Cat Body Types

A cat is at higher risk for health problems if the cat is too thin or obese. If a cat is emaciated, it is not getting the proper nutrition to maintain the healthy functioning of the body systems. Obesity greatly increases the cat’s risk of developing diabetes mellitus. The cat owner should try to keep the cat at an ideal weight. If the cat is too thin or obese, they should seek help from the veterinarian for improving the cat’s body condition.

A cat owner may not realize what the ideal weight of cats should be. The general guideline is that cats should weigh between eight and twelve pounds. However, this is not necessarily true if the cat is a large or small breed. There is a weight chart for cats that describes the characteristics of the different body types of cats. The ideal body type is a healthy weight and is often considered a five on a weight chart for cats that has a range of one to nine.

Cats that have a body type of one or two are dangerously emaciated. A shorthaired cat that is a one on the weight chart is likely to have visible ribs, vertebrae, and pelvic bones. The coat of a longhaired cat in this condition may not be as obviously emaciated since the hair may cover the appearance of the bones. However, the bones would easily be felt.

A thin or underweight cat that is less than ideal size, but not emaciated, may be considered to be a number three or four on the weight chart for cats depending on the extent. A person can feel the ribs easily on a thin or underweight cat. For a cat of an ideal size, the ribs may still be felt, but not as easily due to a thin layer of fat between the ribs and skin.

Overweight and heavy are the levels six and seven of the cat weight chart. The cat owner may be able to feel the ribs, but the moderate layer of fat is noticeable. A heavy cat has a rounded abdomen. Obese and grossly obese cats have a significant amount of extra fat on their bodies. This can cause health problems and interfere with physical activity.