How much should a cat weigh

One of the things that can cost all of us who have a cat the most is not to be tempted to give him the odd treat every time he looks at us with that sweet little face. It is very difficult to resist, but ... We should do it, since otherwise we would end up living with an animal that has excess weight, which could put its health at risk.

So it is important that we know how much should a cat weigh so that we can have more or less an idea of ​​what physical shape our furry is in.

How to know if my cat is at its ideal weight

Being in good physical shape is not only good for humans, but it is also good for cats, and even more so for them. By having a smaller body, both excess and lack of fat harm them much more.

For this reason, it is very important to know if the furry is at its ideal weight, or if, on the contrary, you must lose weight or gain weight:

If you are obese, you will notice / see the following:

• Your lower abdomen will sway when you walk.
• The bones of the spine and shoulders will be difficult to notice.
• If you look at it from above, you will not see defined the waist.
• When you see him from the front or from the side, you will see that his body has rounded shapes.

If it is thin, you will notice / see the following:

• When palpating the ribs, they are too prominent to the touch.
• If you look at it from above, your waist will show excessively.

What is the ideal weight according to the breed?

Depending on the breed of our friend, it should weigh more or less. To give you an idea, below I will tell you the ideal weight of some breeds:

• Norwegian forest cat: between 3 and 9kg.
• British shorthair cat: between 6 and 8kg.
• European common cat: between 3,6 and 4,5kg.
• Persian cat: between 3 and 5,5kg.
• Siamese cat: between 2 and 4,5kg.
• Siberian cat: between 4 and 9kg.
• Maine coon cat: between 4,5 and 11kg.
• Ragdoll cat: between 4,5 and 9kg.

Starting from this base, you will be able to know if your cat needs to lose a little weight or, on the contrary, to gain some weight. But there is still something else you can do to make sure that some changes have to take place in your furry's routine.

A healthy cat does not have to have its bones marked, but it should not have excess fat either. Ideally, when we see it and, above all, when we touch it, we notice that the animal has a defined waist, and a body with the necessary amount of fat, neither more nor less.

What is the ideal weight of cats according to age?

The ideal weight of cats varies a lot depending on the breed, since for example a common adult European will weigh about 4kg, but a savannah for example can weigh up to 20kg. With this in mind, below we will tell you what is the weight of the cats by age. This information is indicative, and as such it must be used:

• Newborn: 100 grams, up to 115-170 grams during its first week.
• 2-3 weeks: 170 to 225 grams.
• 4-5 weeks: 225 to 450 grams.
• 8 weeks: 680-900 grams.
• 12 weeks: 1,3 to 1,5 kilos.
• 16 weeks: about 2 kilos.
• 18 to 24 weeks: from 3 to 8 kilos.
• Until the third year: if they are giant breeds, they will reach their final weight at two to two and a half years.

Related article:

The growth of cats

How to weigh a cat?

Weighing a cat is not easy. The most advisable thing would be to take it to a veterinary clinic and weigh it there, as they have appropriate scales. It is simply taken out of the carrier, placed on top and controlled that it does not move much. We will instantly know how many our beloved cat weighs.

But of course, at home we cannot put a veterinary scale. It usually takes up a lot of space, too much for the 'little' use that we would give it. So, what to do?

Well, the easiest and fastest (and cheap 😉) is to do the following:

1. First, we take the cat and we get on a scale that we have at home.
2. Then we memorize the number it shows us.
3. Then, we put the cat on the ground, and we pamper it.
4. Then we weigh ourselves again WITHOUT THE CAT.
5. Finally, we subtract the weight that he showed us with the feline in his arms, with which he left us without him. The difference is what the feline weighs.

Thus, if, for example, we weigh 170 kilos with the cat in our arms, and 165kg without it, that means that the cat weighs 5kg.

What to do to keep the cat in good physical shape?

Cats are animals that often give the impression of being very lazy, and for good reason: they spend between 16 and 18 hours sleeping a day! However, in the moments they are awake they must move, walk, run. Daily games have to be in their routine, unless it is clear that they are sick.

And how do you play with them? Always with some toy: aluminum foil balls the size of a golf ball, ropes, stuffed animals, cardboard boxes, ... At first you will have to try to see which is your feline's favorite, but once you have discovered it, make the most of it. Play with him until he gets tireduntil you see him lie down, gasp, or even lose interest in the toy.

In addition, you must feed him only the amount of feed he needs; That is to say, you can give it treats for felines from time to time, but if you give it dry feed in the morning and wet feed in the afternoon, for example, you should avoid overfeeding it. It is best to always leave a full feeder for him, even if he is overweight.

Cats regulate themselves. They eat a little bit several times a day. If it is an animal that is overweight and the feeder is empty, this can cause anxiety and cause it to eat more when it has food, or to be upset or tense the rest of the day. It's much, much better give them a feed rich in protein animal, let them eat when they want, and bet on physical exercise, that is, for the games. And, above all, avoid giving them sweets and other foods.

I hope it has been useful to you 🙂.