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How Often Should You Weigh Your Cat?

By Sorin Vasiliu6 min read

One Texas A&M vet recommends weighing your cat at least once a month, "to catch any upward or downward trends early." VCA Animal Hospitals suggests at least every two months for senior cats. Advice varies, so ask your vet what suits your cat, and use the same scale each time.

Why a small number can matter

The 2021 AAFP senior care guidelines make the point: "Petite cats may not change much in absolute terms, but a proportional change could be significant."

VCA counts a loss of "more than 10%" of a cat's normal weight as clinically significant. For a healthy 10-pound cat, that's more than 1 pound. The table below is plain arithmetic on VCA's figure, not a separate guideline:

Your cat's usual weight10% of that weight
3 kg (6.6 lb)300 g (0.66 lb)
4 kg (8.8 lb)400 g (0.88 lb)
10 lb (4.5 kg), VCA's example1 lb (0.45 kg)

Don't wait for 10% before acting, though. PDSA's advice is simpler: "Always contact your vet if you think your cat has lost weight."

Your eyes won't catch it reliably. International Cat Care notes that it's hard to see weight loss, or early weight gain, in a cat you see every day. PDSA adds that gradual loss can be tricky to spot, "especially if your cat is fluffy." And as Cornell's Feline Health Center puts it, "cats are experts at hiding illness."

How often to weigh your cat

The sources don't agree on one schedule:

  • One vet's rule for any cat: at least once a month, according to Dr. Ashley Navarrette of Texas A&M's veterinary college.
  • A look-and-feel check: PDSA suggests checking your cat's weight every couple of weeks, starting as a kitten, by looking at and feeling their shape rather than using a scale.
  • Senior cat (over 10): at least every two months, on the same scale, according to VCA, which says weight changes "can be an early indicator of disease."
  • Cat on a vet-guided weight-loss plan: a weigh-in at least every two weeks until the cat reaches its target, according to VCA.
  • Vet checkups: the AAHA/AAFP life stage guidelines recommend an exam at least once a year, and at least every six months for senior cats.

The Texas A&M article notes that cats typically see a vet only one to two times a year, so the months in between are up to you. For a kitten, or a cat with a health condition, ask your vet how often to weigh.

How to weigh a cat at home

Dr. Navarrette says most people can weigh their cat this way: weigh yourself, then weigh yourself holding your cat, then do "some simple math." The difference is your cat's weight. International Cat Care cautions that this "is an inaccurate method which could miss small weight changes," and says electronic baby scales give a more accurate figure. A Cornell vet recommends one for owners of chubby cats.

VCA recommends the same scale at the same time of day, so readings stay comparable. If your cat is on a weight-loss plan with home weigh-ins, VCA also suggests a monthly clinic check to confirm your home scale is accurate.

Check the body, not just the number

Body condition scoring shows how your cat's weight sits on the frame. The AAFP senior guidelines note that body composition changes "even within a constant weight," so muscle and fat checks matter alongside the number.

The WSAVA Global Nutrition Committee chart scores cats from 1 to 9. A 5 is ideal: "Well-proportioned. Observe waist behind ribs. Ribs palpable with slight fat covering. Abdominal fat pad minimal." Scores 1 to 4 are under ideal, and 6 to 9 are over ideal. International Cat Care's obesity guide uses a 1-to-5 scale with 3 as ideal, so VCA suggests always saying which scale a score comes from.

Cornell describes three checks for owners:

  1. Rib check. Run both hands, palms down, across the ribcage on either side.
  2. Profile check. Look at your cat from the side.
  3. Overhead check. Look down on your cat from above.

Watch for muscle loss too. PDSA lists "looking bony," especially around the back legs and spine, as a sign that can come with weight loss. The AAHA/AAFP guidelines add that photos from above and from the side can help owners recognize subtle changes.

When to call your vet

  • Weight loss you can't explain. VCA says faster loss is more of a worry.
  • Weight loss with a big appetite. International Cat Care notes that cats with hyperthyroidism often lose weight "despite having an increased appetite and eating more than normal."
  • Weight loss, muscle loss or a big appetite change in an older cat. VCA lists all three among the signs not to wait on in a senior cat.
  • Steady weight gain. Talk to your vet before you cut back food. International Cat Care warns that sudden food restriction can cause illness in cats.

The AAFP senior guidelines say unexplained trends in body weight, body condition or muscle condition "must be investigated and managed as diseases." A dated record shows your vet the trend.

Keep the numbers in one place

Each time, write down the date and the number, plus the body condition score if you checked it. The AAHA/AAFP guidelines encourage owners to record their cat's behavior in a journal or with photos and video, so changes are documented. The same habit works for weight. Here's how to keep a pet diary you'll stick with.

If you'd like the numbers charted for you, the cat journal in Tamadoggo lets you log Weight Checks in kg or lb and shows whether the trend is gaining, losing or stable. That part is free.

None of this replaces your vet. The scale spots the change. Your vet works out why.

Sources

Common questions

Can I weigh my cat without a pet scale?

Yes. A Texas A&M vet says most people can weigh themselves, then weigh themselves holding the cat, and subtract. International Cat Care cautions that this method is inaccurate and could miss small weight changes, and says electronic baby scales give a more accurate figure. Whichever you use, stick to the same scale each time.

How much weight loss is a concern in a cat?

VCA counts a loss of more than 10% of a cat's normal weight as clinically significant. For a healthy 10-pound cat, that's more than 1 pound. Don't wait for that line, though. PDSA advises contacting your vet whenever you think your cat has lost weight, and VCA notes that faster loss is more concerning.

How often should I weigh a cat that's on a diet?

Follow your vet's plan. For a cat on a weight-reduction plan, VCA suggests a weigh-in at least every two weeks until it reaches its target weight. Your vet may let you weigh at home, with a monthly clinic check to confirm your scale is accurate. Slow matters: International Cat Care warns that losing weight too quickly can cause a potentially fatal liver disease.

Is it normal for older cats to lose weight?

It's common, but it isn't something to put down to age. The AAHA/AAFP life stage guidelines call being underweight a common problem in senior cats, and Cornell notes that weight loss can be caused by medical problems such as kidney failure. VCA lists weight loss and muscle loss among the signs not to wait on in a senior cat.