Is my cat overweight? How to help your cat lose weight safely
A well-fed cat is a happy cat, right? Up to a point. A few extra pounds can creep on without anyone noticing, especially under a fluffy coat. The good news is that an overweight cat can usually get back in shape with small, steady changes. Here's how to tell if your cat is carrying extra weight, how to help them lose it safely, and how to keep it off.
Is my cat overweight?
The quickest way to check is by feel, not by the scales. Gently run your hands along your cat's sides and look at them from above:
Ideal: you can feel their ribs under a light covering, and they have a gentle waist behind the ribs.
Overweight: the ribs are hard to feel, the waist has gone, and there may be a rounded belly or a fatty pouch underneath.
Obese: you can't feel the ribs at all, and there's a noticeable belly and fat over the back and base of the tail.
Vets use a body condition score (BCS) to do the same thing more precisely. Cats Protection describes a cat as overweight when they're more than 10% above their ideal weight, and obese when they're more than 20% above (Cats Protection).
For a handy picture guide, the UK Pet Food Cat Size-O-Meter shows each body shape side by side. Checking once a month is a good habit. If you think your cat is overweight, your vet can confirm it and work out their ideal weight.
Why it's easy to miss
If you're not sure whether your cat is a little chunky, you're not alone. In a study at a vet practice in Glasgow, 39% of cats were assessed as overweight or obese, and owners' views of their cat's shape often didn't match the assessment, especially for overweight and longhaired cats (Courcier et al., 2010).
By comparison, 17% of UK cat owners say a vet professional has told them their cat is overweight (PDSA, 2025). The two figures were measured in different ways, so they can't be compared directly, but together they suggest some overweight cats may be slipping under the radar.
A few reasons it's easy to miss:
Fur hides a lot. A long or thick coat can make a slim cat look big, and a big cat look normal.
Weight creeps on slowly. A little extra each month is hard to spot when you see your cat every day.
Breed and frame vary. Larger breeds are naturally heavier, so the shape of your cat matters more than the number on the scales.
Why extra weight matters
Carrying extra weight can affect how your cat feels and moves. In a study of more than 2,600 cats, higher body condition scores were linked to 14 of the 21 health conditions the researchers looked at, with the strongest links in the heaviest cats (Teng et al., 2018).
Conditions often linked to excess weight in cats include:
Diabetes
Stiff, sore joints and arthritis
Urinary problems
Difficulty grooming, which can lead to skin and coat issues
The study shows links rather than proof that weight causes each condition, but it's a good reason to help your cat stay trim. A trimmer cat can also find it easier to jump, climb, and groom, which means more of the things that make them happy.
How to put a cat on a diet safely
Healthy cat weight loss is all about slow and steady. Here's how to get started:
See your vet first. They can rule out medical causes, confirm a target weight, and set a plan. Many practices run weight clinics.
Feed for their target weight, not their current one. Use the feeding guide on the pack, or the feeding calculator on our product pages, based on the healthy weight your vet suggests.
Weigh their food in grams. Use kitchen scales rather than cups or scoops, as the density of food differs between recipes and even between batches.
Split the daily amount into small meals. Cats naturally prefer to eat little and often (Sadek et al., 2018).
Count every treat. Treats are part of the daily allowance, not extra to it.
Weigh your cat regularly, on the same scales, and keep a note.
Slow is safe. Your vet will set the pace, and a common aim is to lose around 1% of body weight a week or less (VCA Animal Hospitals). In a study of cats on vet-supervised weight loss programmes, the typical rate was even gentler, at about 0.6% a week (Deagle et al., 2014).
Never put your cat on a crash diet or cut their food sharply. Cats who go without enough food for a few days can develop fatty liver disease (hepatic lipidosis), and overweight cats are particularly at risk (Munguia, 2023). If your cat stops eating during their diet, call your vet. Our guide to why your cat might not be eating explains more.
If you're changing your cat to a new food, take it gently. We always recommend switching over a 2 week period starting with 10% new food, 90% current food, and gradually increasing the new food.
What about treats?
Treats don't have to disappear, they just need to fit inside the daily allowance. A few ideas:
Use their own biscuits as treats. Set aside a few from the day's measured amount and hand them out as rewards.
Break treats into smaller pieces. Your cat gets the same moment of joy for less.
Reward with attention. A play session, a brush, or a chin scratch can mean just as much to many cats.
Get the whole household on board. Agree who feeds the cat and when, so nobody gives a "second breakfast" by mistake.
Common reasons cats put on weight
Most cats gain weight simply because they take in a little more energy than they use. Common reasons include:
Feeding habits. Feeding frequency was also linked to weight in the same study, and topping up the bowl all day makes it hard to know how much your cat is really eating.
Treats and titbits. Small extras add up quickly for a small animal.
Indoor living. Indoor cats can have fewer chances to run, climb, and hunt. Our guide to indoor or outdoor cats has more on this.
Second dinners. Outdoor cats sometimes find extra meals at a neighbour's house.
If your cat is losing weight without trying, that's a different issue and worth a vet check. Our guide to the best senior cat food covers weight loss in older cats.
Getting an indoor cat moving
You don't need a cat gym. Short, regular bursts of activity make a difference, and turning mealtimes into a hunt is a great place to start. A panel of feline vets recommends feeding programmes that mimic cats' natural hunting behaviour (Sadek et al., 2018).
Ideas to try:
Puzzle feeders: let your cat work for part of their daily allowance. Start with an easy one, then make it trickier.
Scatter feeding: hide a few biscuits from their daily allowance around a room for them to find.
Play little and often: a few short sessions a day with a wand toy or a ball can get them pouncing and chasing.
Go vertical: cat trees, shelves, and window perches encourage climbing.
Stop if your cat seems out of breath or uncomfortable, and build up gradually.
Feeding one cat on a diet in a multi-cat home
It's tricky when one cat needs to lose weight and the other doesn't. A few ideas from Cats Protection (Cats Protection):
Feed cats in separate rooms, and lift any leftovers afterwards.
Use a microchip feeder, which only opens for the cat it's set to.
Try the box trick: cut a hole in a box that's big enough for the slimmer cat but too small for the larger one, and put their food inside.
Keeping the weight off
Losing the weight is only half the story. In a small study that followed 26 cats after they'd successfully slimmed down, 46% regained more than 5% of their body weight (Deagle et al., 2014). The researchers found that:
Younger cats were most at risk, especially those under seven.
Cats fed more during their diet were more likely to regain weight afterwards.
What that means for you:
Don't go straight back to old portions. Ask your vet how much to feed once your cat reaches their target.
Keep weighing. A monthly weigh-in helps you spot a creep upwards early.
Keep the good habits. Puzzle feeders, measured meals, and play are worth keeping for life.
Book regular check-ins. A weigh-in at each vet visit or vaccination keeps everyone on track, and your vet can adjust portions as your cat gets older.
Our recipes for cats watching their weight
Every Meowing Heads recipe is made with natural ingredients from farmers we know and trust, with no artificial colours, flavours, or preservatives. No nasties and no fillers. That's a promise.
Fat Cat Slim dry cat food: our light recipe for cats who need a little help with their waistline. Made with salmon and free-run chicken, it's lower in fat than our regular adult recipes. Added L-carnitine helps the body use fat for energy, and glucosamine and chondroitin are added to help support joints.
You'll find it in our slimming cat food collection. Not sure where to start? Our pet food quiz can help, and Subscribe & Save gives you 20% off every order.
FAQs
Is a 7kg cat overweight?
It depends on your cat's frame and breed. Cats Protection says most adult cats weigh around 3.6 to 4.5kg, so many cats would be overweight at 7kg, but some larger breeds are naturally heavier (Cats Protection, n.d.). A body condition check tells you more than the number on the scales.
Can a chubby cat still be healthy?
A cat can seem perfectly happy while carrying extra weight, but excess weight is linked to a higher chance of problems like diabetes and sore joints. Getting back to a healthy shape is one of the simplest ways to support a long, active life.
What is the fastest way for a cat to lose weight?
There isn't a safe fast way. Cutting food sharply can lead to fatty liver disease, so slow, vet-guided weight loss is the safest approach.
How long does it take a cat to lose weight?
It can take several months, and Battersea says very overweight cats may take up to a year to reach their ideal weight (Battersea, 2026). Regular weigh-ins help you and your vet track progress.
Should I feed my overweight cat wet or dry food?
Both can work, as long as the food is complete and the portions are measured. Wet food adds water to your cat's day, while dry food works well in puzzle feeders. If you mix the two, for example Fat Cat Slim with a pouch from our wet cat food collection, split one daily allowance between them.
What is the life expectancy of an obese cat?
There's no single figure, as it depends on the cat and any health problems they have. Excess weight is linked to conditions that can affect how long and how well a cat lives, so helping your cat reach a healthy weight gives them the best chance.
A healthier, happier cat
Helping an overweight cat slim down doesn't mean a life of empty bowls. It means measured meals, a little more play, and patience. Start with a chat with your vet, make small changes, and celebrate every bit of progress along the way.
