Reading your pet's body condition score honestly

Body condition score (BCS) is a nine-point scale, and 4–5 out of 9 is ideal. The useful thing about it is that it needs no equipment — just your hands and good light.

Run your fingertips flat along the rib cage. At an ideal score you should feel each rib easily, with a thin layer of covering, like the back of your hand. If you have to press, your pet is overweight. If the ribs are visually obvious with no covering, they are underweight.

Look from above: there should be a visible waist behind the ribs. From the side, the abdomen should tuck upwards toward the hind legs rather than running parallel to the floor.

Cats develop a primordial pouch — a loose flap of skin along the belly — which is normal and not fat. Assess the ribs and waist instead.

Small changes matter more than people expect. A 1 kg gain on a 5 kg cat is the human equivalent of roughly 15 kg. Weigh monthly at home and record it; trends beat single measurements.

The Diet Calculator here estimates daily energy requirements for maintenance or weight loss. Aim for 1–2% body weight loss per week and never starve a cat — rapid weight loss risks hepatic lipidosis.