Is my cat overweight? How to determine a healthy body condition.

It's difficult to say for sure from the picture, but it looks like Phoenix has a bigger belly than he should. We assess overweight animals by assessing their body condition and scoring it based on observations. It's a bit vague, but gives a good idea of how much fat needs to be lost. Below is a link to a guide for scoring body condition. It's best to keep them at a 4-5 BCS, because thinner cats tend to be healthier and live longer. https://www.wsava.org/sites/default/files/Body%20condition%20score%20chart%20cats.pdf For further information about maintaining an ideal body condition, please read the short article at the link below. http://www.petmd.com/cat/nutrition/evr_ct_obesity_in_cats_and_what_to_do_about_an_overweight_cat I hope that helps and all is well with Phoenix.

Sadly, overweight pets are so common that those actually at a healthy body weight may appear too thin to many people. As a general rule of thumb, a dog or cat’s ribs should be easy to feel under a *thin* fat covering, but should not be visible or difficult to feel. Additionally, a dog or cat should have a visible “waistline” with a tuck up in their abdomen. Your veterinarian can assess the body condition scores of to provide a more objective measurement of your pet’s weight, but tools like the [PetCoach Healthy Pet Weight Calculator](https://www.petcoach.co/healthy-weight-calculator/) can also help to guide pet owners at home. Maintaining a healthy weight is crucial to a pet’s health, as obesity can lead to an increased risk of developing heart disease, diabetes and a number of other health conditions.

Your cat looks like a good weight to me. Here is another link that you will find helpful: https://www.petcoach.co/article/how-do-i-determine-if-my-cat-is-overweight/ The chart about the body condition score will allow you to better determine if your cat's weight is good. I hope this helps and please feel free to post any additional questions.

Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! He does look beautiful and well-muscled at least in these pictures. However, determining if he is healthy takes much more than that such as an examination and general lab work. I would recommend you check in with your veterinarian for the yearly exams and have them examine him. Good luck and have a great day!

Have DoReMi examined by your veterinarian. Submit a stool sample to diagnose intestinal parasites which can affect weight and weight gain. Blood work may diagnose metabolic conditions or endocrine imbalances as well. Your vet can teach you how to assess your cat's Body Condition Score (BCS). This, in addition to weighing, can help you get and keep your cat into peak condition. You can follow this link to familiarize yourself with the BCS prior to the visit to your veterinarian. https://www.purina.co.uk/cats/health-and-nutrition/exercise-and-weight-management/assessing-your-cat's-body-condition

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.

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!