What is the cat body condition score chart? It is the nine-point scale that vets use to judge whether a cat is underweight, at a healthy weight, or overweight — and it is a better tool than the scales alone, because it judges fat cover and shape, not just a number. The scale runs from 1 (emaciated) to 9 (obese), with 4 to 5 as the ideal range. This guide gives the full chart, explains how to score your own cat at home, and covers what to do at each score. Every score is a guide, not a diagnosis, and a cat at the extreme ends of the scale should be seen by a vet.
The short version is: feel the ribs, look for a waist from above, and look for a tummy tuck from the side. At the ideal scores of 4 and 5, the ribs are easy to feel under a thin layer of fat, the waist is easy to see from above, and the tummy tuck is visible from the side. Below 4, the ribs are too easy to see and the waist is too obvious; above 5, the ribs are hard to feel and the waist is gone. Score your cat monthly, write the number down, and if the score is moving in the wrong direction, adjust the food — or see a vet if the change is fast or unexplained. The how to tell if your cat is overweight guide gives the hands-on check in detail, and the cat ideal weight calculator works out a target weight range.
The nine-point body condition score chart
The chart below is the standard nine-point body condition score scale used in veterinary practice. Read it from top to bottom: scores 1 to 3 are underweight, 4 to 5 are ideal, and 6 to 9 are overweight to obese. The descriptions are what you see and feel — ribs, waist, and tummy — not numbers on a scale, which is why the chart works on any breed, any size, and any coat.
| Score | Label | What you see and feel |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Emaciated | Ribs, spine and hip bones are easy to see, even from a distance. No fat cover at all, and the waist is very obvious from above and from the side. |
| 2 | Very thin | Ribs are easy to see, and the waist and tummy tuck are very obvious. There is almost no fat to feel over the ribs. |
| 3 | Thin | Ribs are easy to feel and may be visible. The waist is obvious from above, and the tummy tuck is obvious from the side. |
| 4 | Ideal — lean end | Ribs are easy to feel under a thin layer of fat. The waist is easy to see from above, and the tummy tuck is visible from the side. |
| 5 | Ideal | Ribs are easy to feel under a thin layer of fat, with no fat to pinch. The waist is visible from above, and the tummy tuck is visible from the side. |
| 6 | Above ideal | Ribs are harder to feel — you have to press to find them. The waist is hard to see from above, and the tummy tuck is less obvious. |
| 7 | Overweight | Ribs are hard to feel under a clear layer of fat. The waist is hard to see from above, and the tummy tuck is gone from the side. |
| 8 | Very overweight | Ribs are very hard to feel. The waist is gone from above, and the belly is rounded or sagging from the side. |
| 9 | Obese | Ribs cannot be felt at all under a thick layer of fat. There is no waist from above, the belly is very rounded, and fat deposits are visible on the neck, limbs and chest. |
Use the chart with your hands, not just your eyes: run your hands along the ribs, feel for the waist, and look from above and from the side. A cat with a thick coat can look heavier than it is, and a cat that has just been clipped can look thinner than it is — hands beat eyes for this job. If you are between two scores, take the lower one for an overweight cat and the higher one for an underweight cat, and re-check in a month: the line over months is what matters, not any single reading.
How to score your cat at home
Score the cat while it is standing, in good light, with clean hands. First, feel the ribs: run your hands along the ribs with flat fingers and light pressure. At scores 4 and 5 you feel each rib easily under a thin layer of fat; at scores 1 to 3 the ribs are sharp and easy to see; at scores 6 to 9 you have to press hard to find them, or cannot feel them at all. Second, look down from above: at scores 4 and 5 you see a waist — a narrowing behind the ribs; at scores 1 to 3 the waist is very obvious and the hips stick out; at scores 6 to 9 there is no waist, and the body is straight or bulging at the sides.
Third, look from the side: at scores 4 and 5 you see a tummy tuck, where the belly rises from the chest to the back legs; at scores 1 to 3 the tuck is very obvious; at scores 6 to 9 there is no tuck, and the belly hangs low or sags. For cats, the tummy tuck is often hidden by a loose fold of skin on the belly, which is normal in many cats — feel the ribs instead, and judge by the waist from above. Write the score down, with the date, and re-score monthly: a score that is moving up means the cat is gaining weight, and a score that is moving down means it is losing weight, even before the scales show it clearly.
What each score means for feeding
At scores 4 and 5, the cat is at a healthy weight, and the job is to keep it there: measured food, daily exercise, and a monthly weigh-in. At score 6, the cat is above ideal and needs a small food cut — about 10% less, re-weighed in a month. At scores 7 and 8, the cat is overweight and needs a weight-loss plan: measured food, treats under 10% of daily calories, and exercise built up gradually. At score 9, the cat is obese and should have a plan set with its vet, because a cat that obese may have health problems that need treating as well as a diet.
At score 3, the cat is thin and needs a little more food — about 10% more, split into two or three meals a day, re-weighed in a month. At scores 1 and 2, the cat is very thin or emaciated and should be seen by a vet promptly, because a cat that thin may be ill, not just underfed. Do not try to put weight on a cat at score 1 or 2 with a sudden large increase in food — a cat that is very thin needs a vet check first, and a feeding plan set with the vet. The how to help a cat lose weight safely guide and the how to help a cat gain weight safely guide give the safe plans for both directions.
Body condition score vs weight
The body condition score and the weight are two different tools, and they work best together. The weight tells you how heavy the cat is; the score tells you whether that weight is fat or muscle, and whether the shape is right. A muscular cat can weigh more than the breed's typical range and still score a 4 or 5, because muscle weighs more than fat — and a cat inside its breed's range can still score a 7, if it is carrying fat rather than muscle. That is why the score matters more than the number: a cat at a healthy score is healthy, whatever the scales say, and a cat at an unhealthy score needs its food adjusting, whatever the scales say.
Weigh the cat monthly and score it monthly, and write both numbers down. If the weight is steady and the score is steady at 4 or 5, the feeding is right. If the weight is steady but the score is rising, the cat is gaining fat and losing muscle — usually because it is eating the same amount but moving less, which happens as cats get older. If the weight is falling and the score is falling, the cat is losing weight, and if it is losing weight without a change in food, it needs a vet check. The how to weigh your cat at home guide explains the bathroom-scale method, and the ideal cat weight chart by breed guide gives the typical ranges.
When a score means a vet visit
See a vet promptly if the cat scores 1, 2, or 9, if the score has changed by more than one point in a month, if the cat is losing weight without a change in food, if it is lethargic or off its food, if it is a senior that is losing weight, or if it is a young animal that is not growing. A vet check first is sensible because some medical conditions change body condition, and those need treating, not just more or less food. Bring the numbers: the score and the weight over the last few months, what the cat eats, how much, and any treats.
At the vet, expect a weigh-in, a body condition score, and questions about food, treats, exercise, and other pets in the house — and possibly a blood test, because some medical conditions cause weight change. The vet may also check the teeth, because dental pain is a common cause of weight loss, and may set a target score and a feeding plan for the cat. Do not try to change a cat's score fast: a score should move by about one point over two or three months, not in a few weeks — slow change is safe change. The obesity in cats guide covers the health risks of a high score, and the senior cat weight loss causes guide covers weight loss in older cats.
For related reading, see the cat ideal weight calculator, the how to tell if your cat is overweight guide, the how to weigh your cat at home guide, the how to help a cat lose weight safely guide, the how to help a cat gain weight safely guide, the ideal cat weight chart by breed guide.
Frequently asked questions
What is a good body condition score for a cat?
Scores 4 to 5 on the nine-point scale are ideal. At those scores the ribs are easy to feel under a thin layer of fat, the waist is easy to see from above, and the tummy tuck is visible from the side. Scores 1 to 3 are underweight, and scores 6 to 9 are overweight to obese.
How do I score my cat's body condition?
Feel the ribs with flat fingers and light pressure, look for a waist from above, and look for a tummy tuck from the side, while the cat is standing. Compare what you find with the chart above, and write the score down with the date. Re-score monthly — the line over months is what matters.
My cat has a saggy belly — what score is that?
Not necessarily a high score. Many cats have a loose fold of skin on the belly, which is normal and is there even in lean cats. Feel the ribs instead: if the ribs are easy to feel and the waist is visible from above, the cat is at a healthy score, even if the belly pouch is visible from the side.
How often should I score my cat?
Monthly, at the same time as the weigh-in, and write both numbers down. A score that is moving up means the cat is gaining weight, and a score that is moving down means it is losing weight, even before the scales show it clearly.
What score means my cat needs a vet?
See a vet promptly if the cat scores 1, 2, or 9, if the score has changed by more than one point in a month, if it is losing weight without a change in food, or if it is lethargic or off its food. Bring the score and weight record.
Is body condition score better than weight?
They work best together. Weight tells you how heavy the cat is; the score tells you whether that weight is fat or muscle, and whether the shape is right. A muscular cat can weigh more than its breed's range and still score a 4 or 5, and a cat inside its range can still score a 7 if it is carrying fat.
Results on this page are estimates for general information only and are not veterinary advice. If your pet is ill, underweight, overweight, pregnant, or has a health condition, consult your veterinarian before changing diet or care.