For every cat owner, the weight of their kitty might be one of their biggest concern. There are different factors that affect a cat’s weight: breed, age, gender, and neutering/ spraying status. But all cats should have an ideal weight for their size and breed; even just a little extra/ reduced weight can make a huge difference in your pet’s health, general well-being and overall quality of life
In order to answer the question “How much do cats weigh?” and more specifically speaking, “What is a healthy weight for a cat?”, let’s take a look at the below information that we have summarized
1. Kitten’s weight
Mother cats do a wonderful job of feeding their babies for a proper amount, grooming them and helping them grow and learn new things from the outside environments. However, a kitten, with or without their mom, should grow steadily at certain rates. If kittens are failing to grow or thrive, this could indicate serious problems with their health.
Kitten’s Weight Chart From 0 days to 16 weeks
In order to keep track of kitten’s weight, you should put your little pets on the scale once weekly, then record the number. The weight range provided in the below chart covers both male and female kittens, which might be useful for you to track your pet’s weight though not all of the little cats fit perfectly into the ranges.
Diet for kittens from newborn to 6 weeks old
Kitten’s digestive tract during this stage is not yet complete, so you should pay more attention to their meals in order to avoid cat diarrhea.
Less than a 1-month old cat is exclusively breastfed. Until cats reach 4-5 weeks old, you now can start training them to eat. Specialized dry food for a kitten is a perfect choice as it has been studied to provide enough protein and vitamins for their growth. Your little kitty should have small meals divided into 5-6 times a day. You can also prepare fresh food with high moisture content for their easier digestion
Diet for kittens plan from newborn to 6 weeks old
2. Adult cat’s weight
As mentioned above, growth in cat’s weight is impacted by many factors, some of them are:
- Sex: male cats tend to reach a higher peak in weight than females.
- Breed: the average weight of common house cat peaks at 8 years old. Among the four famous common purebreds – Siamese, Maine Coon, Himalayan, and Persian – it peaks between 6 and 10 years.
- Sprayed or neutered cats: tend to be heavier than unneutered ones.
Most domestic cats weigh around 10 pounds though the number can vary by breed and size. Siamese cat has a weight range from 8 – 15 pounds, while a Maine Coon can reach 25-pound and healthy. You can check with your veterinarian if your cat is over or underweight, but there are several signs that you can look for on your way – by observing the cat’s belly and ribs.
Source: Petcurean
Diet for adult cats to remain ideal weight
Though weight tracking is essential, there is another important element when assessing your cat condition: health status. If your kitty is underweight, he or she has little energy for daily activity and is vulnerable due to weak resistance. If cats are obese, in the meanwhile, they are more likely to associate with such problems as diabetes, joint disease, and blood circulation. Thus, set up a balanced – nutrition eating schedule is a crucial part of raising your kitty. If you are wondering about “how much should I feed my cat”, here will be useful tips
-> How much should I feed my cat?
A healthy diet for cats should include:
-Water (wet food contains high moisture contents so there might not need water)
-Animal protein
-Fatty acids
-Vitamins and minerals
-Calcium
-Amino acids like taurine and arginine
6 must-have in a cat's diet meal
For pregnant and nursing cats or those that need special care, you should consult your veterinarian and feed on their demand. Also based on the cat’s weight, you can adjust the amount of food on each meal, for example, to increase or decrease by 10 %.
Use full tips:
-> Top 10 fruits are good for your cats
-> 5 fruits AREN'T good for cats
A significant thing found in studies about kitties shows that nowadays, the number of obese house cats is much more than the ideal and thin cat. So how to keep the pounds off? Here are several recommendations for your reference:
- Replace dry kibble with canned, which brings more protein and fewer carb (carbohydrates). Canned food is also a good choice to separate mealtimes for your cat. Many pets gain weight because their owners leave out the bowl full of dry food during the day, so they eat almost the day as well.
- Cut back on portion size: if your cat is too overweight, you should cut down the amount of kibble by at lease 10 – 25% based on his or her status.
- Try food puzzles: make your pets work to earn their kibble as a reward. Many vets have shown that cats are calmer and healthier when their owners play “food puzzles” with them. Cats must roll or manipulate to get treatment out of, which slows down their eating while tapping into their natural instinct to hunt and forage. It is quite simple, you can fill kibbles in a plastic bottle with many small holes, or hide food in compartments of a wine box.
- Encourage exercise: helping your cat more active and burn calories as well as fat. You can walk outside with your cat around 30-45 minutes every day for fresh air, playing with the kitty using a laser pointer or wool roll… Not sure if you notice, these activities also help strengthen the bond between you and your kitty pet.
In conclusion, do not become too preoccupied with how much cats should weigh; instead, the key is to focus on your cat’s health status and if that he or she is happy being your family member.
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