Keeping a happy and healthy cat takes some attention and responsibility from you as a pet owner. First and foremost, it is important that you follow the feeding recommendations and give the right amount of food based on your cat's weight and activity level. If you are unsure how much food to give your cat, take a look at our feeding recommendation, which is based on guidelines from FEDIAF.
It is also important to regularly keep an eye on your cat's weight and body condition. However, determining whether your cat is overweight, underweight or in ideal condition can be a bit tricky.
Body Condition Score
WSAVA, The World Small Animal Veterinary Association, has developed the Body Condition Score to help cat owners check the size and shape of their furry friends and get a better understanding of their cat's body condition. The scale is graded from 1 to 9, where 1 is severely underweight and 9 is severe obesity. To assess your cat on the scale:
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Start by looking at your cat's body shape both from above and from the side. Regardless of breed, you should be able to see a waist on your cat from both angles. This can of course be harder with fluffy cats that have long or thick fur.
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Next, feel along your cat's body from front to back with one hand on each side. When you feel with your fingers over your cat's ribs, you should be able to feel them with a light touch, without having to "dig in" with your fingers.
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If you then feel further back, you should clearly feel the waist narrow where the ribcage ends, and then widen again over the hips. You should be able to feel the hips, but they should not be excessively sharp.
Take a look for yourself in the tables below, and if you have further questions or concerns about your cat's health, we recommend that you book an appointment at your local veterinary clinic.
What Body Condition Score does your cat have? 🐱
Where did you find your cat on the scale?
Body Condition Score 1-4
Body Condition Score 5
Perfect, your cat is in ideal body condition! That means you are giving your cat the right conditions in nutrition and diet to stay a happy, healthy cat throughout its life.
Body Condition Score 6-9
Your cat is overweight. If your cat falls into any of these categories, it is recommended that it loses weight to reduce the risk of health problems. Some health problems in cats are closely linked to obesity, such as urinary tract diseases, diabetes and joint pain. If your cat falls into the upper categories (BCS 8-9), a veterinary visit is recommended to get professional help with your cat's weight loss, or to investigate causes of the obesity.