Is my 14-pound cat overweight, or am I underfeeding her?

These are good questions, and I will try to help you as best as I can. The problem with judging how much a cat show weight depends not only on their breed, but their bone structure as well. Some cats are naturally bigger than others, and what is a healthy weight is individual per cat. American shorthair females can range in weight from 6-12 pounds, so it can be normal for some females to be at Luna's weight or even higher. That being said, however, she may be smaller in frame, and needs to be closer to the middle or lower end of the weight range. I certainly wouldn't want to say she needs to lose a certain number of pounds, and have her be too skinny. It's great that she has lost 1.4 pounds, and if she hasn't been seen by a vet since the summer, it may be that she has reached a better weight (sometimes cats only need to lose a few pounds to reach a healthy weight). I would recommend taking Luna back into the vet for an exam to see if she has reached a healthy weight according to them. Another way to tell is to look at her body condition score. This will help give you an idea of how she is doing weight wise, and the vet can confirm how much more she needs to lose. I will put a link to a body condition chart for cats: http://www.wsava.org/sites/default/files/Body%20condition%20score%20chart%20cats.pdf As for how much to feed her, what you've been doing has clearly helped her lose weight, and I would continue to do that if the vet feels she needs to lose more weight. If she doesn't, then you can discuss with a vet a healthy diet for her. It's normal she will be hungry, dieting is not easy for either humans or cats :-)

If Lulu is at a good weight I wouldn't alter her feeding at this time. If she does start to gain weight then my first recommendation would be to cut out the wet food. Also keep in mind that the feeding guidelines listed almost pet food bags are based on animals that have not been spayed or neutered. So if she starts to gain weight decreasing the amount recommended by a fourth it's also a good idea.

Thank you for submitting your question Nala. The feeding recommendations on the side of the bag are total daily calories. You can divide this amount however you chose. It is important to note that the feeding recommendations on the bag are geared for the cats with the highest metabolism within each weight bracket. This is too much food for most cats. If your cat is overweight, then you will want to feed less. Cats should only have a thin covering over the ribs. You should be able to feel individual ribs. The cat should also have a defined waist from both the top and side views. I hope this information helps!

Zoii is beautiful! It is hard to tell exactly in the picture since she is fluffy, but she doesn't look underweight to me. There are a couple of easy ways to make sure she is at her ideal weight. One is that you should be able to run your fingers across her ribs and feel them without pushing in at all. If you can see them, she is too thin. When you look down on her from above when she is standing, she should have a little indent at her waist. Cats will also normally have a small fat pad at the back part of their bellies (between the back legs). These are all things to watch for so you know you are keeping her at a healthy weight. I hope this helps!

Hello and welcome to Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach. 3kg can be a normal weight for a cat, however this depends on her size. If you can feel her ribs but just barely, this is usually a good indication of a good weight. If you can feel her ribs very easily she is likely too thin, and if you can't feel her ribs she is too fat. Most cats will self-regulate amount to eat, so just leave food down for her. If she is happy, playing, energetic and having good poops, then the food is probably fine. Just make sure she is dewormed and has a product for fleas. Make sure you use a cat product, dog products can be fatal to cats. Best of luck with Noushmc.

Thank you for submitting your question regarding your cat. It is difficult to say if her weight is appropriate without seeing her. It is best for her to see her veterinarian to have her weighed and a body condition score determined. From there, recommendations can be made regarding her weight. Ideally, the spine should be able to be felt, but should not be prominent. I hope this information helps!

Thank you for submitting your question regarding Luna. First off, is she at a healthy weight and fairly active? Or do you feel she is sedentary and may be prone to weight gain? If she is lean, you can feed up to 3/4 cup per day. I would sprinkle small amounts of this pre-measured amount into her dish throughout the day to encourage her graze and not finish it all at once. You can also take kibble from this pre-measured amount and hide pieces around the house. This encourages a cat's normal hunting behavior. If you place kibble on high surfaces she will have to jump. This gives her extra exercise. Change up the hiding places to keep her engaged. If she is overweight, then I would only feed 1/2 cup per day. I hope this information helps!