Is my cat too fat or too skinny? A guide to body condition scoring in catsHave you ever wondered if your cat is an ideal weight? How do you know if you need to cut out on some of the treats? It is important to keep your cat an ideal weight throughout their life to prevent diseases such as diabetes and arthritis. When vets assess your cat’s weight they are not just looking at the number on the scales but also assessing something called Body Condition Score (BCS). This is because the genetics of every cat are different and the overall condition is more helpful to assess what the ideal body weight for your cat is. Our vet shares their tips and advice here.This article was written by a FirstVet vetDid you know that FirstVet offers video calls with experienced, UK registered vets? You can get a consultation within 30 minutes by downloading the FirstVet app for free from the Apple App Store or Google Play.✓ Included free as part of many pet insurance policies✓ Help, treatment and if you need it, a referral to your local vet✓ Open 24 hours a day, 365 days a year Rating: 4.9 - more than 1600 reviewsRating: 4.9 - more than 1300 reviewsRating: 4.9 - more than 1600 reviews BOOK What is body condition scoring?A body condition score chart gives you a silhouette and a list of characteristics to look for. If you have a very fluffy pet, think of how they look in the bath when their hair is all wet. Learning to body condition score your cat will help keep them healthy at all life stages.The four main things we assess when deciding on overall body condition are:Ability to feel ribs, lower spine and bony prominencesAbility to see a ‘waist’ - tucking in of the abdomen after the ribcage when looking at your cat from aboveAbility to see an ‘abdominal tuck’ - tucking up (upward slant) of the abdomen after the ribcage when looking at your cat from the sidePresence of fat depositsA body condition score is the score given to your cat (out of 9) depending on which of the above features you can see and feel. Make sure to run your hands over your cat to assess the amount of fat you can feel over the ribs and spine as well as look at your cat’s silhouette from above and from the side.1-3: Under ideal1 - Ribs very easily seen on short-haired cats. No fat pads present. Severe abdominal tuck. Lumbar vertebrae and pelvic bones easily seen and felt2 - Ribs easily seen on short-haired cats. Lumbar vertebrae obvious. Pronounced abdominal tuck. No fat pads present3 - Ribs easily felt with minimal fat covering. Lumbar vertebrae obvious. Obvious waist behind ribs. Minimal abdominal fat pads4-5: Ideal4 - Ribs felt with minimal fat covering. Noticeable waist behind ribs. Slight abdominal tuck. Minimal abdominal fat pads5 - Well-proportioned. Ribs felt with slight fat covering. Waist seen behind ribs, but not pronounced. Abdominal fat pad minimal6-9: Over ideal6 - Ribs felt with slight excess fat covering. Waist and abdominal fat pad present but not obvious. Abdominal tuck absent. (A BCS of 6/9 may be acceptable in some cats, especially older cats.)7 - Ribs not easily felt through moderate fat covering. Waist not easily seen. Slight rounding of the abdomen may be present. Moderate abdominal fat pad8 - Ribs not felt due to excess fat covering. Waist absent. Obvious rounding of the abdomen with prominent abdominal fat pad. Fat deposits present over lower back area9 - Ribs not felt under heavy fat cover. Heavy fat deposits over the lumbar area, face and limbs. Distention of abdomen with no waist. Extensive abdominal fat depositsFurther informationObesity in dogsObesity in catsGet advice from an experienced vetYou notice that your pet is overweight or underweightYou notice your cat is losing or gaining weightHave more questions about your cat's weight?Book a video appointment to have a chat with one of our FirstVet vets. They will be able to discuss how best to manage your cat’s weight, exercise and nutrition based on their specific, individual needs.
