Is my 8-month-old Ragdoll cat overweight or ideal at 10 pounds?

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!

At this age it is not recommended to put your kitten on a diet. I would just recommend feeding appropriately from here moving forward and your kitten should lose the extra kitty fat gradually as she grows. Also it is nearly impossible to be overweight to the point of causing any health concerns at this age (2 months). Follow the food guidelines on the back of your kitten food bag and also limit the amount of treats she gets. And most importantly, keep her active so that she remains healthy and slim. Best wishes with your kitty Emily. Take care! : )

Hello, thank you for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach. On average, most normal sized cats should be between 8 and 12 pounds. Any cat over 12 pounds (unless it is a large breed cat like a Maine Coon) would be considered overweight. So, Mittens is at the high end of the range already. Based on the photos she does look to be overweight. Due to her body frame I would say 10-11 pounds would be a more ideal weight for her. You just need to cut back on her food. Typically wet food is very high in calories so I suggest you cut that way back or stop giving it all together. My recommendation would be to work with your vet on weight loss if you attempt to get her to lose weight and she doesn't. Sometimes a prescription weight loss diet is needed. Many cats are just vocal - it doesn't mean they are hungry. If you give in to her every time she begs you she will continue to gain weight. Many times it is not food they are after is that they are getting something from you (it's like a type of bonding). You many have to get her an automatic feeder so she does not associate you with food. Hope this. helps. Best wishes.

Your kitty indeed is quite chubby but looks very sweet! I suggest you do not free feed him during the day and reduce his dry food to a 1/4 cup in the morning. You can also feed him canned food only, 1/2 can in the morning and 1/2 can in the evening. Try this for a few weeks. If he does not lose weight you can buy special weight reduction food, however often cats do not take well to this kind of food. Playing a lot with him, throwing paper balls, etc. is also very important (exercise).

Yes, you should definitely cut the food back. If she seems overly hungry when you cut the food back you may need to talk to your vet about putting her on a prescription weight loss diet. Prescription diets are low in calories (so they can eat more of it) and it is very filling (they are high in fiber). If she doesn't lose weight I would be very worried about her developing diabetes. Remember, you need to feed the amount of food recommended on the bag for their IDEAL weight. Ideally she should be between 10-12 pounds. The average indoor cat should have 20 calories per pound so you should only be feeding her 200-240 calories per day INCLUDING her treats.

Maybe. Some cats with very large frames could be normal at this weight. Here is a video discussing body condition scores in cats: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9yRvL8NcfHs Weight loss occurs by eating less calories or burning more calories through exercise. Play is a great form of exercise in cats.

Thank you for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! A cat's weight depends on their breed, but approximately 8 lbs is a relatively normal weight for domestic shorthaired kittens. Toby should have good musculature, without any bones showing through, but you should be able to feel his spine if you press gently on his back.