My cat seems overweight. How can I tell if my cat is too fat?

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.

It is concerning that Felix is almost 20lbs. He definitely needs to lose weight. You can start by limiting the amount of food being offered and switching him to a weight loss food gradually. Another thing is to keep him active. A laser pointer is a great way to keep cats active. Heavy cats are prone to different diseases. One big one is diabetes. I recommend if you cannot get him to lose weight talk to your veterinarian. There are prescription diets that will help Felix. Thank you for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach!

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.

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.

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

She is most definitely overweight (fat pad can be clearly seen in front of the back legs / below the abdomen). If she has any additional clinical signs I would recommend a blood test to help determine if the obesity is triggered by any medical condition or even if it has caused any problems such as liver issues. I strongly recommend you start a weight management programme such as hills metabolic or royal canin satiety to help reduce the weight (and with it risks of obesity, joint and inflammatory conditions linked with excess weight)

Hello! Felix is quite a handsome boy. From the picture, he doesn't look too slim to me, but I can't say for certain without seeing him in person. He should have a waistline, which it appears he does, and you don't want a fat cat. It's not healthy for him. My best guess from the picture is that he looks really good, nothing to be concerned about, but because I can't say it for certain, you can always have him checked out by a vet to be safe. I will also give you a link to a website that details body condition score in cats. This will help you determine if he's too skinny or not. I hope this helps :-) https://www.wsava.org/sites/default/files/Body%20condition%20score%20chart%20cats.pdf