Community Chat

[Tinkrbl44]

The other day, my neighbor said my kitten is FAT.

Bogey is an 8 month old Tuxedo cat, with a rather long tail. He weighs approximately 13 pounds, and measures 30 inches from the top of his head to the end of his tail.

My groomer, who cuts his nails monthly, says he'll probably be about 18-20 pounds at 12 months.

Kittens need more nutrients and calories than adult cats, so I don't think I should try to slow down his growth or feed him "healthy weight" food before he reaches adulthood. He has a healthy appetite but I don't think I should try to restrict his diet .... should I ?

Can I please get some feedback from the experienced Cat Parents on here? I feel like she insulted my cat parenting and need your opinions .... thanks in advance!

Tink

[lolakimono]

How much are you feeding him, and what kind of food?

[Sammycat1]

Some neighbor! Bogey - what a cute name!

I've been a cat parent for more than 35 years. You're on the right track and doing just fine. He is a male cat with a big frame from the sound of it. Kittens older than 6 months should be losing that "pot-bellied" look of kittens and have a physique that looks more like an adult cat.

You're also correct not to cut his calories when he's a kitten -- that can lead to other major health problems down the road. It would be prudent to check in with your vet if you're concerned -- a vet can tell the difference between "good" weight and "bad" weight, i.e., weight from fluid that shouldn't be there from developing medical problems or worms or other health concerns...usually you see this kind of weight in the abdominal area first.

It depends on the cat, its position in the litter and its lineage...usually hard to know for a domestic short-haired cat. There are averages, and then there are cats who don't fit those averages...thus a good idea to get the vet to give an opinion before adjusting anything on your own.

Once I took in a stray who was 10 pounds and who I thought was an adult cat. The vet told me that he was only 6 months old and he was going to be one big cat -- and he was right. That stinker topped the scales at 20 lbs. eventually but was right where he should have been.

Good luck!

[jaxs mom]

It varies a lot depending on the breed. But 13 pounds for an 8 month old domestic shorthair is a lot. My adult males weigh 10-12 pounds and my not quite 2 year old male weighs 10. His father was really big so he may weigh more once he's full grown.

You really should go by how they feel to the touch. You should be able to just feel his ribs and he should tuck in a little just above the hips. Obviously that doesn't apply to certain breeds who have a more squat shape. If you're sure what to look for see this site

Are you free feeding? There is no reason to free feed and for some cats they will get fat if you do. At eight months it's fine to feed him 2-3 times a day.

[mewsmomtoo]

13 lbs sounds like a lot but he could be a big guy. I have a male cat who weighs 19 lbs and he is not fat by any means. Anyway, you can Google "cat body condition chart" and you will find a lot if info. My vet uses a 1-5 scale, but there are also charts with a 1-9 scale (Purina has one). Those should help you assess your kitty's body condition. And,of course, there is always your vet. You seem like a loving, caring kitty mom-that's so nice to see. :-)

[ID2]

What does your vet say about your cats weight? My vet doesn't want either one of my cats over 12 lbs. I'm hoping you are getting your cat its vaccines and check ups.

[Tinkrbl44]

The last time I was at the vet a few months ago, she said he was PERFECT in every way.

My dry to wet food ratio is 50/50 and he rarely gets even a sliver of people food.

He's due to go in again in April .... but I just measured him from top of head to end of tail and he's 30 inches! He sure is long for a "kitten" !

[hyacinth003]

My kitten, Percy, is 4 1/2 months old.

He weighs 7 1/2 pounds! His tail is really long! He is a longhair cat.

The vet said he thought he was over 6-8 months old. But, since he still has his baby teeth, believes him to only be 4 months! He said he will be a big boy.

I free feed him kitten food. Vet said fine.

I figure it's like babies to a certain age, especially breast fed. You don't try to limit their feedings at all.

Hyacinth

[luvmyteddy4]

My twin kittens 7-8 months old weigh about 7 pounds. They are always hungry and play really hard.

Their papa weighed 10 pounds at a year old when I caught him last summer and has doubled his weight. Very muscular and now that he has his babies to chase around I think he has dropped some weight. I can barely pick him up.

[Rooney1]

It really depends on the cat... I have a itty-bitty gray tabby who is about 6 pounds. My boy Jack is close to 20 and he is not fat - he is just a BIG cat. And, his brother Spike is even bigger.

The vet should be able to tell you if your kitty has any weight issues. Cats can also have thyroid issues and other things that can affect their weight, etc. They can also give you good recommendations of the amount of food needed. I have learned that we tend to overfeed our animals from time to time.

It can also be difficult when you have more than one cat. Some nibble and some belly up for a full feast.

I do recommend grain free dry. This seems to help keep weight down.

Good luck.