What is a healthy weight for my cat?

Most domestic cats: 3.6–5.5kg, but breed matters. Maine Coons can be healthy at 7kg; a Siamese at 7kg would be obese. BCS check beats raw weight alone.

How much weight should my dog lose per week?

Maximum 1–2% of body weight per week. A 35kg dog should lose 350–700g weekly at most. Faster loss risks muscle wasting — increase calories 10% if exceeding this rate.

My cat lost weight fast — should I be worried?

Yes if loss exceeds 1% per week, or happens without a planned diet change. Cats are at risk of hepatic lipidosis. Rapid loss needs urgent vet evaluation.

What is the body condition score (BCS) scale?

A 9-point vet scale: 1–3 underweight, 4–5 ideal, 6–7 overweight, 8–9 obese. More useful than weight alone because it accounts for frame and muscle.

HEALTH

Weight Tracker

Track weight trends and body-condition cues against vet targets.

Vet-informed methodologyFree · private · in-browserUpdated regularly

Pet weight analysis

Enter your pet's details for body condition score, trend tracking, and vet-aligned goal estimates

Pet Type *

Dog

Cat

Breed *

Current Weight *

lbs

Weigh at the same time of day, on the same scale, for reliable trends

Age *

years

Activity Level *

Low Activity

Minimal exercise, mostly resting

Moderate Activity

Daily walks, some playtime

High Activity

Very active, lots of exercise and play

Weight Management for Dogs & Cats Guide

Essential information for healthy weight management

Why healthy weight matters

• Lowers risk of diabetes, arthritis, and heart disease
• Improves mobility and quality of life
• Can extend lifespan when obesity is addressed early
• Reduces surgical and anesthetic risks
• Supports immune health when weight is in a healthy range

Body Condition Score (BCS)

1-3 (Underweight)Ribs easily felt

4-5 (Ideal)Waist visible

6-7 (Overweight)Waist not visible

8-9 (Obese)Ribs not felt

Weight management tips

• Measure food portions with a kitchen scale
• Increase exercise gradually, especially for senior pets
• Ask your vet about therapeutic diets if weight stalls
• Monitor weight weekly and log trends in this tool
• Consult your veterinarian before starting a weight-loss plan
• Report rapid weight loss to your veterinarian promptly

Next step

Keep going after Weight Tracker

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Complete weight tracking guide

How to Use the Pet Weight Tracker

Step 1 — Select pet type: Dog or Cat. Dogs and cats have different healthy weight ranges, body condition scoring standards, and weight loss rate guidelines. A 5kg dog is underweight for most breeds; a 5kg cat is at the high end of healthy.

Step 2 — Select your pet's breed. Breed determines the expected healthy weight range. A 30kg Labrador is within normal range; a 30kg Beagle is severely obese. For mixed breeds, select the primary or closest size-matched breed.

Step 3 — Enter current weight in pounds. Weigh at the same time of day on the same scale. Morning before feeding is most consistent. For small pets, a baby or postal scale gives more precise readings.

Step 4 — Enter age and activity level. Age adjusts ideal weight interpretation — puppies and kittens gain, adults maintain, some seniors lose muscle. Activity level adds context for whether current weight fits lifestyle.

Step 5 — Click Analyse Weight Status. Your result shows BCS assessment, distance from ideal range, and recommended trajectory. Log weekly during weight programmes, monthly for maintenance, to build a trend line.

Understanding Your Results

Body Condition Score — what it is and why it matters more than weight alone. BCS is a 9-point scale: 1–3 underweight, 4–5 ideal, 6–7 overweight, 8–9 obese. A muscled dog can weigh more at ideal BCS; a small-framed dog can be obese at a normal-looking weight.

How to assess BCS at home. Rib test — feel individual ribs with light pressure. Waist check — visible tuck from above. Abdominal tuck — belly rises behind the ribcage from the side.

What the trend line tells you. A single reading is a snapshot; the trend is the story. Slow monthly creep can add 10–15% of ideal body weight over a year without any single weigh-in seeming alarming.

Safe rate of weight loss. Dogs: max 1–2% of body weight per week. Cats: max 0.5–1% per week due to hepatic lipidosis risk. If loss exceeds these limits, increase calories 10% and recheck in two weeks.

When unexplained weight change needs a vet visit. Weight loss without dietary change in pets over 7 warrants investigation. Weight gain despite stable feeding can indicate hypothyroidism or fluid retention. Document the timeline for your vet.

Weight Reference Tables by Breed and Species

Healthy Weight Ranges — Common Dog Breeds

Breed	Male Healthy Weight	Female Healthy Weight	Obese Threshold
Chihuahua	1.8–2.7 kg	1.5–2.3 kg	Over 3.5 kg
Yorkshire Terrier	2.5–3.5 kg	2–3 kg	Over 4 kg
Beagle	10–11 kg	9–10 kg	Over 13 kg
Cocker Spaniel	12–14 kg	10–12 kg	Over 16 kg
Border Collie	14–20 kg	12–18 kg	Over 22 kg
Labrador Retriever	29–36 kg	25–32 kg	Over 38 kg
Golden Retriever	30–34 kg	25–29 kg	Over 36 kg
German Shepherd	30–40 kg	22–32 kg	Over 42 kg
Rottweiler	50–60 kg	35–48 kg	Over 62 kg
Great Dane	54–90 kg	45–59 kg	Over 90 kg

Healthy Weight Ranges — Common Cat Breeds

Breed	Typical Adult Weight	Overweight Threshold	Notes
Domestic Shorthair	3.6–5 kg	Over 5.5 kg	Most common; wide individual variation
Maine Coon	5.9–8.2 kg (M), 3.6–5.4 kg (F)	Over 9 kg (M)	Genuinely large — not fat at 7kg
Ragdoll	5.4–9 kg (M), 4.5–6.8 kg (F)	Over 9.5 kg (M)	Slow to mature; full weight at 4 years
Siamese	3.6–5 kg	Over 5.5 kg	Naturally lean; weight gain easily visible
Persian	3.6–5.9 kg	Over 6.5 kg	Dense coat hides weight gain
British Shorthair	4.5–7.7 kg (M), 3.2–5.4 kg (F)	Over 8 kg (M)	Stocky build; BCS more reliable than weight
Bengal	4.5–6.8 kg	Over 7.5 kg	Highly muscular; may weigh more at ideal BCS
Abyssinian	3.2–4.5 kg	Over 5 kg	Naturally lean and athletic

BCS to Health Risk — What Each Score Means Practically

BCS Score	Description	Visual Signs	Health Risks	Action
1–2	Severely underweight	Ribs, spine, hip bones prominent and visible	Muscle wasting, immune compromise, organ failure	Vet visit same week
3	Underweight	Ribs easily visible, minimal fat cover	Reduced immunity, poor wound healing	Increase calories 15–20%, monitor weekly
4–5	Ideal	Ribs felt easily, visible waist, abdominal tuck	Minimal	Maintain current diet and exercise
6	Overweight	Ribs felt with firm pressure, waist barely visible	Early joint stress, increased diabetes risk	Reduce calories 10–15%, add exercise
7	Moderately obese	Ribs difficult to feel, no waist visible	Joint disease, insulin resistance, reduced lifespan	Structured weight loss plan, vet guidance
8–9	Severely obese	Ribs cannot be felt, fat deposits on neck and base of tail	Diabetes, heart disease, respiratory compromise, 2-year lifespan reduction	Immediate vet consultation

Weekly Weigh-In Log Template

Week	Weight (kg)	Change from Previous	BCS Assessment	Notes
Week 1	Starting weight	Baseline	Record initial BCS	Begin reduced calorie plan
Week 2	Log here	+/- kg	Reassess ribs	Adjust if loss exceeds 2%/week
Week 4	Log here	+/- kg	Reassess waist	Check food measured by weight not cups
Week 8	Log here	+/- kg	Full BCS check	Adjust calories if plateau
Week 12	Log here	+/- kg	Vet check recommended	Review progress with vet

Frequently asked

Questions about this calculator

Feel ribs with light pressure — they should be easy to feel. From above, a healthy dog has a visible waist. The tracker compares weight to breed ranges and gives a BCS score.

For calorie targets during weight loss, use the Dog Food Calculator.

How we calculate

The math, openly documented.

Inputs

You enter the facts that change the estimate.

species · age · weight · lifestyle

Normalize

We validate ranges and convert units when needed.

lbs ↔ kg · months ↔ years

Formula

Published veterinary or industry-standard calculations.

result = f(valid inputs)

Results

Rounded outputs — schedules, ranges, or targets — with disclaimers.

display + notes

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