The average weight for an eight-week old kitten is typically between 500 and 1,000 grams (1,050–2,100 ounces). At this stage of development, most kittens are eating solid foods and exploring their environment with some success!
At six months, most cats weigh around one to two kilograms (2–4 pounds) depending on what breed they are. Some very large breeds can reach heavier weights at this age like British shorthairs which can easily tip the three pound mark.
Some things that influence how much your cat weighs include genetics, diet, activity levels, and of course, water intake.
This article will discuss why it is important to know your cat’s exact weight and what to do if she seems unusually heavy or light compared to her littermates and/or other pets in her group.
Disclaimer: This article contains references to mortality. If you are concerned about killing animals, then please stop reading now.
It also talks about health risks related to overweight dogs and cats. So, we are not encouraging obesity here, but we are telling you about it so that you are aware.
Obesity in dogs and cats is unfortunately becoming increasingly common. It increases risk of disease and sometimes death. Fortunately, there are ways to help prevent this overgrowth.
Your cat is too heavy
We as humans have given birth for millions of years, so we understand how to care for our young children. Cats are not born with fur like dogs, so they do not need as much grooming!
Grooming any animal can sometimes cause health problems or even death if done improperly or too frequently. This includes taking good care of your kitty’s nails, shampooing them, brushing their hair and giving them a bath.
As seen in this article, some cats gain weight after they are spayed or neutered, which is why it is important to weigh your pet before surgery and check again two weeks later.
Your cat is the right weight
Only ever worry about your kitty being too thin or too fat, unless you have cause to believe she/he may be suffering from malnutrition.
Most cats are an adequate source of nutrition for their body size. They will eat enough food for normal growth if they are given appropriate amounts of it every day.
Your cat is too thin
If you notice your kitten or young cat seems to be getting thinner and thinner, it may be time to worry. They should always have at least an adequate amount of food, but they can also need weight checked to see if they are sick or suffering from nutritional issues.
If your kitty has become noticeably thinner in the past week, take them straight to the vet for a check up. It’s possible that something else is wrong and causing them to lose weight, so don’t wait!
It’s totally normal for kittens to eat less than their usual self, but it is not normal when they begin eating almost nothing.
Since cats are dependent on being overfed to feel safe and comfortable, cutting back on feeding is concerning. Make sure to bring your cat to the veterinarian immediately if they seem overly hungry or want to try to feed themselves by licking off the bowl.
They need to lose weight
The average healthy weight for an adult cat is around 2-3 kg (4.4–6.8 lb) depending on their body size. A very small, thin kitten can stay as such through adolescence if parents take care of them.
However, many breed types are designed to be heavier! For example, in the case of pure bred cats like Maine Coons or British Shorthairs, they average about 4-5kg (9lb – 9.8lb)!
This isn’t necessarily bad unless your kitty is suffering from obesity. If you look at pictures and videos of these breeds, you will see that most of them have quite long legs which require more food to fuel growth.
Making sure your cat has enough food to eat is one of the first steps in helping her manage her weight.
They are the right weight
When you bring your cat home, they should be a known quantity. The average house-training age is eight to twelve months, so how much they weigh at that stage makes a lot of difference!
Eight week old kittens can easily be rehomed if their parents find them beautiful but too heavy. Two or three month olds may need more time before they find a home as most people feel that cats that young deserve better than being put into a shelter where they will face socialization issues and stress due to high turnover.
Three to six month olds are in the ideal weight range. If owners notice their body shape changing then it’s probably because their cat has grown larger since they last weighed him/her.
Get a health check up
Although it may feel like a lot, one day at a time, there is an appropriate weight for every kitten! An average cat’s weight is usually around 2-3 kg (4½–7 lb) but some can weigh more or less.
Kittens are different from adult cats in two important ways: their growth rate and how fast they consume food.
A 1 month old kitten will need proportionally more food to maintain its body mass than a 5 year old cat. This is because young kittens grow much faster than older animals do!
Their growing bones require more calcium to help them develop properly, so they eat more per unit of body size. They also have longer muscles that take more calories to use – making them want to eat more.
For this reason, most veterinary professionals recommend feeding a kitten weaned off of milk at least until it is eight months old. At which point, they should be given solid foods such as meat or chicken purées, dried kibble, or canned meats and fish.
After this, they can be fed a combination of both solid and liquid diets depending on what kind of nutrition they require. Nutrient levels can vary widely between brands, however, so do not assume one diet is better than another unless you have tested it first!
Cat owners often worry about their pets getting enough nutrients when eating only dry food, so many mix their pet’s diet with raw vegetables and/or fresh fruits.
Change their diet
Even though most kittens are weaned off of milk at six months, they may still need some extra nutrition during this time. Changing the type of food your kitten eats is one way to ensure his or her growth.
Kittens that are not eating well can become very thin and suffer from health problems. They can also develop nutritional issues like low iron or vitamin D levels.
Making the change to an appropriate kibble-type food will help promote healthy weight gain for your cat. Unfortunately, there is no national recommendation for how much a 6 month old cat should weigh; it depends on several factors.
Shrink or grow
Even though your little cat probably doesn’t eat as much as most adult cats, she should still be eating at least half of what an average kitten her age would require.
This depends on how active and playful she is, but even if she stays mostly in one area, she needs to consume enough food to keep up with growth!
She may not need as much food when she is more mature, but until then, it’s important that she eats well.
Not only does limiting weight loss help ensure she will stay healthy, but also helps prevent obesity later on. Many health issues can occur from our childhoods on diets, so making sure she is eating properly now can have long term benefits.
Cat owners usually worry about their pets getting too thin, which is totally normal, but sometimes they get concerned about another problem: overfeeding. If you are worried about this, talk to your vet about appropriate cat weights.
