About 60% of indoor cats are overweight or obese. Beneath the adorable 'chonky' appearance lie serious risks: diabetes, urinary disease, joint problems, and a shortened lifespan.
BCS 4–5 (Ideal). You can feel ribs without pressing hard, and there's a visible waist when viewed from above — your cat is in great shape.
BCS 6–7 (Overweight). A fat layer is starting to accumulate. Time to review feeding amounts.
BCS 8–9 (Obese). No visible waist, a sagging belly. Active weight management is needed now.
Too heavy to bend and lick the back or hindquarters — a serious quality-of-life problem.
Excess weight strains joints, reducing mobility. Risk of osteoarthritis increases significantly.
Strain on the heart and lungs. Risk of hepatic lipidosis (fatty liver) is elevated in obese cats.
Obesity multiplies health risks across the board: 4x greater risk of diabetes, 3x for urinary disease, 5x for joint disease. Research suggests obese cats have a lifespan 2–3 years shorter than cats at a healthy weight.
One of the most dangerous risks is hepatic lipidosis (fatty liver disease). When an obese cat stops eating suddenly, the body mobilizes fat for energy so rapidly that the liver becomes overwhelmed. This can be fatal without intensive treatment. Crash diets are never appropriate for cats.
Safe weight loss is gradual: aim for 1–2% of body weight per week. For a 4 kg cat, that's 40–80 g per week, or 160–320 g per month. Plan for 6–12 months to reach the target weight.
CatsMe's health log tracks your cat's weight over time and displays it as a chart so you can see the trend clearly. 'Down 100 g since last month' — watching those small numbers change keeps you motivated and helps you adjust the plan if weight loss stalls.
Get Started FreeIt varies by breed, but a typical domestic shorthair should weigh 3.5–5 kg. Body Condition Scoring (BCS) is more accurate than scale weight alone. Your vet can help set a specific target weight based on your cat's frame.
Yes — low-calorie, high-protein diet foods are effective. But how much you feed matters more than which food you choose. Weigh portions with a kitchen scale against the manufacturer's guidelines for your cat's target weight, not its current weight.
Not necessarily. Treats can help with compliance and bonding. Limit treats to no more than 10% of daily caloric intake, and reduce the main meal accordingly. Choose low-calorie options, or use a portion of the daily kibble as 'treats.'