Weight & Body Condition Chart

1. Monthly Weight Log

Weigh your senior cat once a month, ideally on the same scale at the same time of day. A sudden or steady drop is one of the earliest signs of kidney disease (CKD), hyperthyroidism, diabetes, and cancer. Catching it early gives your cat the best chance.

Month	Date	Weight (lb)	Weight (kg)	Change	Notes
Month 1
Month 2
Month 3
Month 4
Month 5
Month 6
Month 7
Month 8
Month 9
Month 10
Month 11
Month 12

2. Feline Body Condition Score (1 to 9)

Body condition score (BCS) rates fat coverage on a 9-point scale. Run your hands over your cat's ribs, spine, and belly each month and circle the score that best matches. Scores 1 to 3 are too thin, 4 to 5 are ideal, and 6 to 9 are overweight.

Score	Category	What to look and feel for
1	Emaciated	Ribs, spine and hip bones obvious from a distance. No fat at all. Severe muscle loss and a deeply tucked abdomen.
2	Very thin	Ribs and spine easily visible. Minimal muscle. Pronounced waist and no abdominal fat pad.
3	Thin	Ribs easily felt with little fat over them and may be visible. Obvious waist behind the ribs. Minimal belly fat.
4	Lean / ideal	Ribs easily felt with a slight fat cover. Clear waist when viewed from above. Small abdominal fat pad.
5	Ideal	Ribs felt with a thin fat cover. Waist visible behind the ribs from above. Minimal belly fat pad. Well proportioned.
6	Slightly overweight	Ribs felt with slight extra fat. Waist hard to see. Noticeable rounding of the abdomen and a small fat pad.
7	Overweight	Ribs hard to feel under moderate fat. Waist barely visible. Obvious belly rounding with a clear abdominal fat pad.
8	Obese	Ribs hard to feel under heavy fat. No waist. Prominent abdominal fat pad and fat over the lower back.
9	Severely obese	Ribs cannot be felt under thick fat. Heavy fat over the back, face and limbs. Large, distended belly with a swinging fat pad.

3. Muscle Condition Score

Body condition and muscle condition are not the same thing. Senior cats often lose muscle mass (sarcopenia) even when their weight and BCS look normal, because fat can mask the loss. Gently feel the muscle over the skull, shoulder blades, spine, and hips each month and note whether it feels full, slightly reduced, or wasted.

Body area	Muscle: Normal / Mild loss / Moderate loss / Severe loss
Over the skull / temples
Shoulder blades
Spine / back
Hips / hind legs

4. When to Call the Vet

Contact your veterinarian promptly if your senior cat shows any of the following on this chart.

Loss of more than 0.5 lb (about 0.2 kg) between monthly weigh-ins
Loss of roughly 10% or more of body weight over any period
Any rapid or steady downward trend, even if each drop is small
Weight loss paired with increased thirst, appetite changes, or vomiting
A body condition score that keeps falling, or visible muscle wasting

This worksheet is for tracking and educational purposes only and is not a substitute for veterinary care. Weight ranges and body condition vary by breed and frame. Always consult your veterinarian about changes specific to your cat.