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What is the healthy weight range for cats?

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Question: What is the healthy weight range for cats?

I weighed my cat today, and she came in at 7.8 lbs. She is a Birman breed, quite a dainty little thing. Is 7.8lbs a healthy weight for my pet?

What weight ranges are healthy for different sized cats, or different breeds of cat?

ANSWER:

Answer by BunnuvaSitch
“Healthy weight” actually has little to do with the cat’s weight in pounds, and more to do with the body condition. Having never seen your individual cat, nobody can really tell you if 7.8 lbs is appropriate or not.

Body condition is measured on a scale of either 1 to 5 or 1 to 9. Most veterinarians will assess your pet’s body condition at every visit, and use that scale to decide how much in pounds the cat should weigh.

Here’s a nice little chart I found online explaining the body condition scale in more detail. This particular chart uses the 1 to 5 scale.

http://www.cathelp-online.com/health/bscore.php

As always, if you have further questions, you can come back here, or visit your veterinarian for a check-up and a diet consult.

Answer by RedSox Girl
I was told by my vet the following: A kitten should gain 1 pound for every month up until 8 months. After that, cats gain 1 pound for every year.

However, every cat is different and whereas a Maine Coon cat may be over 20 pounds (this is normal), the average domestic tabby may be 10 – 15.

Your vet will be able to tell you if your cat is at a healthy weight because they will take into consideration the cats age, breed, size and eating habits.

I checked this site:

http://www.birman.org/faq/

And it says:

The Birman is an average size cat (males generally ranging from 8 to 12 pounds, females a little smaller). A Birman has a medium length coat that has a consistency which requires very little grooming. Birman cats are pointed cats (have darker colors on their faces, ears, paws and tail) with white paws. The eyes of a Birman are always blue.

Hope this helps!

Good luck!

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