a healthy weight is to work with your veterinarian. And through annual checkups, you can ensure that your cat is maintaining their healthy weight into their adult and senior years.

Published: December 06, So, what is a healthy weight for a cat? What Should the Average Cat Weigh? How to Use the Body Condition Score Chart To use the body condition score chart, you will need to physically and visually evaluate your cat.

In addition to diet, make sure your cat regularly goes outside for some exercise. You can also buy food puzzle toys to encourage your cat to indulge their natural hunting instincts whilst indoors. Cats can be underweight for a few different reasons. Sometimes adopting a high-calorie diet can be enough to help them put on some weight. Menu Menu. But there are multiple factors that may change these values, so keep reading while we discuss how to determine the ideal weight for your cat and how to make adjustments so your cat can live a long healthy life.

Very underweight cats need immediate attention. Very underweight cats will have visible ribs that you can see from the side and also from above. The bones around the tail will have no fat covering and are more prominent than usual. The tummy tuck will be extreme, and they will usually have little energy for grooming, hunting, or playing. Underweight cats will have a little more fat than the previous type, but not much.

You will still see rib bones from the side, and they will be easy to feel when you pet the cat, but it may be more difficult to see them from above. There will be some padding on the bones around the tail, but they will still be prominent and easy to see, along with an extreme tummy tuck. Though they are underweight and need food immediately, they will still have plenty of energy to hunt and play and may even choose to hide or run from humans when confronted.

The tail bones will be padded but contoured and visible, creating a waist for the cat when looking down on it from above. Its fur will be shiny, and the cat will be playful and energetic.

Cats in this weight range will live the longest, but it takes the most effort from pet owners to achieve. Overweight cats are easy to find in many homes across America, outnumbering those cats at ideal weight and becoming a serious issue.

You will still be able to feel the ribs of an overweight cat, but it will require a little pressing, and you will also feel the fat. You will see the tail bones are well padded, and the body will bulge slightly towards the back with no hip line when viewed from above. Like very underweight cats, obese cats require immediate attention. These cats are looking at several health issues, including heart disease, diabetes, kidney disease, and more, shortening their lives.

The extra weight will also take a toll on the joints and will make it hard for your cat to climb and jump as it normally would. The added fat can also make it difficult to expand the lungs and breathe normally. Obesity causes health problems in cats, similarly to humans. How much should my cat weigh? Is their spine noticeable? Can you feel their shoulder bones?

How do I get an obese or overweight cat down to a healthy cat weight? Exercise and enrichment are important too Puzzle feeders can also be a great help.

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