Did you know that your cat’s weight is one of the most important clues to her state of health? Weight loss or gain can be an early warning sign of illness, but if it happens gradually it can be difficult to recognize. Visually assessing your cat’s weight, and annual or bi-annual weigh-ins at your cat’s wellness exam may not be enough to catch these changes, so weighing your cat once a month at home can help prevent problems from going undetected until they’re in more advanced stages.
In a recent article for Animal Wellness, I explained why weighing your cat regularly is so important. Click here to read Why You Should Weigh Your Cat Every Month.
I weigh Allegra on the first of every month, that way, it’s easy to remember. I use a baby scale. You can weigh yourself and then weigh yourself with your cat and subtract the difference, but you won’t get as accurate a reading as you will with a baby scale.
I have 6 cats and once a month we have Beauty Day. Each one gets nails clipped, ears checked, paws washed, teeth checked and brushed, fur brushed and weigh in which is posted on a chart. Not saying they Like it, but much easier than running around all month piecemeal.
The dog whines outside the bathroom door, wondering what is happening to his housemates. So he gets let in and gets his routine, too!
Very disappointed in electronic baby scales. Always different reads. Went back to old fashioned mechanical one with large pad.
Not a post but to share with Ingrid:
Hi Ingrid, I’m an academic advisor, I do not work for a company, but this is the scale I got on Amazon: MomMed Baby Scale, Multi-Function Toddler Scale, Baby Scale Digital, Pet Scale, Infant Scale with Hold Function, Blue Backlight, Weight and Height Track (24 inch).
I didn’t know if I could share that much product info in my post, so I didn’t. LOVE reading your newsletter–I subscribe 🙂 Cheers, Tatum
Thank you for sharing the scale that works for you, Tatum. Here’s the link for those who are interested: https://amzn.to/3TC49ui
Thanks for the tip! I use an inexpensive, long baby scale (MomMed) to weigh Levon that I bought after he hit 18.3 lbs a year ago at age 8. He’s a tall, big cat, so the vet said an okay weight would be 13 lbs. but 12 lbs. would be better. He’s now 15.1 lbs., half still to go! The scale has been great, and it weighs in pounds, kilos, or ounces. The prices for scales were all over the place, but I’ve been happy with this cheaper one. Now I think I’ve been weighing Levon too often, I’m going to switch to first of the month like you suggested. Thanks!
Thank you for this reminder, and the suggestion of a baby scale. I have tried the weigh-and-subtract and came up with both cats having lost about 40% of their recent vet appt weights (definitely not the case). Shame the same scale never seems to shed the same for me 😉
Haha, isn’t that the truth, Kate!
Thanks for the tip. I’ll have to get a baby scale. I am afraid to step on a scale myself. I don’t want to know how much weight I have gains over the last few years.