Is my cat overweight?

Three questions.

Body condition score, about

Answer the three questions.

This follows the WSAVA 9-point chart, where 5 is ideal. It is a guide for talking to your vet, not a diagnosis.

Answer three hands-on questions to estimate your cat's body condition score on the WSAVA 9-point scale, where 5 is ideal.

Why a body condition score beats a weight chart

A small-framed cat and a large one can be at their ideal at very different weights, which is why the WSAVA chart scores the body rather than the scale.

The WSAVA 9-point scale, in brief

Score	What you find
1 to 3	Under ideal. Ribs visible or felt with little or no fat, a marked belly tuck, bones prominent.
4	Slightly under ideal. Ribs felt with minimal fat, a noticeable waist, a slight tuck, no belly fat pad.
5	Ideal. Well proportioned, a waist behind the ribs, ribs easy to feel under a slight fat cover, a minimal belly fat pad.
6	Slightly over. Ribs felt under slight excess fat, waist and belly pad noticeable, no tuck.
7	Overweight. Ribs hard to feel under moderate fat, waist poorly defined, a rounded belly.
8 to 9	Very overweight. Ribs hard or impossible to feel, no waist, a prominent or heavy belly fat pad, fat over the lower back (and face and legs at 9).

How to check

Feel along the ribs with light pressure, look down from above for a waist behind the ribs, and look from the side for the belly tuck and the fat pad, as the WSAVA chart describes.

Next steps

If your cat scores above 5, ask your vet for a target weight, then use the cat food calculator and our cat food calorie list to set portions. Sudden weight loss is a reason to see the vet.

Sources

WSAVA Global Nutrition Committee, Body Condition Score chart (hosted by Ohio State University). Checked October 25, 2026.

Frequently asked questions

How much should my cat weigh?

It depends on the cat's frame. Vets judge it with a body condition score: on the WSAVA 9-point scale, 5 is ideal, with ribs easy to feel under a slight fat cover and a visible waist.