Cat Ideal Weight & Body Condition Score – What Should My Cat Weigh?
Cats hide weight gain under their coats. A quick hands-on score gives a far better target than any breed chart.
Pick the picture that matches your cat
5/9 – Ideal
Ribs felt easily without pressing. Waist visible from above and tummy tucked up from the side.
Why scoring beats the scales
Half of the cats seen in UK practices are overweight, and most owners are surprised to hear it. Cats are small, so a single extra kilogram on a five-kilogram cat is the equivalent of a twelve-kilogram gain in an average adult human. The nine-point body condition scale gives you a reliable way to judge this at home. Five out of nine is ideal, and every point above that is about ten per cent more weight than your cat should be carrying.
What to feel for
- Ribs: stroke firmly along the chest. You should feel each rib with only a thin layer over it.
- Waist: looking down from above, there should be a gentle inward curve behind the ribs.
- Spine and hips: easy to feel but not sharp or knobbly.
- Belly: a loose skin flap (the primordial pouch) is normal; a firm, fat-filled belly is not.
Worked example: a 6 kg cat scoring 7/9
Seven is two points over, so roughly twenty per cent above ideal. Divide 6 by 1.20 and the target is 5 kg – one kilogram to shift. That sounds tiny, but for a cat it is a fifth of their body weight, and it should be lost over six months or more, not six weeks.
Helping a cat slim down safely
- Never crash diet a cat. Rapid weight loss can trigger hepatic lipidosis, a life-threatening liver problem.
- Weigh food and split it into four or five small meals, or use a timed feeder.
- Use puzzle feeders and scatter feeding so eating takes effort.
- Feed multi-cat households separately so you know who eats what.
- Play twice a day, even five minutes with a wand toy, and weigh monthly on kitchen or baby scales.
When to ring the vet instead
Any cat losing weight without a diet needs checking – overactive thyroid, diabetes, kidney disease and dental pain are all common causes and all treatable. Equally, if your cat has gone off their food for more than a day, that is an appointment, not a wait-and-see. Weight-loss plans for cats with existing health conditions should always be agreed with your vet first.
Frequently asked questions
What should a cat weigh?
There is no single answer – a Siamese might be ideal at 3.5 kg and a Maine Coon at 7 kg. Body condition score is far more useful than a target number.
How do I score my cat?
Feel the ribs (they should be easy to find under a thin fat layer), look for a waist behind the ribs from above, and check the tummy for a small primordial pouch rather than a hanging belly of fat.
What is the saggy bit on my cat's tummy?
Most cats have a primordial pouch – a loose flap of skin along the lower belly. It wobbles when they run and is completely normal, even in slim cats.
How much over ideal is each score point?
Roughly ten per cent. A 6 kg cat scoring seven out of nine has an ideal weight of about 5 kg.
How quickly can a cat safely lose weight?
Very slowly – around half to one per cent of body weight a week, and only with your vet's guidance. Crash dieting a cat can cause hepatic lipidosis, a serious liver condition.
My cat is always begging. Will more food help?
Try more meals of the same total amount, puzzle feeders and timed feeders. Constant hunger with weight loss needs a vet appointment to rule out thyroid disease or diabetes.
Should indoor cats eat less?
Usually yes. A neutered indoor cat sits near the lower end of the calorie range, which our cat food calculator handles for you.
Estimates only – not a substitute for advice from your vet.
Last reviewed: 22 September 2026