do you know what your cat weighs?

My recommendation: Weigh your cat once a month, at home.

Knowing your cat's weight makes everyday decisions easier. It helps you choose the correct dose of medication and check feeding guides accurately.

More importantly, it allows you to track your cat's weight over time.

A gradual increase tells you it's time to reassess how much you're feeding. A gradual decrease may be one of the earliest signs of illness.

Cats are remarkably good at hiding disease. By the time weight loss becomes obvious without regular weighing, the underlying problem may already have been present for some time.

Monthly weighing helps you recognise change early, giving you and your veterinarian the opportunity to act sooner.

How to weigh your cat

Choose whichever method works best for you, but use the same method every time.

Method 1: You and your cat

• Weigh yourself.
• Weigh yourself while holding your cat.
• Subtract your weight from the combined weight.

The difference is your cat's weight.

Method 2: Your cat and their carrier

• Weigh the empty carrier.
• Place your cat in the carrier and weigh them together.
• Subtract the weight of the empty carrier.

Again, the difference is your cat's weight.

Make it a monthly routine

Choose one day each month and stick to it.

Record your cat's weight in your calendar or your WellCat Journal. Over time you'll build a record that can be surprisingly valuable, helping you recognise gradual changes that would otherwise be easy to miss.

Stuart Ralph BVSc
Veterinarian and founder of WellCat