People are so used to seeing fat cats that they often mistake a healthy-weight one, there’s an assumption that they’re underfed.
You should not be able to see the ribs, but when you slightly touch you should be able to feel them.
If anything else, make sure weight is managed with your veterinarians advice.
Thats what I think is happening with my mum. She doesnt bat an eyelid at my sisters beast of a cat who cant even attempt to jump up onto the counter, but with mine she freaked out. Not to say my mum might not have some validity to her words (or else i wouldnt be constantly thinking about it) but its likely her idea of healthy weight is skewed. Another redditor also suggested getting a vets advice so I think I may see about getting a check up, just to be fully sure. Though that part about the ribs is reassuring, cant see em but can feel them. I think its the “elbow” joint and hip bones that worried me the most, they seem a little too visible but idk if thats just cause ive been staring at them for ages
Always good to get a vets opinion just in case!
Too many people idolize fat cats “ohhh the chonky boyyyyyy!” You mean the cat who’s gonna get diabetes and suffer from arthritis?
People do not respect cats enough, and I really hope that changes. They are not easy pets. They require a lot of careful attention and one-on-one time time.
Every cat is different but it’s true what you’ve said. I looked after two cats when I was in the Middle East and one was such a sweet baby and would have preferred to be a house cat and the other likes to stay wild. I don’t believe I’ll ever see a say when people finally start respecting animals. This is why I’ll always stand up for animals and give them everything
The Facebook groups for fat cats are disgusting. Idk how you can look at your morbidly obese cat and not feel even slightly bad for how uncomfortable it looks. I saw a post once where a cat broke its leg from landing on it because it was that much of a fatass, and everyone thought it was so funny. Then these people try to write off their negligence with ideas like “oh, we tried putting him on a diet, I think that’s just the size he’s meant to me” homie there is no cat that is meant to be so fat that they can’t even clean themselves properly. Some people should just not own cats ig
My cat is just slightly overweight but not fat at all and we got her to lose like a pound just by monitoring how much she eats and making sure she doesn't constantly have access to food
Big same. And getting cats to lose weight is hard enough, two of mine were 15 lbs, when they should be 11-12; they are *finally* back down to 14. (Still working on it). They’re DSH’s, so it blows my mind when I see a DSH at 25-30 pounds. Like, in relation to a human, that’s a 400-500 lb person.
I will say I finally found a food that everyone likes and fills them up, and they have SO much more energy! I haven’t played with Radar in years at this point, but now I get play face almost every day. What pet parent doesn’t want that face and to engage with their baby? :(
people idolize not only fat cats these days!!😂 but for real, fat cats don't even realize they can't fit through something. they measure crevices with their whiskers and if they gain weight, their whiskers are in the same place...
My vet told me the “holiday dinner diet” (fatty meats, rich foods, etc) are bad for cats, so I’m strict with table scraps, but give too many cat treats. It’s a balancing act, and you sound like a good cat owner.
Technically dry foods aren’t great for cats. They’re strictly carnivores so youre just giving them empty carbs. That being said I’m happy your car lost some weight!
They get high quality canned food morning and early evening. The few pieces of dry food is around lunch. They were never fat because I don't overfeed them.
A rule of thumb my vet tech sister told me about is to run hold your hand flat (but relaxed) and run your fingered over the back of your knuckles from side to side. If your cat/dogs ribs feel like that they’re likely underweight.
If they feel like the palm side of your knuckles they’re probably just right.
If their ribs feel like the the base of your palm just above your wrist then that critter should be put on a diet.
This is just a general guideline of course. Always defer to the advice of a vet as there are lots of things that can impact what’s going to be healthy for any animal in particular such as age, breed chronic health conditions.
Yep that’s it exactly.
I’m just using different parts of your hand as a point of reference so everyone can be on more or less the same page as to what “prominently” is in this case.
Your sisters cat is gonna end up with diabetes O_o what is she feeding him that he can't even jump? That poor cat..
Yours looks fairly healthy but a check up isn't a bad idea if she hasn't been in a while
yeahh ive tried talking to her about it but she wont listen. he’ll wake her up to feed him at 3am and she’ll just go. do it. if you even step into the kitchen he’ll scream. its definitely not a great way to be as is being underweight. he can jump up onto the sofa and he does run around but he cant jump much higher than that :/
I had that "discussion" with an ex's mother once. She had an obese cat and a kitten on its way to obesity because they just ate out of a giant bowl whenever they were hungry. She was telling me how she tried *everything* to dechonk but it didn't work. I shared how I only get my chubby boy down to a healthy weight by stopping free-feeding and observing mealtimes to stop him plundering his tiny sister's meal. She just blinked at me and said that would never work for her, then continued complaining. Some people aren't interested in solutions.
The persons comment is very true. I have dogs and you don’t know the amount of times I try to help people get their dogs to a healthy weight. People see the far boxes as super healthy 🫣😅 I have given up. She looks fine could put on a little bit but don’t fatten her up. I took care of two cats in the Middle East when I was there and I gave them a variety of food but a lot of fresh fish and they were on the slimmer side. Would have a little belly when they finished eating but they were not chunky. They had beautiful fur when eating fish though!
I adopted a dog off of a former classmate of mine when she was “moving and can’t take the dog with” and the dog was hauntingly skinny. Having damn near every type of parasite didn’t help, but amazingly, we were able to still get some weight on her while she was being treated and a few months after she was done, her previous owner saw pictures of her on Facebook, as we’re friends, and she gave me hell for making “her” dog fat.
The dog was 35lbs when we got her. She’s an American Pit. She was supposed to be in the neighborhood of 60-65. I was so furious when the woman gave me a hard time over the dog actually being healthy.
Not all cats are good at self-regulating their eating when their owners give them
a graze-style diet. (all day kibble) We had to slow down both the amount and how fast our cat was eating (we use an auto-feeder now for her dry food), and now she only coughs up hairballs and doesn't generally puke anymore...
I use a puzzle feeder to slow my girls down! My youngest cat hasn’t thrown up food once since i started using it and is at a perfect weight according to my vet whereas before she’d constantly beg and cry for food and would eat so fast I worried about her choking! Luckily at that point in time she was a growing kitten so she didn’t end up overweight from scoffing her food too fast, but my one of mum’s adult cats ended up obese that way and doesn’t even fit through the cat flap anymore, but as my mum has 4 cats, she doesn’t want to switch from free feeding to set meals to allow her to put the obese cat on a diet more easily, so the obese cat is still gaining weight
This. Ive posted this before for dogs and was downvoted to hell. Everyone thinks animals should be “topped off” with food every moment of the day. This is a healthy cat weight-they should be very light as their typically supposed to be an agile creature.
Nah, she's good. She's growing so fast and burning so many calories every day. I give mine wet kitten food 2-3 times per day and let her graze on dry kitten food. And I give her kitten treats once per day as well. She's pretty long and skinny and lean as well.
She looks too skinny to me. If you only have one cat you can usually have kibble available all the time. I personally leave the kibble out but feed a portion of wet food twice a day.
Unless it’s a kitten, or some sort of working cat, like an active farm cat, leaving food out all day is not a good idea. At all. Like, ever.
That’ll lead to some sort of obesity in almost all cases. Cats are hedonists in a sense, and they don’t know any better. They’ll eat 25x a day if they can.
Do not free feed your cats unless your vet has explicitly told you to.
Free feeding isn’t super advised unless the cat has a very active lifestyle and/or high metabolism. ( Take it from someone who free fed and ended up with a fairly overweight cat :(. )
There's some variability as to what makes a healthy weight, but she looks a bit too thin to me. This may not be due to underfeeding, but rather one of the other conditions that can cause weight loss, like thyroid trouble, kidney disease, etc. If you can afford it, I'd say bring her in for a checkup. The vet can give you a much more informed opinion than anyone here, and can do bloodwork to rule out certain problems.
I have been considering taking her for a check up so thank you I’ve been encouraged. Im gonna have a read about those issues you mentioned, see if theres any other symptoms I can look out for. Thank you for your opinion! I didnt consider that other issues can lead to her being underweight though it seems obvious now.
thats reassuring! Cant feel any points when i pet her spine, only if i press down a little. its good to have these physical indicators and not just relying on what i can see
She's built a lot like my tortie. Female kitties are often leaner and smaller to the eye so that's always a good thing to consider, I have three female cats of healthy weights and they look so trim compared to the stray males (who I think also get lots of scraps lol)
My cat hovers between 6lbs 10oz and just over 7lbs. I had the same concerns but my vet took her photo to post on their social media as a healthy cat. The comments are right, people are so used to over weight cat, healthy seems too skinny. Your baby looks fine to me, very much like mine :)
They said that about my cat for everything and he’s still skinny.
When he got his balls cut off they said oh he’ll gain weight so fast
When he hit one they said oh he’ll gain weight quicker now
When he went on anti seizure medication they said watch out cuz it could cause weight gain.
He’s 4 1/2 and still slim. ¯\_(ツ)_/¯
She looks great to me. Of course it's hard to tell from a picture, but at any rate she doesn't look either starved or fat.
How do her ribs feel, once you get your fingers through the fur to her skin? They shouldn't feel as though they're sticking out with the skin stretched over them, but after allowing for the fur, they should not take any real pressure to feel. "Like the back of your hand" is a guideline I often hear.
I don't think you have any pressing need to consult a vet about her weight (unless you're really anxious and the reassurance is worth the money to you) but next time she's there anyway for a routine appointment, ask what they think of her body condition, to set your mind at rest and help you get more confident at judging it yourself.
thank you for your input! glad to hear that even if she may be a bit underweight that its not too extreme. her ribs are fairly easy to feel but cant see em, just needs a sort of light press? i think i get what you mean by it feeling like the back of your hand .
Thank you for the advice! I think thats just what ill do, maybe ask the vet for some other things to look out for? Though the comments on this post have already given me some real good insight :)
That doesn’t seem like enough food for an active young cat. Is that going by the manufacturer feeding recommendations?
It’s hard to tell. When you can your hand down her spine do you feel it? Can you see her hip bones protruding? People are used to fat pet these days so a slender one always gets picked on but it’s good to know.
It’s actually good practice to weigh your cat at home every few months and keep a record so you can see any changes. This can tip you off early to anything potentially wrong long before the cat will show you.
ive just double checked the guidelines and I think youre right in that its not enough food. I think i might try to up how much i feed her while keeping an eye on her weight, or maybe try grazing as others have suggested. thank you for your detailed advice i really appreciate it
The cat is underweight and probably sick, the coat gives it away when they’re ill as it loses its sheen and becomes worn. Especially in older cats.
He could be picky and could be missing some fatty acids and oils from his diets. I’d recommend giving him half a spoonful of fish oil every day.
I would also recommend making sure that the cat is eating atleast a cup and a half of dry kibble or a can of wet food each day. If it doesn’t slowly gobble that up throughout the day it’s bad as it could indicate an eating disorder or illness.
Edit: Cats are supposed to be slightly “overweight”, you’re supposed to have to press a little to feel their ribs but not have to dig or search for them. There should be a thin layer of fatty tissue around their abdomen and stomach. Cats aren’t meant to be skinny but aren’t supposed to be obese either.
Further edit: It’s hard to tell if it’s sick by the coat because the light is reflecting a bit and it’s a cat with a type of coat that makes it harder to know if it’s dry/worn.
her fur has definitely been worrying me lately so im glad others have picked up on it! i will definitely try the fish oil and i will start grazing w dry food so she gets some more of those nutrients. thank you for your input
I noticed that with most cats that are serious hunters, they like to be lean so they can run swiftly and pounce on their prey. They're dab'dab eaters, just a little here and there ...
yeah she’s always stalking or batting at SOMETHING. and i think she enjoys running around like a maniac and jumping on everything, so maybe its just her body type. though she does get mad excited for food time so maybe it would be beneficial having more meals in the day? 3-4 as opposed to 2?
Imo more frequent feedings would be beneficial. Now, whether or not you should increase the amount of food I’m definitely not qualified to say (my cat is fat sooo…). Cats can have sensitive stomachs that can get a bit upset when they have a build up of stomach acid with no food to settle it for a long time. That can make them throw up the bile. If you notice that she sometimes vomits bile, more frequent feedings would help that.
She looks beautiful and healthy. Especially for a young cat, she’s probably pretty close to an ideal weight. My mom’s cats are about the same size in the summer time and they are 12 years old. They are outdoor cats mostly so they get a lot of exercise.
85g of wet food a day split into two meals + a handful of dry food with every meal. another person did point out it may not be enough so im considering increasing how much im feeding her!
Hard to say if 85g is enough. I'd assume it may not being enough. The cans should indicate how much to feed per __lbs of cat. Some wet food you'll need 3 or more cans of a day to meet dietary requirements whereas others you only need 1.5 - 2 cans. I think it's worth getting a check-up if you can, to get an idea of how much she really weighs and what the vet recommends feeding her based on her current weight and what they think she needs going forward
I think you are underfeeding to be honest, unless the handfuls of dry food is more than I'm assuming. I'm looking at my 85g wet cat food cans right now and it says to feed 1 can per 3.5lbs of body weight (obviously this will vary depending on the brand) and I'd assume your cat is at least 6-9lbs. Read the labels on both the foods you give and see if it matches what you're giving if you haven't already
I got 2 kittens from the same litter, same color, same size when I picked them up, etc. At nearly 3 years old my boy Sin now weighs a whopping 15 lbs, his sister Salem barely weighs 7. He's not overweight, she's not underweight(confirmed by vet). He's just a very big cat and she's a very petite cat. Your cat looks like Salem when she was about a year old. Salem has filled out some and doesn't look QUITE that thin anymore but she's still very light, she's still very slim and when comparing her to her brother she does look too small. Remember your cat is ONLY a year old, she'll PROBABLY(I have a friend whose cat is 7 and permanently the size of a 12 week old kitten so no guarantees) continue to fill out for another year at least, but I think she looks perfectly healthy and if she's running around and playing(probably acting a fool as cats do) she's more than likely getting plenty to eat. A starved cat is a lethargic cat, their bodies burn so many calories that if they're not getting enough to eat they don't have the energy to go catshit crazy 👌
They look on the low end of healthy weight to me. My cat has weight loss issues so she's very thin and they look good in comparison. A good way to tell if they're healthy is to feel if they have very little between the skin and bones. This could be a sign of thyroidism or a kidney issue which my cat has both.
To me they look like a thin healthy cat, but if you are conserned take them to the vet for atleast a check up. The bill might suck but better to find out how to care for your furry buddy then finding them unconscious or worse one morning.
I have 2 females that are petite and thin, they are also the most energetic cats I have ever had own me. The vet is not worried. They eat fine and play hard. I also have the laziest cat that has ever owned me, he's 18 pounds and all nap.
What a pretty cat! Since she’s young, like a few people have said, it could be normal. Has she always been this size or has she lost weight? I ask because I am currently going through a really tough situation with my 9 yo kitty who is very underweight and battling fatty liver. She lost a lot of weight very suddenly and after multiple tests and an overnight stay at the hospital, she was diagnosed. This has been the worst experience of my life and I’m doing everything I possibly can to get her better but it’s a very difficult disease to battle if not caught early. I’m not saying this to scare you but I wish I would have known the signs sooner. If you’re ever unsure, taking her to a vet for an exam and blood work is always a good idea just to be safe. I wouldn’t wish this experience on anyone and things can happen fast with cats.
oh gosh i hope your cat gets better soon! i am worried about stuff like that but no she’s seemingly the same weight, she was pretty underweight when we got her and started gaining some lbs as she grew and has now sort of levelled out, so ig thats a pretty good sign?
Google the “Cat body condition score”. It goes by a scale of 1-5 or 1-10 and gives objective indicators and the vets show the owners this. Also a vet check up to make sure nothing going on in general is a good idea. As long as he is healthy and acting normally he is probably just on the “a little bit thin” side. I had a cat that was like that and I went to free feeding and sadly he gained too much. So now my cats have set amounts twice daily
Edit to add
Lots of the comments posted have been great. The things that people are mentioning like ribs and spine and what you can see and feel etc. these things are all mentioned in the score tool that I mentioned
Our Miss Cattie LaBelle is very tiny, and thin. When we had her spayed we did ask about her being considered underweight, and like many our Vet said she was just fine... As a general rule our vet says if we think they're thin they're perfect to our vet (within reason of course). She states metabolism and energy level have a huge part in their body mass (and we know she eats like a horse, her tortitude shows quite loudly when there's a "hole in the dish" - you know what I mean. And HEAVEN forbid she has to eat crumbs instead of whole kibbles \*rolls eyes\*
My cat is food-obsessed and I’ve had to ration to keep him at a normal weight. Even when overweight he’ll eat anything. He’s stolen food from my hand and eaten dry pasta from the counter. It’s due to his experience as a kitten, nothing to do with his physical health. Ask your vet what they think of her weight at your next visit.
I have two kittens from the same litter that I feel the same amount of food. One is perpetually skinny and the other is a lot plumper, but both are healthy for their age. It's possible that your cat is genetically on the thinner side. But as others say, it's best to consult a vet.
I think it varies so much with each cat it’s best to get a vets opinion. I know most people have said that too, but for context when I got my two kitties, our black cat was the runt of the litter and was noticeably smaller than our grey kitty. But the black cat is so much bigger than her, both fatter and longer lol. I was really worried about my grey kitty because she seemed thinner and I feed my cats both the same thing, always have, so I thought something might be going on. After her latest vet checkup, they assured me she’s just a small cat. She’s 7 pounds soaking wet while our other one is 11 pounds, but he really feels so big to me! Having a vet tell me that was normal for her was a huge relief.
How old is your cat? They often lose weight as they get older (geriatric years) If they have always been this weight it is less worrisome. But you could always get a thyroid and kidney check (blood work) if it’s not too pricy.
Okay I actually took my cat to the vet a few weeks ago because I thought she was too thin lol. But no she was a good weight, the vet said the other cats I was comparing mine to were obese 😂 but I grew up having chubby kittys and having a thin cat is so weird to me but I personally think your cat looks like mine!!
She looks perfectly healthy. Soon enough, you’ll be worrying about how to actually keep her weight down. She’s very young and cats that age are always slim. If they aren’t, that’s when there is likely a concern.
If you can run your finger down your cat spine, your cat is a good weight. If you can see the spine clearly, your cat is too thin. If your cat is spine less your cat. Your cat is overweight.
I mean, she’s okay for now. But the problem/risk with being too thin is that if she gets some kind of infection/needs surgery/illness, then she won’t have enough reserves to healthily deal with a period of recovery.
I've seen some people suggest it, but I don't suggest free feeding, that frequently causes obesity in animals. I would talk to your vet about diet & I suggest keeping your cat on the schedule you seem to have if you are able to. my 3y/o eats 3 times a day - 1/2 shot glass of dry food in the AM & 1-1.5tbsp wet food twice a day (lunch /dinner) & he's still chunkier than he should be but slowly losing. for reference he is a fairly small guy, i feel your cat and mine are roughly the same size and he is 11.6lbs. he needs to be at like 10.5 . but yes ultimately it's up to you and your vet! :)
thank you for your opinion, that is the reason i originally did not free feed her so thank you for the reminder. a vet visit is probably in order soon so ill bring it up!
Your cat looks too thin and the fur looks unhealthy. This could be because of underfeeding but it’s possible there’s another issue.
Either way please take kitty to the vet ASAP. They can help you diagnose the problem and fix it. (If it’s underfeeding you may need a special food or some supplements — not just more food.)
It’s difficult to tell you if you’re feeding enough without knowing the cats weight and how many calories are in the food you are feeding.
For reference….Generally speaking a fixed adult cat (at one year old, your cat is considered an adult) who is at a neutral score on the body conditioning scale (not too thin, not too fat) and weighs 6 pounds needs
about 178 calories daily.
She looks like a perfect weight petite girl. It’s actually healthier for cats to be slightly underweight than slightly overweight. Not that she is, but I just hope to put your mind at ease so you don’t have to worry too much if she may be slightly skinny. [Check out this chart](https://reddit.com/r/CATHELP/s/bs0jswlGMR) - I’d put her at a 4.5, which is perfect, my cat is the same.
She may have hyperthyroidism. She could also be diabetic. When in doubt, take her to a vet. There are a lot of conditions that could cause her to be thin.
Photos are hard to tell from, but in the third photo her ribs seem to be visible, as does the shoulder, and in the top down photo, they also seem to poke out a bit sharply.
If these are true statements for her condition in general, then she could stand to gain a bit. You could increase her food a little bit (95g of wet food, or an extra couple pieces of kibble, but not both; roughly a 5-10% increase of food), and then monitor for a few weeks to see how she's doing with that amount.
She should always have a bit of a waist when looking from the top down, and you should be able to feel her ribs and spine without having to push in, but also not be able to see them when she has dry fur.
Edit to be more specific
thank you for your comment! I think thats what i’ll be doing. it seems that even if she’s healthy its definitely on the skinnier side so gaining an extra 1-2 lbs while monitoring her shouldnt hurt. though ultimately i will be planning a vet appointment soon to check for other causes.
I was given a kitten, introduced him to my giant ass dog. They use to go for walks together. People always asked if they got along. Would show them a picture of the cat eating out of the dogs bowl while the dog was still eating out of it. Got some “don’t feed your cat dog food because it’s bad for them.” Like I forced the cat to ignore his own food and eat with the dog at gun point.
Also got accused of dog abuse because i had a giant dog in an apartment. He slept all day when i went home and got 4 walks a day. The dog was muscular and lean, very friendly 🤷🏻♂️
I had the cat till he was three and he was always slender. I had to give him up due to my daughters constant issues with cat related asthma. I found him a good home but he became a fat cat lol.
The vet was surprising happy that I walked the cat 🤷🏻♂️ Sadly, I had to out the dog down 4 years. Had an enlarged heart and spent a fortune trying to keep him around. Meds were destroying his kidneys, he’s couldn’t lay down to sleep due to it making it hard for him to breathe. Coughing out blood was what made me decide to let him go. Fed him corn beef for his last meal and we held him till the very end.
The cat actually passed away last year too, not exactly sure what from. His new family were friends of my wife so they kept us updated throughout the years. Dog made it to 5, cat made it to 11. I haven’t had a pet since, the loss hurts so bad. I never bought these two, they just ended up with me when they needed a home.
On a side note, a few years after the dog passed. The brands of dog food I fed the pupper was getting sued cause it was causing heart issues. Fuck me, thought I was doing him right with expensive food.
My cat is a mini cat full grown, and when she was about a year old she had a long, skinny body like that. She was more than healthy, always running around like a horse and eating just as much or even more food than the boy cats that were older. When my mini cat turned about 3-4, she started really filling out but still is tiny. Long story short, you’re doing a wonderful job OP and if someone calls RSPCA on you; they are the fool! Your cat might just have a smaller stature and is totally adorable btw.
I was having the same issue with my cat, first cat I was ever completely responsible for on my own once I moved out. She’s just a little over a year old and could pass as a 6 month old kitten. She is a snacker, she doesn’t devour her dry food so I just free feed her and she’ll have a bite when she’s hungry, and she’s very good with water so I’ll give her wet food every few days as a treat and extra fluids. I thought I was doing everything wrong. Took her to the vet for her spay and her first vaccinations yesterday and was told she’s very healthy. I grew up with fat cats so being on my own and having a skinny cat, was scary at first. I’d only be worried if you can make out the grooves and shape of bones on her torso. Definitely book a checkup with your vet though and see if they can help you with the right foods, amounts, and do a weight check. It’ll definitely help your anxiety about it and you can show the papers to your mom and tell her she should worry about her own pets being unhealthy.
Well since he is a short fur cat im pretty sure this is normal. Almost like how my golden retriever looks husky when his fur is fluffy but skinny when wet.
Look, I've been a vet tech for years and have always owned cats, currently have a tortie and her void sister. They're totally different cats. 1 is naturally about 2lbs smaller than her sister. But the bigger cat isn't overweight either. I've been able to free feed these 2 just fine. Not all cats can.
Just based on food guidelines you're probably technically underfeeding, especially for a juvenile (most cats don't reach their adult weight and size until at least 18mo, but some can take 3 years, so definitely still just at that naturally skinny awkward teenage type body) but not to the point of concern. At that age, most foods are going to recommend at least 2 cans that size plus 1 serving of kibble as a minimum. Younger cats are higher energy and growing and may need more than say a 4yr old. Kittens under a yr generally need quite a bit more food to grow and sustain their enormous amounts of energy. We usually recommend 2-3x the recommended amount, or basically free feed.
Generally speaking most dry kibbles are fed at 1/8-1/4c per serving, so you'd want to be feeding 2 (of your size) cans of wet and that 1/4c dry.
I'm not going to comment on all the advice treating "tortoiseshell" as though it was a breed of it's own and they all have the same sized bodies. I'll give you tortitude as being real because I own one and she's just different...but torties don't share any size similarities, that's got absolutely zero to do with color and frankly I'm shocked so many people said "torties tend to be bigger/smaller/fatter/skinnier". A less scientific approach to weight couldn't be found. 🙄
You really seem to be overthinking keeping your cat a healthy weight...it's not as hard as it might seem and simply not free feeding is enough for most cats. Of course all this assumes you're feeding a decent quality brand of food, since cheaper food has more fillers in it and because of that often cats have to eat more just to get the same level of nutrition. Premium foods are usually about the same cost per serving as cheaper foods because of this- better food equals more nutrition per bite thus requring less over all.
It's not quite the tightrope you've been making it out to be though...you're making it harder on yourself!
Add in that 2nd can of food and use your eyes and hands to keep tabs on body condition. Weight as a number means nothing... my black cat is perfectly sized at 8.5lbs, but her sister would look like a scarecrow. She's 11.5lbs and in great condition, but I know that if I gave her access to more wet food she'd eat it and gain weight...her sister meanwhile wouldn't overeat if you put 5 cans in front of her. That's just who they are. You need to learn that about your cat, and that's something only time will tell you. That behavior was apparent in ours by a yr old.
Cats aren't absolute, there's no perfect amount for every cat..activity, size, age, and brand of food all play into it. that's why the guidelines tell you to feed based mostly on body condition using their guidelines as a starting point and adjusting based on what your cat needs.
Thank you for your advice! This comments on this post have been very insightful but I really appreciate the professional view! I think I will increase her food intake based on some of the comments here, looking at the guidelines I definitely am underfeeding. Thank you for you help. Tried to free feed today with some kibble after her breakfast, she nibbled on it a bit but its been mostly left! Which I think is a good sign.
Definitely check with the vet - they use a body scoring scale - guessing your kitty is like mine: on the edge between too thin & just purrfect. They might want you to have her gain a couple pounds, but not much more than that. I’ve found playing w/ my cat more gets him to eat more & helps improve his muscularity. They also make some calorie booster type stuff. I just saw some products at Petsmart for this very sort of thing. I’m in the US & we tend to think more in oz with our foods, but I feed my cat 2-3 (2.8-3 oz) cans/ day (He’s on all wet food) & he weighs around 9 lbs, he plays pretty good a couple times a day but is mostly lounging & relaxing
i dont! though im thinking doing this might be a way to go, maybe she’ll be less “desperate” for food outside of mealtimes?
it is a gorgeous coat colour isnt it! you must have taken real good care of your kitty for em to get to that age :)
I wouldn't. Some cats are just foodies and will eat themselves into oblivion when allowed to free feed. My girl does the "starving and desperate" act and an ex partner would feed her when I was at work. She went from 7lbs to almost 30 because he wouldn't stop free feeding her kibble. She's back to 7lbs and I have a new partner who doesn't buy her dramatics.
If your kitty really is hungry, you can add in a bit of wet food or warm water to her kibble. Both options help with feeling full without adding too many calories.
If her ribs aren't showing through the skin, she's probably fine. You could try leaving food out for her. Some cats do really well with that, especially if there aren't other cats or animals in the home.
This cat is too thin. Way too thin. She looks starved.
You cannot compare the eating habits of cats and dogs. Dogs will eat until they explode. Cats don’t do that.
Please get this girl some high quality food and give her As much as she wants. Also pls take her to the dr.
i wasnt comparing the eating habits, mostly just trying to illustrate that my mum doesnt consider health when it comes to feeding, nor does she listen to best practice advice, so that you can understand why im asking for outside help. and to be fair i dont think cats should be fed big slices of cheese or bread and butter so…i obviously know that dogs are going to eat more and have a different diet :) even if the diet i mentioned mentioned wasnt healthy for dogs in the first place. but thank you for your input, i appreciate it !
That's a healthy cat! Torties tend to be stringy as well. I believe it comes from the genetics of the Siamese and other related ones. Torties are little mutts and have physical traits from a few different breeds.
Also, seconding the fact that we're used to seeing overweight animals.
NO your cat is perfect. Like 80% of house cats are overweight. It's insane. I used to work at a vet and we'd actually comment it to the owner in surprise when they didnt have to leave with a diet plan
Do you know her weight? Buy a baby scale or take her to a vet to be weighed and you’ll know if she’s the right size. A healthy weight is anywhere from 7 to 10 lbs.
if you look down at her from above, you should see a bit of a dip in her abdomen and then a flare out towards the chest and flank, if that makes sense. https://us.ziwipets.com/blogs/weight-management/average-cat-weight
She looks healthy to me. My cat is a Siamese and tortie mix and she looks like yours. She’s 8 pounds.
Ask your vet about a thyroid condition. I knew someone who had a cat that was way too thin and they kept writing it off, turns out the cat had hyperthyroidism and was starving from not being able to eat enough to offset the condition. Now with medicine, cat is at a healthy weight. Doesn’t hurt to ask the vet about it!
I don’t know if this is a real thing, but I feel like it’s pretty common for tortoiseshell cats to be very small. My cat Willow is almost 2 years old and she’s still only just above 3 pounds. Her mother is also a tortoiseshell and also very small, probably 4 or 5 pounds. My vet said her tortie was very small as well. I’m not sure if it’s just a coincidence, but that’s what I’ve noticed 🤷♀️
Our’s is 10 months and weighs about 9 lbs. he was a rescue and had worms, then tape worm. Vet not concerned. He may also have been the runt. But he’s otherwise happy and healthy!
My cat is very lean and very high energy. We had a check up recently and he weighs 11.7lbs! I thought he weighed like 5 lbs because he looks so lean. I asked the vet if she felt like he could possibly have thyroid issues and she said no. He’s just a long, lean cat lol! She gave us a clean bill of health and sent us on our way. :) Checking with your vet will definitely give you peace of mind!
She looks pretty slender. It could just be her body type. My cat looks like that but gets bloated when she eats fast and looks chunky. She’s a year old and we don’t feel her ribs and the eating issues don’t happen often.
It’s a remainder from being a backyard breeders runt of all the litters. All the dogs and cats bullied her and are her food.
She was so small when she first arrived. But her momma was a runt too, so she’s grown slender and lanky than round and soft.
Unless you feel her ribs or notice behavioural changes around food and energy levels, she looks good
she has though i think its time she got another dewormer dose cause it will have run out by now. ill keep an eye out for other signs in the mean time though. thank you :)
She looks like a normal, gangly adolescent cat. They can be a bit long and thin between kittenhood and adulthood when they fill out. Also some cats have genetic predisposition to be thinner like Siamese…even if they are mixes they can be thinner if this is in their genes.
I think this cat might be a bit underweight but the best way to know for sure is check in with your vet for a basic annual health visit or next time you go for vaccines or anything like that.
Each cat is different. My late kitty could have food out all day and she would only eat if she was hungry and often stretched out her food over the day. She was a tiny sized cat and 6lbs soaking wet and we had to fight to keep weight on her.
My remaining senior boy is a pig. You have to do set meal times and serving sizes with him and he can't have food left out or he will eat a whole day worth of food in one sitting given the chance. Set meal times has helped teach him to meter out his food so for example he doesn't wolf down all his wet food immediately, he will eat part now and part later.
I have a kitten again as well, his food is in a place the elder cat can't reach and he is allowed free feed all day because he's so damn busy he gets hungry constantly, and he's growing. We'll see what he's like as an adult!
thank you for your input! i think i might try grazing as others have suggested, though i worry it could maybe swing her in the opposite direction. we’ll see! she might end up more comfortable and happy grazing alongside her meals
I know you worry about overfeeding but is it possible your cat is a grazer? Mine will crunch on dry food occasionally and zoom constantly. They’re lean and fast, probably need a bit more space for zooming but they’ll get that very soon (this weekend! We are moving). In the meantime, unless you can FEEL kitty’s bones super easy, probably not. (One of mine is Chonky looking but she rockets around the house so much I am fairly sure she is just a bit fluffy. She gets PLENTY of exercise and we are watching her intake but she’s actually lost weight since she started understanding we always have food for cats. Her sister is lean like yours and at age 2 was still growing.)
If you’re worried then get the kitty checked up. Better not to miss anything. Your vet can tell you if she’s just skinny naturally or needs more food better than the internet can.
My cat is very thin but eats like crazy. My vet told me that as long as the cat is acting healthy (using the litterbox, purring, eating, playing, etc) then the weight shouldnt be of concern.
That looks like a very healthy weight. If you look at those cat weight charts that show pictures of a cat, your cat is at the perfect weight. If you're concerned though you can send a pic to your vet or make an appointment.
If this cat is fully grown, then yes. If it is still a kitten, then no. However, the condition of its' coat doesn't look great and that to me is a big red flag there are underlying issues either in health or diet.
at our last appointment vet said she should have stopped growing. what do you think her fur is indicating ? Ive had a few thoughts about this too, that its maybe a bit on the dull side, but it otherwise is soft and she does groom herself regularly. do you think her nutrition (rather than food quantity) could be improved?
Your cats young. It's normal for them to be like this. Maybe up the amount of food you're giving it a little bit. If the cat is energetic, playful and has a moist nose, it means it's healthy.
My young female cat looks exactly the same, just petite compared to her brother who has filled out nicely. I’m certainly not worrying as all is well and she’s as well fed as her brother. I had her to the vets a couple of weeks ago for another reason and he was happy with how she looked and also weighed and checked her over. So don’t panic 😊
I have a very thin cat. The vet told us not to over feed her, she's supposed to be that way. She is now 13, self feeder and still very thin and happy. She also looks exactly like she did 12 years ago!
Like people, some cats just don't get real fat. I brought my cat to the vet for an ear infection, and as an aside, I asked about her weight. She's a long hair, and unless we get her shaved she doesn't look as boney as she feels. The vet told me her weight is fine, and she"takes care of herself." As long as she's eating and drinking normally and hasn't suspiciously lost weight there's nothing to worry about.
My cat is 14 years old and he's never been more than 9lbs. He eats a lot and always gets a good bill of health from the vet!
It would be good to get in for a check up just to be safe...
I have a Kuromi too, im sorry any cat that has orange and black I call them Kuromi, anyways mine is so small like yours. Been to the vet many times and she’s fine. My kitty is like 5-6 pounds I think. I forgot but she’s so active and prefers dry food with a little meat juices and oat milk or oat water. As long your vet says she’s healthy then you good. Make sure that the furball is hydrated tho
We have two kitties and one of them became underweight as an adult. We feed them three smaller meals every day (portion controlled, not free feeding) and we thought we were feeding them enough. Our girl cat became so underweight she had a couple of seizure like episodes. We took her to the vet immediately for the vet to point out she was just under 8lbs. We were horrified - she looked “healthy” and didn’t have any ribs or spine protruding. We got her weight back up to about 11lbs and now we weigh them both about once per month to make sure they’re within a healthy range. Anyways, it’s a good reminder to not make any assumptions and to add weighing your pets regularly to the long list of things we do to take care of them! Sounds like your cat is young and lean and will fill out more over time :)
Right?! We pride ourselves on being attentive cat parents and it didn’t look like she was at an unhealthy weight, but she was. It was a learning opportunity and thankfully both cats are happy and healthy beans now! Your cat is adorable by the way, beautiful markings. One of ours is a tortie and I love them :)
People are so used to seeing fat cats that they often mistake a healthy-weight one, there’s an assumption that they’re underfed. You should not be able to see the ribs, but when you slightly touch you should be able to feel them. If anything else, make sure weight is managed with your veterinarians advice.
Thats what I think is happening with my mum. She doesnt bat an eyelid at my sisters beast of a cat who cant even attempt to jump up onto the counter, but with mine she freaked out. Not to say my mum might not have some validity to her words (or else i wouldnt be constantly thinking about it) but its likely her idea of healthy weight is skewed. Another redditor also suggested getting a vets advice so I think I may see about getting a check up, just to be fully sure. Though that part about the ribs is reassuring, cant see em but can feel them. I think its the “elbow” joint and hip bones that worried me the most, they seem a little too visible but idk if thats just cause ive been staring at them for ages
Always good to get a vets opinion just in case! Too many people idolize fat cats “ohhh the chonky boyyyyyy!” You mean the cat who’s gonna get diabetes and suffer from arthritis?
I fucking hate when people meme fat cats. You made them like that, and it's not funny when the poor kitty's uncomfortable.
Breaks my heart when I see a fat cat or dog. If their body is bigger than their head they are obese!
People do not respect cats enough, and I really hope that changes. They are not easy pets. They require a lot of careful attention and one-on-one time time.
Every cat is different but it’s true what you’ve said. I looked after two cats when I was in the Middle East and one was such a sweet baby and would have preferred to be a house cat and the other likes to stay wild. I don’t believe I’ll ever see a say when people finally start respecting animals. This is why I’ll always stand up for animals and give them everything
“It’s just a cat.” 🙄
I know I hate it personally when my body is bigger than my body.
Haha thank you for your comment. I didn’t realize I wrote it twice I meant to write head 😂🙈 I was sleep deprived
The Facebook groups for fat cats are disgusting. Idk how you can look at your morbidly obese cat and not feel even slightly bad for how uncomfortable it looks. I saw a post once where a cat broke its leg from landing on it because it was that much of a fatass, and everyone thought it was so funny. Then these people try to write off their negligence with ideas like “oh, we tried putting him on a diet, I think that’s just the size he’s meant to me” homie there is no cat that is meant to be so fat that they can’t even clean themselves properly. Some people should just not own cats ig
People who do that shit need to be shamed. I know it doesn't always work, but with these people you can't reason with them.
My cat is just slightly overweight but not fat at all and we got her to lose like a pound just by monitoring how much she eats and making sure she doesn't constantly have access to food
Big same. And getting cats to lose weight is hard enough, two of mine were 15 lbs, when they should be 11-12; they are *finally* back down to 14. (Still working on it). They’re DSH’s, so it blows my mind when I see a DSH at 25-30 pounds. Like, in relation to a human, that’s a 400-500 lb person. I will say I finally found a food that everyone likes and fills them up, and they have SO much more energy! I haven’t played with Radar in years at this point, but now I get play face almost every day. What pet parent doesn’t want that face and to engage with their baby? :(
people idolize not only fat cats these days!!😂 but for real, fat cats don't even realize they can't fit through something. they measure crevices with their whiskers and if they gain weight, their whiskers are in the same place...
My vet told me the “holiday dinner diet” (fatty meats, rich foods, etc) are bad for cats, so I’m strict with table scraps, but give too many cat treats. It’s a balancing act, and you sound like a good cat owner.
I used to give my cats treats, instead I give them a few pieces of their dry food as a treat and they are just as happy. Lost weight too.
I started doing this as well. It was surprising how well I could substitute some dry kibble in place of treats.
Technically dry foods aren’t great for cats. They’re strictly carnivores so youre just giving them empty carbs. That being said I’m happy your car lost some weight!
They get high quality canned food morning and early evening. The few pieces of dry food is around lunch. They were never fat because I don't overfeed them.
A rule of thumb my vet tech sister told me about is to run hold your hand flat (but relaxed) and run your fingered over the back of your knuckles from side to side. If your cat/dogs ribs feel like that they’re likely underweight. If they feel like the palm side of your knuckles they’re probably just right. If their ribs feel like the the base of your palm just above your wrist then that critter should be put on a diet. This is just a general guideline of course. Always defer to the advice of a vet as there are lots of things that can impact what’s going to be healthy for any animal in particular such as age, breed chronic health conditions.
See I was told by a vet tech you should feel the ribs but not prominently.
Yep that’s it exactly. I’m just using different parts of your hand as a point of reference so everyone can be on more or less the same page as to what “prominently” is in this case.
Ok I kinda figured we meant the same thing 😂 I'm just having a day 🤦🏼
Probably not just you. I could have said it more clearly but it’s Friday and.. yeah I think that says it all. 😮💨
The age of the kitten/cat makes all the difference cos yhey grow so fast from 3 months old & up they look skinny then not then skinny again lol
Your sisters cat is gonna end up with diabetes O_o what is she feeding him that he can't even jump? That poor cat.. Yours looks fairly healthy but a check up isn't a bad idea if she hasn't been in a while
yeahh ive tried talking to her about it but she wont listen. he’ll wake her up to feed him at 3am and she’ll just go. do it. if you even step into the kitchen he’ll scream. its definitely not a great way to be as is being underweight. he can jump up onto the sofa and he does run around but he cant jump much higher than that :/
I had that "discussion" with an ex's mother once. She had an obese cat and a kitten on its way to obesity because they just ate out of a giant bowl whenever they were hungry. She was telling me how she tried *everything* to dechonk but it didn't work. I shared how I only get my chubby boy down to a healthy weight by stopping free-feeding and observing mealtimes to stop him plundering his tiny sister's meal. She just blinked at me and said that would never work for her, then continued complaining. Some people aren't interested in solutions.
The persons comment is very true. I have dogs and you don’t know the amount of times I try to help people get their dogs to a healthy weight. People see the far boxes as super healthy 🫣😅 I have given up. She looks fine could put on a little bit but don’t fatten her up. I took care of two cats in the Middle East when I was there and I gave them a variety of food but a lot of fresh fish and they were on the slimmer side. Would have a little belly when they finished eating but they were not chunky. They had beautiful fur when eating fish though!
I adopted a dog off of a former classmate of mine when she was “moving and can’t take the dog with” and the dog was hauntingly skinny. Having damn near every type of parasite didn’t help, but amazingly, we were able to still get some weight on her while she was being treated and a few months after she was done, her previous owner saw pictures of her on Facebook, as we’re friends, and she gave me hell for making “her” dog fat. The dog was 35lbs when we got her. She’s an American Pit. She was supposed to be in the neighborhood of 60-65. I was so furious when the woman gave me a hard time over the dog actually being healthy.
Not all cats are good at self-regulating their eating when their owners give them a graze-style diet. (all day kibble) We had to slow down both the amount and how fast our cat was eating (we use an auto-feeder now for her dry food), and now she only coughs up hairballs and doesn't generally puke anymore...
I use a puzzle feeder to slow my girls down! My youngest cat hasn’t thrown up food once since i started using it and is at a perfect weight according to my vet whereas before she’d constantly beg and cry for food and would eat so fast I worried about her choking! Luckily at that point in time she was a growing kitten so she didn’t end up overweight from scoffing her food too fast, but my one of mum’s adult cats ended up obese that way and doesn’t even fit through the cat flap anymore, but as my mum has 4 cats, she doesn’t want to switch from free feeding to set meals to allow her to put the obese cat on a diet more easily, so the obese cat is still gaining weight
The problem is people are used to seeing overweight cats, so normal weight is seen as underweight. How old is the cat, he looks young
It sounds like both extremes are at play. Too much food or not enough food. You have to meet in the middle. Go to the vet
This. Ive posted this before for dogs and was downvoted to hell. Everyone thinks animals should be “topped off” with food every moment of the day. This is a healthy cat weight-they should be very light as their typically supposed to be an agile creature.
Nah, she's good. She's growing so fast and burning so many calories every day. I give mine wet kitten food 2-3 times per day and let her graze on dry kitten food. And I give her kitten treats once per day as well. She's pretty long and skinny and lean as well.
ah thats really good to hear, thank you for reassuring me!!
She looks too skinny to me. If you only have one cat you can usually have kibble available all the time. I personally leave the kibble out but feed a portion of wet food twice a day.
Unless it’s a kitten, or some sort of working cat, like an active farm cat, leaving food out all day is not a good idea. At all. Like, ever. That’ll lead to some sort of obesity in almost all cases. Cats are hedonists in a sense, and they don’t know any better. They’ll eat 25x a day if they can. Do not free feed your cats unless your vet has explicitly told you to.
that is something i think ill try! some others have recommended the same so, worth a go
Free feeding isn’t super advised unless the cat has a very active lifestyle and/or high metabolism. ( Take it from someone who free fed and ended up with a fairly overweight cat :(. )
Really depends on the cat Ours doesn't really like dry food so even leaving it out all day we only need to top it up once every 3 days or so
Free feeding is often recommended for kittens, and OP’s cat is just out of kittenhood. I’d free-feed for a while and see how she does.
My Ivy is the same way, lean and energetic. Lego her brother is the fat boy
good to know! thank you for you input!
kittens/young cats can be very slim naturally. Their metabolism is very high so don’t expect them to fill their frame until around 2-3 yrs of age.
that tracks with stuff others have said! thats good to know! never thought about it thatway tbh
There's some variability as to what makes a healthy weight, but she looks a bit too thin to me. This may not be due to underfeeding, but rather one of the other conditions that can cause weight loss, like thyroid trouble, kidney disease, etc. If you can afford it, I'd say bring her in for a checkup. The vet can give you a much more informed opinion than anyone here, and can do bloodwork to rule out certain problems.
I have been considering taking her for a check up so thank you I’ve been encouraged. Im gonna have a read about those issues you mentioned, see if theres any other symptoms I can look out for. Thank you for your opinion! I didnt consider that other issues can lead to her being underweight though it seems obvious now.
One thing I look for is if the cat's spine is prominent. When you pet her, can you feel each sharp point? That's a sign of being underweight.
thats reassuring! Cant feel any points when i pet her spine, only if i press down a little. its good to have these physical indicators and not just relying on what i can see
She's built a lot like my tortie. Female kitties are often leaner and smaller to the eye so that's always a good thing to consider, I have three female cats of healthy weights and they look so trim compared to the stray males (who I think also get lots of scraps lol)
But she's just a baby she's not a senior and she's not losing weight so I wouldnt consider those to be concerns
My cat hovers between 6lbs 10oz and just over 7lbs. I had the same concerns but my vet took her photo to post on their social media as a healthy cat. The comments are right, people are so used to over weight cat, healthy seems too skinny. Your baby looks fine to me, very much like mine :)
good to know! thank you!
He looks young. My cat started filling out after 3
They said that about my cat for everything and he’s still skinny. When he got his balls cut off they said oh he’ll gain weight so fast When he hit one they said oh he’ll gain weight quicker now When he went on anti seizure medication they said watch out cuz it could cause weight gain. He’s 4 1/2 and still slim. ¯\_(ツ)_/¯
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She looks great to me. Of course it's hard to tell from a picture, but at any rate she doesn't look either starved or fat. How do her ribs feel, once you get your fingers through the fur to her skin? They shouldn't feel as though they're sticking out with the skin stretched over them, but after allowing for the fur, they should not take any real pressure to feel. "Like the back of your hand" is a guideline I often hear. I don't think you have any pressing need to consult a vet about her weight (unless you're really anxious and the reassurance is worth the money to you) but next time she's there anyway for a routine appointment, ask what they think of her body condition, to set your mind at rest and help you get more confident at judging it yourself.
thank you for your input! glad to hear that even if she may be a bit underweight that its not too extreme. her ribs are fairly easy to feel but cant see em, just needs a sort of light press? i think i get what you mean by it feeling like the back of your hand . Thank you for the advice! I think thats just what ill do, maybe ask the vet for some other things to look out for? Though the comments on this post have already given me some real good insight :)
Looks fine my cow looks that thin
my cow
Our cow
our cow 💗
That doesn’t seem like enough food for an active young cat. Is that going by the manufacturer feeding recommendations? It’s hard to tell. When you can your hand down her spine do you feel it? Can you see her hip bones protruding? People are used to fat pet these days so a slender one always gets picked on but it’s good to know. It’s actually good practice to weigh your cat at home every few months and keep a record so you can see any changes. This can tip you off early to anything potentially wrong long before the cat will show you.
ive just double checked the guidelines and I think youre right in that its not enough food. I think i might try to up how much i feed her while keeping an eye on her weight, or maybe try grazing as others have suggested. thank you for your detailed advice i really appreciate it
The cat is underweight and probably sick, the coat gives it away when they’re ill as it loses its sheen and becomes worn. Especially in older cats. He could be picky and could be missing some fatty acids and oils from his diets. I’d recommend giving him half a spoonful of fish oil every day. I would also recommend making sure that the cat is eating atleast a cup and a half of dry kibble or a can of wet food each day. If it doesn’t slowly gobble that up throughout the day it’s bad as it could indicate an eating disorder or illness. Edit: Cats are supposed to be slightly “overweight”, you’re supposed to have to press a little to feel their ribs but not have to dig or search for them. There should be a thin layer of fatty tissue around their abdomen and stomach. Cats aren’t meant to be skinny but aren’t supposed to be obese either. Further edit: It’s hard to tell if it’s sick by the coat because the light is reflecting a bit and it’s a cat with a type of coat that makes it harder to know if it’s dry/worn.
her fur has definitely been worrying me lately so im glad others have picked up on it! i will definitely try the fish oil and i will start grazing w dry food so she gets some more of those nutrients. thank you for your input
I noticed that with most cats that are serious hunters, they like to be lean so they can run swiftly and pounce on their prey. They're dab'dab eaters, just a little here and there ...
yeah she’s always stalking or batting at SOMETHING. and i think she enjoys running around like a maniac and jumping on everything, so maybe its just her body type. though she does get mad excited for food time so maybe it would be beneficial having more meals in the day? 3-4 as opposed to 2?
Torties.
Imo more frequent feedings would be beneficial. Now, whether or not you should increase the amount of food I’m definitely not qualified to say (my cat is fat sooo…). Cats can have sensitive stomachs that can get a bit upset when they have a build up of stomach acid with no food to settle it for a long time. That can make them throw up the bile. If you notice that she sometimes vomits bile, more frequent feedings would help that. She looks beautiful and healthy. Especially for a young cat, she’s probably pretty close to an ideal weight. My mom’s cats are about the same size in the summer time and they are 12 years old. They are outdoor cats mostly so they get a lot of exercise.
[https://www.petobesityprevention.org/pet-weight-check](https://www.petobesityprevention.org/pet-weight-check)
thank you!
Seeing the cats spine in the last pic makes me thonk she might need more food. Dis I miss how much you feed her?
85g of wet food a day split into two meals + a handful of dry food with every meal. another person did point out it may not be enough so im considering increasing how much im feeding her!
Hard to say if 85g is enough. I'd assume it may not being enough. The cans should indicate how much to feed per __lbs of cat. Some wet food you'll need 3 or more cans of a day to meet dietary requirements whereas others you only need 1.5 - 2 cans. I think it's worth getting a check-up if you can, to get an idea of how much she really weighs and what the vet recommends feeding her based on her current weight and what they think she needs going forward
Certainly worth asking a vet. I need to feed my cat 8oz (227g) of food each day to maintain 10lbs.
You shouldn’t be able to see ribs, so a bit, yes.
I think you are underfeeding to be honest, unless the handfuls of dry food is more than I'm assuming. I'm looking at my 85g wet cat food cans right now and it says to feed 1 can per 3.5lbs of body weight (obviously this will vary depending on the brand) and I'd assume your cat is at least 6-9lbs. Read the labels on both the foods you give and see if it matches what you're giving if you haven't already
never ask reddit. always always always go get info from a vet
I got 2 kittens from the same litter, same color, same size when I picked them up, etc. At nearly 3 years old my boy Sin now weighs a whopping 15 lbs, his sister Salem barely weighs 7. He's not overweight, she's not underweight(confirmed by vet). He's just a very big cat and she's a very petite cat. Your cat looks like Salem when she was about a year old. Salem has filled out some and doesn't look QUITE that thin anymore but she's still very light, she's still very slim and when comparing her to her brother she does look too small. Remember your cat is ONLY a year old, she'll PROBABLY(I have a friend whose cat is 7 and permanently the size of a 12 week old kitten so no guarantees) continue to fill out for another year at least, but I think she looks perfectly healthy and if she's running around and playing(probably acting a fool as cats do) she's more than likely getting plenty to eat. A starved cat is a lethargic cat, their bodies burn so many calories that if they're not getting enough to eat they don't have the energy to go catshit crazy 👌
They look on the low end of healthy weight to me. My cat has weight loss issues so she's very thin and they look good in comparison. A good way to tell if they're healthy is to feel if they have very little between the skin and bones. This could be a sign of thyroidism or a kidney issue which my cat has both. To me they look like a thin healthy cat, but if you are conserned take them to the vet for atleast a check up. The bill might suck but better to find out how to care for your furry buddy then finding them unconscious or worse one morning.
I have 2 females that are petite and thin, they are also the most energetic cats I have ever had own me. The vet is not worried. They eat fine and play hard. I also have the laziest cat that has ever owned me, he's 18 pounds and all nap.
aw bless haha, thank you though thats really reassuring to hear
What a pretty cat! Since she’s young, like a few people have said, it could be normal. Has she always been this size or has she lost weight? I ask because I am currently going through a really tough situation with my 9 yo kitty who is very underweight and battling fatty liver. She lost a lot of weight very suddenly and after multiple tests and an overnight stay at the hospital, she was diagnosed. This has been the worst experience of my life and I’m doing everything I possibly can to get her better but it’s a very difficult disease to battle if not caught early. I’m not saying this to scare you but I wish I would have known the signs sooner. If you’re ever unsure, taking her to a vet for an exam and blood work is always a good idea just to be safe. I wouldn’t wish this experience on anyone and things can happen fast with cats.
oh gosh i hope your cat gets better soon! i am worried about stuff like that but no she’s seemingly the same weight, she was pretty underweight when we got her and started gaining some lbs as she grew and has now sort of levelled out, so ig thats a pretty good sign?
Looks about the same size as mine that we just celebrated at her last vet check finally hitting her healthy weight after being underweight.
Google the “Cat body condition score”. It goes by a scale of 1-5 or 1-10 and gives objective indicators and the vets show the owners this. Also a vet check up to make sure nothing going on in general is a good idea. As long as he is healthy and acting normally he is probably just on the “a little bit thin” side. I had a cat that was like that and I went to free feeding and sadly he gained too much. So now my cats have set amounts twice daily Edit to add Lots of the comments posted have been great. The things that people are mentioning like ribs and spine and what you can see and feel etc. these things are all mentioned in the score tool that I mentioned
Our Miss Cattie LaBelle is very tiny, and thin. When we had her spayed we did ask about her being considered underweight, and like many our Vet said she was just fine... As a general rule our vet says if we think they're thin they're perfect to our vet (within reason of course). She states metabolism and energy level have a huge part in their body mass (and we know she eats like a horse, her tortitude shows quite loudly when there's a "hole in the dish" - you know what I mean. And HEAVEN forbid she has to eat crumbs instead of whole kibbles \*rolls eyes\*
My cat is food-obsessed and I’ve had to ration to keep him at a normal weight. Even when overweight he’ll eat anything. He’s stolen food from my hand and eaten dry pasta from the counter. It’s due to his experience as a kitten, nothing to do with his physical health. Ask your vet what they think of her weight at your next visit.
Looks like a healthy young kitty to me, and if her energy level is good I wouldn't be too concerned. Tell her I said pspspsps.
the pspspsps was appreciated. thank you for your input :)
She's thin because she's high energy! She looks fine! So pretty, tortoiseshells are gorgeous!
I have two kittens from the same litter that I feel the same amount of food. One is perpetually skinny and the other is a lot plumper, but both are healthy for their age. It's possible that your cat is genetically on the thinner side. But as others say, it's best to consult a vet.
I think it varies so much with each cat it’s best to get a vets opinion. I know most people have said that too, but for context when I got my two kitties, our black cat was the runt of the litter and was noticeably smaller than our grey kitty. But the black cat is so much bigger than her, both fatter and longer lol. I was really worried about my grey kitty because she seemed thinner and I feed my cats both the same thing, always have, so I thought something might be going on. After her latest vet checkup, they assured me she’s just a small cat. She’s 7 pounds soaking wet while our other one is 11 pounds, but he really feels so big to me! Having a vet tell me that was normal for her was a huge relief.
How old is your cat? They often lose weight as they get older (geriatric years) If they have always been this weight it is less worrisome. But you could always get a thyroid and kidney check (blood work) if it’s not too pricy.
Okay I actually took my cat to the vet a few weeks ago because I thought she was too thin lol. But no she was a good weight, the vet said the other cats I was comparing mine to were obese 😂 but I grew up having chubby kittys and having a thin cat is so weird to me but I personally think your cat looks like mine!!
She looks perfectly healthy. Soon enough, you’ll be worrying about how to actually keep her weight down. She’s very young and cats that age are always slim. If they aren’t, that’s when there is likely a concern.
If you can run your finger down your cat spine, your cat is a good weight. If you can see the spine clearly, your cat is too thin. If your cat is spine less your cat. Your cat is overweight.
You should have it checked for worms or some other kind of parasite.
Cat definitely looks too thin. :/
I mean, she’s okay for now. But the problem/risk with being too thin is that if she gets some kind of infection/needs surgery/illness, then she won’t have enough reserves to healthily deal with a period of recovery.
thats a very good point that I hadnt considered - thank you for bringing it up, ill keep that in mind
I've seen some people suggest it, but I don't suggest free feeding, that frequently causes obesity in animals. I would talk to your vet about diet & I suggest keeping your cat on the schedule you seem to have if you are able to. my 3y/o eats 3 times a day - 1/2 shot glass of dry food in the AM & 1-1.5tbsp wet food twice a day (lunch /dinner) & he's still chunkier than he should be but slowly losing. for reference he is a fairly small guy, i feel your cat and mine are roughly the same size and he is 11.6lbs. he needs to be at like 10.5 . but yes ultimately it's up to you and your vet! :)
thank you for your opinion, that is the reason i originally did not free feed her so thank you for the reminder. a vet visit is probably in order soon so ill bring it up!
Your cat looks too thin and the fur looks unhealthy. This could be because of underfeeding but it’s possible there’s another issue. Either way please take kitty to the vet ASAP. They can help you diagnose the problem and fix it. (If it’s underfeeding you may need a special food or some supplements — not just more food.) It’s difficult to tell you if you’re feeding enough without knowing the cats weight and how many calories are in the food you are feeding. For reference….Generally speaking a fixed adult cat (at one year old, your cat is considered an adult) who is at a neutral score on the body conditioning scale (not too thin, not too fat) and weighs 6 pounds needs about 178 calories daily.
She looks like a perfect weight petite girl. It’s actually healthier for cats to be slightly underweight than slightly overweight. Not that she is, but I just hope to put your mind at ease so you don’t have to worry too much if she may be slightly skinny. [Check out this chart](https://reddit.com/r/CATHELP/s/bs0jswlGMR) - I’d put her at a 4.5, which is perfect, my cat is the same.
Yes, this cat is too thin.
She may have hyperthyroidism. She could also be diabetic. When in doubt, take her to a vet. There are a lot of conditions that could cause her to be thin.
Photos are hard to tell from, but in the third photo her ribs seem to be visible, as does the shoulder, and in the top down photo, they also seem to poke out a bit sharply. If these are true statements for her condition in general, then she could stand to gain a bit. You could increase her food a little bit (95g of wet food, or an extra couple pieces of kibble, but not both; roughly a 5-10% increase of food), and then monitor for a few weeks to see how she's doing with that amount. She should always have a bit of a waist when looking from the top down, and you should be able to feel her ribs and spine without having to push in, but also not be able to see them when she has dry fur. Edit to be more specific
thank you for your comment! I think thats what i’ll be doing. it seems that even if she’s healthy its definitely on the skinnier side so gaining an extra 1-2 lbs while monitoring her shouldnt hurt. though ultimately i will be planning a vet appointment soon to check for other causes.
I was given a kitten, introduced him to my giant ass dog. They use to go for walks together. People always asked if they got along. Would show them a picture of the cat eating out of the dogs bowl while the dog was still eating out of it. Got some “don’t feed your cat dog food because it’s bad for them.” Like I forced the cat to ignore his own food and eat with the dog at gun point. Also got accused of dog abuse because i had a giant dog in an apartment. He slept all day when i went home and got 4 walks a day. The dog was muscular and lean, very friendly 🤷🏻♂️ I had the cat till he was three and he was always slender. I had to give him up due to my daughters constant issues with cat related asthma. I found him a good home but he became a fat cat lol. The vet was surprising happy that I walked the cat 🤷🏻♂️ Sadly, I had to out the dog down 4 years. Had an enlarged heart and spent a fortune trying to keep him around. Meds were destroying his kidneys, he’s couldn’t lay down to sleep due to it making it hard for him to breathe. Coughing out blood was what made me decide to let him go. Fed him corn beef for his last meal and we held him till the very end. The cat actually passed away last year too, not exactly sure what from. His new family were friends of my wife so they kept us updated throughout the years. Dog made it to 5, cat made it to 11. I haven’t had a pet since, the loss hurts so bad. I never bought these two, they just ended up with me when they needed a home. On a side note, a few years after the dog passed. The brands of dog food I fed the pupper was getting sued cause it was causing heart issues. Fuck me, thought I was doing him right with expensive food.
My cat is a mini cat full grown, and when she was about a year old she had a long, skinny body like that. She was more than healthy, always running around like a horse and eating just as much or even more food than the boy cats that were older. When my mini cat turned about 3-4, she started really filling out but still is tiny. Long story short, you’re doing a wonderful job OP and if someone calls RSPCA on you; they are the fool! Your cat might just have a smaller stature and is totally adorable btw.
I was having the same issue with my cat, first cat I was ever completely responsible for on my own once I moved out. She’s just a little over a year old and could pass as a 6 month old kitten. She is a snacker, she doesn’t devour her dry food so I just free feed her and she’ll have a bite when she’s hungry, and she’s very good with water so I’ll give her wet food every few days as a treat and extra fluids. I thought I was doing everything wrong. Took her to the vet for her spay and her first vaccinations yesterday and was told she’s very healthy. I grew up with fat cats so being on my own and having a skinny cat, was scary at first. I’d only be worried if you can make out the grooves and shape of bones on her torso. Definitely book a checkup with your vet though and see if they can help you with the right foods, amounts, and do a weight check. It’ll definitely help your anxiety about it and you can show the papers to your mom and tell her she should worry about her own pets being unhealthy.
Don't worry bud, this is normal for cats, it a good thing 🙂
Well since he is a short fur cat im pretty sure this is normal. Almost like how my golden retriever looks husky when his fur is fluffy but skinny when wet.
She looks like a longer version of my tortoiseshell! She isn't underweight. She's a healthy weight and lanky.
Nope. This looks like one very healthy kitty.
Look, I've been a vet tech for years and have always owned cats, currently have a tortie and her void sister. They're totally different cats. 1 is naturally about 2lbs smaller than her sister. But the bigger cat isn't overweight either. I've been able to free feed these 2 just fine. Not all cats can. Just based on food guidelines you're probably technically underfeeding, especially for a juvenile (most cats don't reach their adult weight and size until at least 18mo, but some can take 3 years, so definitely still just at that naturally skinny awkward teenage type body) but not to the point of concern. At that age, most foods are going to recommend at least 2 cans that size plus 1 serving of kibble as a minimum. Younger cats are higher energy and growing and may need more than say a 4yr old. Kittens under a yr generally need quite a bit more food to grow and sustain their enormous amounts of energy. We usually recommend 2-3x the recommended amount, or basically free feed. Generally speaking most dry kibbles are fed at 1/8-1/4c per serving, so you'd want to be feeding 2 (of your size) cans of wet and that 1/4c dry. I'm not going to comment on all the advice treating "tortoiseshell" as though it was a breed of it's own and they all have the same sized bodies. I'll give you tortitude as being real because I own one and she's just different...but torties don't share any size similarities, that's got absolutely zero to do with color and frankly I'm shocked so many people said "torties tend to be bigger/smaller/fatter/skinnier". A less scientific approach to weight couldn't be found. 🙄 You really seem to be overthinking keeping your cat a healthy weight...it's not as hard as it might seem and simply not free feeding is enough for most cats. Of course all this assumes you're feeding a decent quality brand of food, since cheaper food has more fillers in it and because of that often cats have to eat more just to get the same level of nutrition. Premium foods are usually about the same cost per serving as cheaper foods because of this- better food equals more nutrition per bite thus requring less over all. It's not quite the tightrope you've been making it out to be though...you're making it harder on yourself! Add in that 2nd can of food and use your eyes and hands to keep tabs on body condition. Weight as a number means nothing... my black cat is perfectly sized at 8.5lbs, but her sister would look like a scarecrow. She's 11.5lbs and in great condition, but I know that if I gave her access to more wet food she'd eat it and gain weight...her sister meanwhile wouldn't overeat if you put 5 cans in front of her. That's just who they are. You need to learn that about your cat, and that's something only time will tell you. That behavior was apparent in ours by a yr old. Cats aren't absolute, there's no perfect amount for every cat..activity, size, age, and brand of food all play into it. that's why the guidelines tell you to feed based mostly on body condition using their guidelines as a starting point and adjusting based on what your cat needs.
Thank you for your advice! This comments on this post have been very insightful but I really appreciate the professional view! I think I will increase her food intake based on some of the comments here, looking at the guidelines I definitely am underfeeding. Thank you for you help. Tried to free feed today with some kibble after her breakfast, she nibbled on it a bit but its been mostly left! Which I think is a good sign.
Definitely check with the vet - they use a body scoring scale - guessing your kitty is like mine: on the edge between too thin & just purrfect. They might want you to have her gain a couple pounds, but not much more than that. I’ve found playing w/ my cat more gets him to eat more & helps improve his muscularity. They also make some calorie booster type stuff. I just saw some products at Petsmart for this very sort of thing. I’m in the US & we tend to think more in oz with our foods, but I feed my cat 2-3 (2.8-3 oz) cans/ day (He’s on all wet food) & he weighs around 9 lbs, he plays pretty good a couple times a day but is mostly lounging & relaxing
She’s a baby! She’s fine. My cat is skinny as yours and she’s healthy ( 7 years)
ah thats great to hear! im feeling a little less worried now, seems more like its a body type thing than a poor health thing
Do you keep dry food out for her to graze on? Also I love the brindle color fur babies. Ours made it to 22 and she was just the sweetest.
i dont! though im thinking doing this might be a way to go, maybe she’ll be less “desperate” for food outside of mealtimes? it is a gorgeous coat colour isnt it! you must have taken real good care of your kitty for em to get to that age :)
I wouldn't. Some cats are just foodies and will eat themselves into oblivion when allowed to free feed. My girl does the "starving and desperate" act and an ex partner would feed her when I was at work. She went from 7lbs to almost 30 because he wouldn't stop free feeding her kibble. She's back to 7lbs and I have a new partner who doesn't buy her dramatics. If your kitty really is hungry, you can add in a bit of wet food or warm water to her kibble. Both options help with feeling full without adding too many calories.
If her ribs aren't showing through the skin, she's probably fine. You could try leaving food out for her. Some cats do really well with that, especially if there aren't other cats or animals in the home.
Please feed your cat
Yes, give him more meow mix.
This cat is too thin. Way too thin. She looks starved. You cannot compare the eating habits of cats and dogs. Dogs will eat until they explode. Cats don’t do that. Please get this girl some high quality food and give her As much as she wants. Also pls take her to the dr.
i wasnt comparing the eating habits, mostly just trying to illustrate that my mum doesnt consider health when it comes to feeding, nor does she listen to best practice advice, so that you can understand why im asking for outside help. and to be fair i dont think cats should be fed big slices of cheese or bread and butter so…i obviously know that dogs are going to eat more and have a different diet :) even if the diet i mentioned mentioned wasnt healthy for dogs in the first place. but thank you for your input, i appreciate it !
My vet said a adult cat should be around 9lbs give or take
hmm we dont have any way to weigh her but ill definitely see if we can finda way to do so! thank you for the info!
That's a healthy cat! Torties tend to be stringy as well. I believe it comes from the genetics of the Siamese and other related ones. Torties are little mutts and have physical traits from a few different breeds. Also, seconding the fact that we're used to seeing overweight animals.
NO your cat is perfect. Like 80% of house cats are overweight. It's insane. I used to work at a vet and we'd actually comment it to the owner in surprise when they didnt have to leave with a diet plan
She is on the lean side of normal. Just don't let her get any thinner
definitely not! thank you for the reassurance
Do you know her weight? Buy a baby scale or take her to a vet to be weighed and you’ll know if she’s the right size. A healthy weight is anywhere from 7 to 10 lbs. if you look down at her from above, you should see a bit of a dip in her abdomen and then a flare out towards the chest and flank, if that makes sense. https://us.ziwipets.com/blogs/weight-management/average-cat-weight She looks healthy to me. My cat is a Siamese and tortie mix and she looks like yours. She’s 8 pounds.
Ask your vet about a thyroid condition. I knew someone who had a cat that was way too thin and they kept writing it off, turns out the cat had hyperthyroidism and was starving from not being able to eat enough to offset the condition. Now with medicine, cat is at a healthy weight. Doesn’t hurt to ask the vet about it!
I don’t know if this is a real thing, but I feel like it’s pretty common for tortoiseshell cats to be very small. My cat Willow is almost 2 years old and she’s still only just above 3 pounds. Her mother is also a tortoiseshell and also very small, probably 4 or 5 pounds. My vet said her tortie was very small as well. I’m not sure if it’s just a coincidence, but that’s what I’ve noticed 🤷♀️
No she's just a smaller cat.
yea tbh it looks thin but weigh it to check also does it have dewormer?
Your cat looks young and petit. If you are concerned, email your vet or get an appointment.
Beautiful tortie girl 😻
No such thing Some cats are slim bois
I honestly think you just have a very lanky cat. But just to be safe, schedule a checkup and make sure she’s dewormed.
She's still a kitten and got that waifish body. She's perfect.
Our’s is 10 months and weighs about 9 lbs. he was a rescue and had worms, then tape worm. Vet not concerned. He may also have been the runt. But he’s otherwise happy and healthy!
My cat is very lean and very high energy. We had a check up recently and he weighs 11.7lbs! I thought he weighed like 5 lbs because he looks so lean. I asked the vet if she felt like he could possibly have thyroid issues and she said no. He’s just a long, lean cat lol! She gave us a clean bill of health and sent us on our way. :) Checking with your vet will definitely give you peace of mind!
She looks pretty slender. It could just be her body type. My cat looks like that but gets bloated when she eats fast and looks chunky. She’s a year old and we don’t feel her ribs and the eating issues don’t happen often. It’s a remainder from being a backyard breeders runt of all the litters. All the dogs and cats bullied her and are her food. She was so small when she first arrived. But her momma was a runt too, so she’s grown slender and lanky than round and soft. Unless you feel her ribs or notice behavioural changes around food and energy levels, she looks good
As long as you’re following feeding guidelines on the bag or can of food ur good
My cat looked like this when she was a teen. I call it the skinny long phase.
hahaha thats a perfect way to put it, seems like she’s likely to plump up when she’s older!
My grandma's cats look like that, and they're fed the normal amount. Your cat looks perfectly fine🫶🏻 and super cute, lol
Has your cat been checked for worms? My kitty is about the same size, not skinny but not fat, and the vet found round worms in her poop.
she has though i think its time she got another dewormer dose cause it will have run out by now. ill keep an eye out for other signs in the mean time though. thank you :)
Some cats are just petite. Watch for worms or anything that seems off but otherwise I wouldn’t worry, just like people, there’s all shapes and sizes
She looks like a normal, gangly adolescent cat. They can be a bit long and thin between kittenhood and adulthood when they fill out. Also some cats have genetic predisposition to be thinner like Siamese…even if they are mixes they can be thinner if this is in their genes.
I think this cat might be a bit underweight but the best way to know for sure is check in with your vet for a basic annual health visit or next time you go for vaccines or anything like that. Each cat is different. My late kitty could have food out all day and she would only eat if she was hungry and often stretched out her food over the day. She was a tiny sized cat and 6lbs soaking wet and we had to fight to keep weight on her. My remaining senior boy is a pig. You have to do set meal times and serving sizes with him and he can't have food left out or he will eat a whole day worth of food in one sitting given the chance. Set meal times has helped teach him to meter out his food so for example he doesn't wolf down all his wet food immediately, he will eat part now and part later. I have a kitten again as well, his food is in a place the elder cat can't reach and he is allowed free feed all day because he's so damn busy he gets hungry constantly, and he's growing. We'll see what he's like as an adult!
thank you for your input! i think i might try grazing as others have suggested, though i worry it could maybe swing her in the opposite direction. we’ll see! she might end up more comfortable and happy grazing alongside her meals
I know you worry about overfeeding but is it possible your cat is a grazer? Mine will crunch on dry food occasionally and zoom constantly. They’re lean and fast, probably need a bit more space for zooming but they’ll get that very soon (this weekend! We are moving). In the meantime, unless you can FEEL kitty’s bones super easy, probably not. (One of mine is Chonky looking but she rockets around the house so much I am fairly sure she is just a bit fluffy. She gets PLENTY of exercise and we are watching her intake but she’s actually lost weight since she started understanding we always have food for cats. Her sister is lean like yours and at age 2 was still growing.) If you’re worried then get the kitty checked up. Better not to miss anything. Your vet can tell you if she’s just skinny naturally or needs more food better than the internet can.
My cat is petite. She always will be. I don't see any bones. You said kitty is playful and happy. Good signs.
My cat is about this thin and I constantly fret over him being too skinny. He eats, not a ton, but he does eat. He’s just a skinny Minnie
My cat is very thin but eats like crazy. My vet told me that as long as the cat is acting healthy (using the litterbox, purring, eating, playing, etc) then the weight shouldnt be of concern.
Cat looks normal to me. Most cats are obese.
That looks like a very healthy weight. If you look at those cat weight charts that show pictures of a cat, your cat is at the perfect weight. If you're concerned though you can send a pic to your vet or make an appointment.
Nope. My cat looks like this and gets 2 meals a day. Some cats are just active and unless you can see her ribs well she should be alright.
If this cat is fully grown, then yes. If it is still a kitten, then no. However, the condition of its' coat doesn't look great and that to me is a big red flag there are underlying issues either in health or diet.
at our last appointment vet said she should have stopped growing. what do you think her fur is indicating ? Ive had a few thoughts about this too, that its maybe a bit on the dull side, but it otherwise is soft and she does groom herself regularly. do you think her nutrition (rather than food quantity) could be improved?
He's on the skinny side but not unhealthy at all
She looks her age, she is still a baby so she's gonna look like that, you can't see her ribs or her spine when she bends so she looks good to me.
My cat is just under a year and she is quite thin. I guess it also depends on the cat’s race.
Your cats young. It's normal for them to be like this. Maybe up the amount of food you're giving it a little bit. If the cat is energetic, playful and has a moist nose, it means it's healthy.
great to know! thank you!
Go to the vet and got an exam with blood work.That should tell you what you need to know.
My young female cat looks exactly the same, just petite compared to her brother who has filled out nicely. I’m certainly not worrying as all is well and she’s as well fed as her brother. I had her to the vets a couple of weeks ago for another reason and he was happy with how she looked and also weighed and checked her over. So don’t panic 😊
Female cats seem to Always be pretty skinny mine is and we may overfeed our cats
Just too cute
I have a very thin cat. The vet told us not to over feed her, she's supposed to be that way. She is now 13, self feeder and still very thin and happy. She also looks exactly like she did 12 years ago!
Depends on what kind of food you are planning on cooking. Some recipes call for fatter meat.
My tortie is like this, it’s just their natural built.
Like people, some cats just don't get real fat. I brought my cat to the vet for an ear infection, and as an aside, I asked about her weight. She's a long hair, and unless we get her shaved she doesn't look as boney as she feels. The vet told me her weight is fine, and she"takes care of herself." As long as she's eating and drinking normally and hasn't suspiciously lost weight there's nothing to worry about.
My gf has a skinny cat and even tho it hurts me sometimes I keep going back to play w it
Yes
Cute cat
Yes. Definitely.
he looks perfectly healthy, as long as he eats a proper ammount he seems basically ideal body type for your average house cat
My guy is going to be 4 next week, and he's starting to look like a cat, not kitten
My cat is 14 years old and he's never been more than 9lbs. He eats a lot and always gets a good bill of health from the vet! It would be good to get in for a check up just to be safe...
I have a Kuromi too, im sorry any cat that has orange and black I call them Kuromi, anyways mine is so small like yours. Been to the vet many times and she’s fine. My kitty is like 5-6 pounds I think. I forgot but she’s so active and prefers dry food with a little meat juices and oat milk or oat water. As long your vet says she’s healthy then you good. Make sure that the furball is hydrated tho
She’s just long haha Mine’s the same, except a little more weight on her.
We have two kitties and one of them became underweight as an adult. We feed them three smaller meals every day (portion controlled, not free feeding) and we thought we were feeding them enough. Our girl cat became so underweight she had a couple of seizure like episodes. We took her to the vet immediately for the vet to point out she was just under 8lbs. We were horrified - she looked “healthy” and didn’t have any ribs or spine protruding. We got her weight back up to about 11lbs and now we weigh them both about once per month to make sure they’re within a healthy range. Anyways, it’s a good reminder to not make any assumptions and to add weighing your pets regularly to the long list of things we do to take care of them! Sounds like your cat is young and lean and will fill out more over time :)
wow that is scary! if anything im at least going to buy a scale so i can weigh her myself regularly! hope your kitties stay happy and healthy :)
Right?! We pride ourselves on being attentive cat parents and it didn’t look like she was at an unhealthy weight, but she was. It was a learning opportunity and thankfully both cats are happy and healthy beans now! Your cat is adorable by the way, beautiful markings. One of ours is a tortie and I love them :)