Average weight of a cat: weight categories and characteristics of breeds

Cats are one of the world's favorite pets, but as more of them spend their lives indoors, they're also putting on weight. Obesity can lead to a number of health problems, but most importantly, it shortens their life. If you want to keep your pet healthy but don't know how to tell if he's overweight, we're here to help.

The average domestic cat should weigh (3.6-4.4 kg.

But there are several factors that can change these values, so keep reading as we discuss how to determine the ideal weight for your cat and how to make adjustments so your cat can live a long, healthy life.

We've divided your cat's weight into five categories to help you determine if your cat is overweight and answer the age-old question: "How much should a cat weigh?"

Cat weight categories

Very low weight

Very low weight cats require immediate attention. It is rare to see a cat in this condition unless it is a stray or someone is neglecting it. Very low weight cats will have visible ribs that can be seen from the sides and top. The bones around the tail will not be covered in fat and will be more prominent than normal. The tummy tuck will be extreme and they will usually have little energy for grooming, hunting or playing. If it is a stray, it will lose its fear of people and will approach you in search of food.

Russia is the most cat-loving country

This is a fact, since more than half of the population of our vast country has a cat as a pet. In terms of this indicator, other countries cannot compare with us, so Russia takes an honorable first place in the ranking. When choosing a pet in Russia, preference is given mainly to cats and dogs. But European countries are not afraid to experiment and buy exotic animals more often. When choosing an exotic, the advice of friends and the Internet will help you, but first consult with your roommates (they will probably be very surprised if they see an anaconda or a spider in the morning). But if your choice fell on a cat breed, most likely, this article was useful to you. Good luck and best wishes!

Underweight

Underweight cats will have a little more fat than previous types of cats, but not by much. You'll still see the rib bones from the side and they'll be easy to feel when you pet the cat, but they may be harder to see from above.

The bones around the tail will have a soft padding, but they will still be visible and clearly visible, and there will be an excessive tummy tuck. Even though they are underweight and need food immediately, they will still have plenty of energy to hunt and play, and may even want to hide or run away from people when confronted. Most stray cats are underweight, especially if they have a large population or it's winter.

Why can a Maine Coon lose weight?

What should owners do if the weight of an adult Maine Coon cat is pathologically low? Especially when a pet that was bursting with health suddenly began to lose weight? The reasons for obvious weight loss may be as follows:

• The presence of parasites in the animal’s body (both external and internal);
• Stress;
• Diet poor in nutrients;
• Hormonal disbalance;
• Sudden change in diet;
• Ailments (diseases of the stomach, intestines, etc.);
• Oncology.

In addition to weight loss, the cat should also have other alarming symptoms, for example, constipation, interspersed with diarrhea due to helminthic infestations. Or atypical and restless behavior when experiencing stress.

Obesity

© shutterstock
Like very low weight cats, obese cats require immediate attention. These cats have several health problems, including heart disease, diabetes, kidney disease and more, which shorten their lives. The extra weight will also take a toll on the joints, making it difficult for your cat to climb and jump as usual. The added fat can also make it difficult for your lungs to expand and breathe normally. You may also notice your cat snoring more often. In a fat cat, it will be difficult to feel the ribs and you will see clear fat deposits in the lower back, face and limbs. There will be no visible waist, a very noticeable round belly area with thick fat padding, and the backside will bulge out when viewed from above.

How many cat breeds are there?

Today there are more than 200 breeds. We are presented with a unique opportunity to see with our own eyes so many different breeds of animals that our ancestors could not see. The direct purpose of the cat was lost over time. Mice and rodents are no longer the problem they once were. Now the vast majority of people live in megacities, in apartments. Apartment owners rarely encounter “uninvited guests,” and residents of private houses easily destroy them using arsenic or mousetraps.

Therefore, pets are bought more for the soul. Parents allow their children to have cats and dogs so that the children learn responsibility and learn to take care of someone other than themselves. And for those who live alone, pets become real companions and friends.

Cat weight chart

Table

Ideal cat weight

Many experts recommend that your cat weigh between 4.5 and 5.5 kg, but this is not always the case. The International Cat Association recognizes over 70 cat breeds, and each breed will have different characteristics, including their ideal weight.

Image Credit: Andrew Chan, Flickr

For example, the Singapura cat is one of the smallest cats and you want it to weigh between 2 and 3.5 kg. The Maine Coon is the largest breed, and females will weigh between 5.5 and 7 kg, while males can be even heavier, up to 10 kg.

However, the Domestic Shorthair is one of the most common domestic cats, and unless you have purchased a specific breed, it is probably a Domestic Shorthair. These cats typically weigh around 10 pounds, but this can still vary and you will need to determine the ideal weight for your cat on a case-by-case basis.

The tallest Savannah cat

Arcturus

His height is 48.4 centimeters. He is young enough, there is a possibility that he will become even taller after some time .
Arcturus consumes 1 kilogram of food per day. From his fame, the owners earned a lot of money, which they used to develop their animal shelter.

Recently, he and his neighbor Cygnus (the cat with the longest tail) disappeared after a house fire. The owners hope that the pets are alive and will be found soon.

Trouble

Trouble, who lived in America, reached a height of 48.26 centimeters and was considered the tallest cat for a very long time.
He is a cross between a domestic cat and a wild African serval. Cats of this breed can grow up to 60 cm in height and weigh up to 15 kg. But Trouble is not that heavy: he weighed only 9 kilograms.

He doesn't like cat food and only eats lightly cooked raw rabbit and beef. The cat was very active and loved various games. Died in 2012. The photo shows a skinny Trouble.

How to Tell If Your Cat Is a Healthy Weight

The best way to determine if your cat is the right weight is to use our picture guide above and do a visual test. There should be no fat deposits on the cat, but there should be no ribs, especially when looking at the cat from above. He should have a shiny coat that requires frequent grooming, he should have a lot of energy, and he should love to play. His breathing should not seem labored and he should be able to jump fairly easily on high stances.

Cats that are too heavy may have difficulty grooming themselves and may develop mats, especially if they have long hair. He will stop trying to jump on high counters and won't run around as much. His breathing may seem labored, as if his nose is stuffy, and he is more likely to snore. Fat deposits will be visible and especially noticeable when the cat is running.

Giant liger Hercules

The cat named Hercules is a cross between a male lion and a female tiger. He is not a domestic cat, but lives with a person and loves his owner very much.
How much does this huge cat weigh? The body weight of this liger is 408.23 kilograms! This is normal for Hercules; he is not obese. He eats 9 kilograms of meat a day.

He could eat about 40 kilograms, but then the weight could reach 700 kilograms. Hercules would not be able to move due to obesity.

This is a very large, agile and active cat. He loves to run and is an excellent swimmer. From the nose to the end of the tail, the length of the liger is 3 meters 70 centimeters. Its height is 1.86 meters. The maximum speed of this cat is 80 km/h.

Hercules has tiger stripes on his body, but a lion's face. His mane has not grown. For many years it has been considered the largest representative of the cat family . There are only 25 ligers in the world. The photo shows Hercules with his owner.

The liger named Sudan is taller than Hercules and is 4 meters long.

What to do if your cat is overweight

Unfortunately, helping your cat lose weight is not easy, and it is far preferable to prevent your cat from becoming fat in the first place. Cats can quickly develop fatty liver disease if you try to force them to lose weight too quickly. Fatty liver disease affects your cat's ability to process blood and can be life-threatening.

However, you can follow a few simple steps to help your cat lose weight gradually.

• Feed your cats a quality food with plenty of animal protein and avoid grains. Avoid foods containing corn and soy.
• Feed your cat 3-4 small meals throughout the day instead of giving her food whenever she wants it.
• Spend a few minutes every day playing with your cat to get her more active. Laser pens are a great way to get your cat to run around.
• Take your cat to the vet for a recommendation.

Posted by Christian Adams An American expat living in Metro Manila, Philippines for over a decade, Christian is a lifelong cat lover and the proud father of two rescue cats, Trixie and Chloe. Both girls used to be among the crowds of homeless people who roam the cities and countryside. Three-year-old Trixie was rescued from a litter found under a neighbor's porch, and two-year-old Chloe was brought home by Christian's young son, Henry, who discovered the crying kitten in the parking lot.

Table of norms and weight deviations for cats of different breeds

Body weight directly depends on the constitution of the animal. Like people, some cats have a slight figure, others can boast of medium size, and still others will initially be quite large. Therefore, before running to the veterinarian, you need to determine, taking into account the breed, whether your pet has weight problems (overweight or underweight).

Table of body weight of an adult pet with a slight build, depending on the breed, weight is indicated in kilograms (on a mobile phone, the table can be scrolled horizontally with your finger):

Table of body weights for cats that are of average build from birth (on a mobile device you can scroll the table horizontally with your finger):

Weight for cats that have a large build from birth (on a mobile phone you can scroll the table horizontally with your finger):