Although it may not be considered a necessary part of cat care, there are significant benefits to weighing your cat. Since cats cannot use words to tell us if they are feeling sick, cat owners must be observant and look for potential warning signs of illness.
A cat’s weight and the rate of weight gain and loss can tell you a lot about the cat’s well-being and overall quality of life. For example, tracking a cat’s weight can ensure healthy weight loss for overweight cats or raise flags for underlying diseases affecting a cat’s weight.
Fortunately, weighing a cat is a straightforward process. Here are some ways you can start weighing your cat and keeping track of their weight.
Before you begin
There are several ways to measure your cat’s weight. You can certainly put your cat on a pet scale and measure their weight, but it can be difficult if your cat doesn’t want to stay. For this reason, many people choose to hold their cat and use a human scale to record their cat’s weight. If you choose this method, make sure your cat is comfortable being picked up and handled.
1. Measure Your Own Weight
First, start by measuring your own weight. Check to make sure your scale is on a level surface before stepping on the scale. Record your weight, and be sure to write to the exact tenth of a pound. Since cats are smaller and lighter than people, it’s worth paying attention to changes under a pound.
Measure your weight one or two more times to make sure your scale is giving an accurate and consistent reading.
2. Pick Up Your Cat and Measure the Combined Weight
Next, gently pick up and hold your cat. Then, step back on the scale and record your combined weight. You can do this a few times to make sure you are getting a consistent reading from your scale.
3. Subtract Your Body Weight from Your Combined Weight
Next, subtract your body weight from your joint weight. The rest is your cat’s weight. For example, if your body weight is 150.5 pounds, and your combined weight with your cat is 157.2 pounds, your cat’s weight is 6.7 pounds.
Record your cat’s weight in a log. You can weigh your cat at most once a week, and it is recommended to weigh your cat at least once a month if they are on a weight loss plan. Keeping a log can help you notice patterns of weight loss or weight gain more quickly.
4. Use a Carrier if Your Cat Doesn’t Like Being Handled
If your cat won’t sit on a pet scale or really doesn’t like to be handled, you can try using a carrier to hold your cat while they are weighed. If you choose this method, it is best to use a hanging scale for the most accurate measurements.
Hang the empty carrier on the scale hook and record its weight measurement. Then, put your cat inside and weigh the carrier again. Subtract the weight of the empty carrier from the combined weight of the carrier and your cat. The rest will be your cat’s weight.
5. Be Sure to Reward Your Cat
Give your cat lots of praise right after you measure their weight, every time. If they don’t need to lose weight, give them some of their favorite foods as well. Rewarding your cat will eventually build a positive association with weigh-ins, and it will make this process easier for both of you.
Benefits of Weighing Your Cat
Your cat’s weight and weight fluctuations can tell you a lot about your cat. First, tracking your cat’s weight can help you determine if your cat is eating too little or too much food.
Cats may also begin to lose weight due to other health issues unrelated to insufficient food. Weight loss can be a sign of a larger underlying medical issue. Intestinal parasites, diabetes, hyperthyroidism, cancer, heart disease and kidney disease can all cause weight loss in cats. Recording your cat’s weight can help you identify potential health issues more quickly.
Large or rapid weight gain can put your cat at high risk for health issues, and it’s quite common for indoor cats to become overweight. Almost 60% of domestic cats are overweight.
Cat obesity can significantly reduce the cat’s quality of life. This can shorten their life expectancy, and obese cats often have mobility issues that make it difficult for them to move independently. Obesity increases the risk of cancer, diabetes, heart disease, and urinary stones. It is also thought to weaken a cat’s ability to fight infectious diseases.
Regular weighing of overweight cats ensures that they are losing weight at a healthy rate. In general, cats on weight loss plans should lose between 1-2% of their body weight per week. Anything can be dangerous, and rapid weight loss in a previously obese cat can lead to a serious liver condition called hepatic lipidosis.
Conclusion
Weighing your cat regularly can give you peace of mind knowing that your cat has healthy eating habits. Since weight loss and weight gain are often indicators of certain illnesses, weighing your cat can also help you identify health issues more quickly.
There are many different methods for weighing cats. Once you find one that works, stick with it, and be sure to reward your cat after each weigh-in. Adding weigh-ins to your cat’s grooming routine is a simple way to keep your cat healthy, and it can help you respond more quickly to any potential health issues.
Featured Image Credit: svf74, Shutterstock
