Wondering is my cat overweight? Most adult domestic cats have a healthy weight of about 8–10 pounds (3.6–4.5 kg), with 8–12 lb a commonly cited range and roughly 10 lb the typical average, according to the Cornell Feline Health Center and PetMD. But breed and body frame matter more than the scale: a Siamese can be healthy at 6 lb while a Maine Coon can be lean at 18 lb. Enter your cat’s weight above to see where it falls.
How the cat weight calculator decides “overweight”
Veterinarians define excess weight relative to a cat’s ideal body weight, not a single universal number. The Association for Pet Obesity Prevention and Cornell put an overweight cat at about 10–19% above ideal and an obese cat at 20% or more above ideal. So an 11 lb cat that should be 10 lb is overweight; a 13 lb cat that should be 10 lb is obese. Our tool applies that logic to the healthy range for your cat’s breed or frame, then shows a status of underweight, ideal, overweight, or obese.
Because averages are skewed by the fact that more than half of pet cats are overweight, the most reliable check is the Body Condition Score (BCS), a 9-point scale where 4–5 is ideal. You should be able to feel the ribs with a light touch, see a waist from above, and see a slight belly tuck from the side.
How much do cats weigh? Average weight by breed and sex
The average weight of a cat depends heavily on breed and sex — males typically run 1–2 lb heavier than females. A “normal” adult cat weight is roughly 8–12 lb for a mixed-breed domestic shorthair, but small breeds sit well below that and large breeds well above it. Use these figures as a starting point, then refine with a body condition check.
| Breed / type | Typical healthy adult weight |
|---|---|
| Singapura (smallest) | 4–8 lb (1.8–3.6 kg) |
| Siamese | 5–10 lb (2.3–4.5 kg) |
| Devon Rex | 6–9 lb (2.7–4.1 kg) |
| Abyssinian | 6–10 lb (2.7–4.5 kg) |
| Domestic Shorthair (mixed) | 8–12 lb (3.6–5.4 kg) |
| Persian | 7–14 lb (3.2–6.4 kg) |
| American Shorthair | 10–15 lb (4.5–6.8 kg) |
| Bengal | 8–15 lb (3.6–6.8 kg) |
| Norwegian Forest | 8–16 lb (3.6–7.3 kg) |
| Ragdoll | 10–20 lb (4.5–9.1 kg) |
| Maine Coon (largest) | 12–25 lb (5.4–11.3 kg) |
Cat weight chart by age: kitten weight from birth to 1 year
Kittens grow fast and predictably, which makes weight a useful health check. A newborn kitten weighs about 3–4 oz (85–113 g) and should roughly double its birth weight in the first week, gaining about 7–15 g (¼–½ oz) a day, per the ASPCA Kitten Age & Weight Chart. A handy rule of thumb from PetMD is that a kitten weighs about 1 pound per month of age up to four or five months — so a 1-month-old is around 1 lb and a 4-month-old around 4 lb.
| Age | Typical weight | Stage |
|---|---|---|
| 1 week | 70–190 g | Eyes closed; doubles birth weight |
| 2 weeks | 150–295 g | Eyes opening |
| 4 weeks (1 mo) | 250–520 g (~1 lb) | Weaning begins |
| 8 weeks (2 mo) | 700–925 g (1.5–2 lb) | Fully weaned |
| 12 weeks (3 mo) | 1.1–1.8 kg (2.5–4 lb) | Rapid growth |
| 4 months | 1.6–2.5 kg (3.5–5.5 lb) | ~1 lb/month holds |
| 5 months | 2.0–2.9 kg (4.5–6.5 lb) | Growth slowing |
| 6 months | 2.5–3.4 kg (5.5–7.5 lb) | “Mini-adult” |
| 12 months | 3.2–4.5 kg (~7–10 lb) | Adult size reached |
These ranges reflect domestic shorthair and medium breeds; large breeds like Maine Coons keep filling out until 18–24 months. A 15-pound cat is normal for a large breed but obese for a small one — which is exactly why the calculator asks for breed.
How to use the cat weight calculator
- Choose Adult cat or Kitten at the top of the tool.
- For an adult, enter the current weight and pick the breed or closest body frame; for a kitten, enter its age and current weight.
- Read the status — underweight, ideal, overweight, or obese — plus the healthy range and where your cat sits on the gauge.
- Run the 30-second body condition check (ribs, waist, tummy tuck) to confirm.
- Tap Print / save to keep a record for your vet.
BarnCalc · Cats
Cat Weight Calculator
Is your cat overweight? Check your cat's ideal weight by breed, or track a kitten's growth by age.
Your cat's healthy weight
Enter a weight above to see whether your cat is under, ideal, over, or obese.
Quick at-home body check (BCS)
- Ribs: you should feel them easily with a light touch, like the back of your hand — not see them, not have to press through fat.
- Waist: looking down from above, there should be a visible narrowing behind the ribs.
- Tummy: from the side, the belly should tuck up slightly, not hang or bulge.
Cat weight chart by breed & kitten weight by age
| Breed / type | Typical healthy adult weight |
|---|
| Kitten age | Typical weight range |
|---|
How it works: For adults we compare your cat's weight to the healthy range for its breed/frame; overweight is roughly 10–19% above that range and obese is 20%+ above (APOP / Cornell). For kittens we compare against typical weight-for-age ranges (ASPCA, weeks 1–8; ~1 lb per month thereafter). Body Condition Score (ideal 4–5 of 9) matters more than the scale alone.
Disclaimer: These are planning estimates, not veterinary advice. Breed, muscle, and frame vary, and more than half of pet cats are overweight, which skews "averages." Weigh regularly, keep records, and confirm your cat's ideal weight with your vet.
Sources: Cornell Feline Health Center · PetMD · Association for Pet Obesity Prevention (APOP) · ASPCA Kitten Age & Weight Chart.
Frequently asked questions
My cat weighs 7 pounds — is that healthy? For many small and medium cats, yes. Seven pounds is a healthy weight for petite breeds like the Siamese or Abyssinian and is on the lighter side of normal for a domestic shorthair. For a large breed it may be underweight, so check ribs and waist and ask your vet if the weight dropped unexpectedly.
Is a 15-pound cat overweight? It depends on the breed. Fifteen pounds is perfectly healthy for a Maine Coon, Ragdoll, or large Norwegian Forest cat, but for an 8–12 lb domestic shorthair it’s clearly overweight-to-obese and worth a vet review.
What’s the average weight of a cat? Around 8–10 lb (3.6–4.5 kg) for a typical adult domestic cat, with most cats near 10 lb — but breed, sex, and frame shift that considerably.
How much should a 1-year-old cat weigh? A 1-year-old is essentially adult-sized. Most domestic cats land near 8–10 lb, with males heavier than females; breed sets the real target.
How can I tell if my cat is overweight without a scale? Use the Body Condition Score: if you can’t feel the ribs, can’t see a waist from above, and the belly bulges rather than tucks, the cat is likely carrying excess fat. A BCS of 4–5 out of 9 is ideal.
How big will my kitten get? Until about four months, a kitten adds roughly a pound a month; growth then slows, with most cats reaching adult size by 12 months and large breeds by 18–24 months.
Sources
- Cornell Feline Health Center / PetMD — Average healthy cat weight
- Association for Pet Obesity Prevention & Cornell (via Rover) — Overweight vs. obese thresholds
- ASPCA — Kitten Age & Weight Chart
- PetMD — Kitten development & growth milestones
Reviewed for accuracy against the Cornell Feline Health Center, PetMD, the Association for Pet Obesity Prevention, and the ASPCA kitten weight chart. Last updated: July 16, 2026.
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