Fat cats might be cute, but with an animal this small, even an extra pound or two could have a serious impact on their health and quality of life. Sure, some cats are just more… robust, say, than others, but some are unhealthily heavy, and you can usually tell the difference.
So, what is a healthy weight for your cat? Well, according to the experts and as you probably expect, that depends specifically on the breed and type of cat that you have. For example, a small Siamese cat could weigh as little as five pounds, while Maine Coon cats commonly weigh 20-25 pounds at a healthy size. Typically, your vet will tell you if your cat is a little too fluffy for their well-being, but there are also some signs that you will be able to notice on your own.
Ultimately, if you’ve been taking your cat to the vet regularly and keeping up on his or her health over time, you’ll know their ideal weight range. On average, domestic house cats that are of generic or mixed breeds weigh between eight and 12 pounds. Again, some may weigh significantly more, while others may weigh less.
How can you tell if your cat is at a healthy weight just by looking at them? Here are a few pointers:
- Cats should not have a sagging belly that hangs down.
- You should be able to feel the ribs.
- When you look down, they should have an hourglass figure, not be cylindrical or round.
The World’s Heaviest Cat
Talk about a fat cat– the Guinness Book of World Records identifies the heaviest cat as having weighed between 39.6 and 46.5 pounds, depending on which records you check and which information you source. That’s because, technically, Guinness suspended the use of weight in measuring the largest cat and changed the criteria to height and length, instead. It was a concern that people were overfeeding their pets deliberately in an attempt to earn the title.
Most cats aren’t going to weigh more than 20 pounds. Again, however, this is where you’ll need to have them evaluated by a vet. Some cats, no matter how healthy their diet, will just be big cats. Others might gain weight easily, while others will remain small or skinny, no matter how much they eat. It’s all about breeds and genetics, just like it is with people.
Since you’re likely not competing for the title of the world’s heaviest cat (due to the fact that it no longer exists, not to mention the unhealthy factor), let’s talk about how you can help keep your cat in great shape, no matter how lazy he or she might be.
Helping Them Shed Pounds
Usually, the reasons cats gain weight are simple: they’re fed too often or too much, eating the wrong type of food, or they just get bored. How many snacks do you have a week that were sought out of boredom rather than hunger? Cats are the same way. If they’re bored, they’ll eat. If there’s no food, they’ll usually make a fuss about it, and most owners will give in as a means to keep cats happy.
Watch Their Eating
The best thing that you can do is to stop giving in. Put your cat on a schedule and measure their food. Leaving food lying around all day long encourages boredom eating and overeating. It’s the same as if you were trying to lose weight — if you don’t have the food around, you’re not going to eat it.
Make sure that you’re not giving your cats a lot of treats and that they’re not eating a high-carbohydrate dry food. Switch to canned food if you can, which has a lot more protein and fewer carbs and will also have fewer fillers. Putting your cat on a schedule is also a bit easier with canned food as it discourages eating at their leisure.
Make Them Hunt for It
Cats have natural foraging and hunting instincts. Even domestic house cats will enjoy working for their food in many cases, feeling more rewarded for their efforts. They will also eat less than they would out of a bowl that is just given to them. There are special food bowls and “puzzles” that you can buy that require manipulation to get the food to come out. This can help encourage their natural behaviors and curb their eating at once.
See the Vet First
The most important thing to remember is that before you do anything, you’ll want to see a vet to make sure that your cat is in good health. Make sure that the weight issues aren’t the result of a medical condition and that it’s not just a “few extra pounds” that you might be more conscious of than you realize. Just because cats seem overweight doesn’t mean they’re going to have serious health issues. Just remain calm and talk to your vet, because they’ll be able to help.
Some Cats are Predisposed to Weight Gain
Some breeds and types of cats have a bigger predisposition to gain excess weight or be overweight in general. These include cats (and most animals) that have been spayed or neutered because the hormone cutoff can trigger weight gain. Other cats known to gain excess weight include:
- Those who are free-fed and overfed
- Those who have limited access to play and exercise
- Male cats
- Short-haired mixed-breed cats
- Cats that are 5-10 years old and have reduced activity
When to Act
If you feel like your cat is looking a bit on the chubby side, you shouldn’t panic. Just like people, cats will experience occasional weight fluctuations throughout their life. However, if it seems to be increasing or it becomes problematic, you’ll want to talk to your vet right away. In most cases, an extra pound or two won’t be that big of a deal, but it’s better to get a professional’s word for it.
Study up on cat nutrition and keep the information in this guide in mind to help you give your cat the best diet and other tools to maintain a healthy weight.