Obesity is the most preventable disease in cat’s, with approximately 61% of the population of cats in North American being overweight.

At Burford Veterinary Hospital, your cat is weighed at each appointment. This allows us to track any gains or losses. Also, the veterinarian will assess your cat’s body condition and score it at each examination.

A cat’s Body Condition Score (BCS) uses a 9-point scale to assess their overall health and weight, with 4-5 considered ideal. The parts of the body examined to come to this score are the ribs, waist and abdomen.

1-3 (Underweight):

Ribs, backbone, and pelvic bones are easily visible and palpable with minimal fat coverage.

4-5 (Ideal):

Ribs are easily felt with a slight fat covering, and a visible waist and abdominal tuck are present.

6-9 (Overweight/Obese):

Ribs are difficult to feel or are covered with a heavy layer of fat, with a lack of waist and abdominal tuck.

Weight management is recommended in any cat scoring 6 or higher on this scale. At Burford Veterinary Hospital we can provide you with nutrition advice and a plan to help initiate weight loss in a healthy way for your cat.

This may include increasing activity, reducing daily caloric intake, reducing treats and table scraps, considering a weight management diet, etc.

Monthly weigh ins to monitor changes in weight are recommended, as weight loss is dynamic. This means that the plan may change to better support your cat’s needs.

Please discuss weight management with one of our veterinarians at any of your pets’ examinations!