Learn your cat’s Body Condition Score
January 14, 2018
As they get older cats, just like us, may become more prone to weight fluctuations. More often than not, like us, they are likely to put on a bit extra – especially if they prefer purring to prowling.
If a cat is overweight or underweight, it can lead to health problems, which is why it’s important to keep an eye on your cat’s body condition.
You spend a lot of time with your pet so it’s not always easy to spot if it is putting on or losing weight – so our nurses can offer body condition checks for your cat.
Book a Body Condition Score appointment
What to expect at your Body Condition Score appointment
Our Chelmsford Road vet nurses will assess your cat on a scale of one to five, ranging from very thin to obese, and outline the health problems that can come with those extremes.
Once you’ve had your assessment, you’ll have a better idea of how to keep it at a healthy weight; and our downloadable Body Condition Score Chart should help.
Tips for keeping cats a healthy weight
Meanwhile, here are a few tips on keeping your cat in great shape:
Feed the right diet
Take into account the age, lifestyle and health. A 12-year-old overweight cat with diabetes will need a different diet to a plump, 6-year-old.
Measure food
Work out how many calories are used in a day and feed just enough to allow your cat to burn up slightly more than it eats.
Encourage exercise and play
- Get your cat to chase toys
- Feed it in different locations to encourage it to forage
- Provide climbing and scratching posts
- Give it scrunched up paper balls to play with
- Leave boxes and paper bags around the house for your cat to explore and hide in
At Edgewood Veterinary Group we are here to help, so why not call us today to book in for one of our nurse-led body condition checks?
