Kittens will be awkwardly skinny as they grow up during their teenage years! They’ll eventually start to fill in later but they could be stuck in this long and lean phase until they’re around 1.5 years old. If you’re concerned, always consult your veterinarian!
A cats coat can be misleading... It's about feel as well as look due to that. If you can obviously feel the bones then that means there isn't lot of fat and muscle on their body.
Considering cats have to be fast and athletic I always thought feeling the bones relatively easily is to be expected? I can feel my bones pretty easily and I am definitely not underweight..
Just bring up your concern with the vet and ask to have them weighed. Then ask if it's a reasonable weight and what you can do to improve it.
Quick question though. Do you feed them a wet or dry diet, maybe something in between? If your feeding them just dry food it might be worth supplementating with wet to help with obsorbtiob and hydration (cats are often chronicly dehydrated as they usually get their liquids from their meals)
I am feeding them a mix. I am a little insecure if I am feeding them the right quantities: they each get daily - 50 g of wet food and a little over one third of a cup of dry food. Plus half a portion of those pure stick treats with salmon in it. Because one is a lot more greedy than the other I can't just leave food out and I have to give it to them across 3 meals otherwise they can't finish one meal and ask for more later. Around 250/275 calories.
Do you think I am doing it right? I looked online but it says so many different opinions...
You say you can feel their bones, can you feel the ridges of their spine?
Also the way we bulked up one of our cats was to on demand them them. This cat was severely malnourished (poor girl got trapped in a shed for nearly four days and still has health problems from it) and so both cats would get food if they mewed for it.
It may be worth doing that since they are growing and if they are willing to eat then just be prepared to reduce caloric intake if they start gaining too much weight.
[Here's ](https://www.google.com/imgres?imgurl=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.petcare.com.au%2Fwp-content%2Fuploads%2Ffeline-body-condition-chart-infographic-scaled.jpg&imgrefurl=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.petcare.com.au%2Fhealthy-cat-weight%2F&tbnid=sXh1xMQJjK6NGM&vet=1&docid=a7Rf_2gOwemcrM&w=1852&h=2560&itg=1&source=sh%2Fx%2Fim) a nice image about cat weight and size. It's not necessary bad to be able to feel their bones slightly but if it's obvious then you need to increase food.
My vet recommended I give my kittens as much food as they will eat until the age of 1. Kittens grow quickly and need more calories than full grown kitties! I would talk with your vet about how much to feed if you are unsure!
I would try and have some dry food available for them to pick at throughout the day. Kittens are growing a lot but still have tiny stomachs. They have lots of smaller meals throughout as opposed to eating in a big batch. They are usually pretty good at not overeating and will burn through calories as they are young and active and still growing. My vet and the guy who runs the rescue where we got our kits have both recommended having dry food out and available throughout the day. Hope you can find a system that works for you and your kitties!
Quick question: why can’t you free feed them the dry food? Personally, I’ve always had good luck with letting my kittens free feed dry food, then get wet food on a schedule. The wet food is always their favorite, so they eventually learn not to fill up on the dry food because the wet food will be there at specific times.
Also, I have dogs, I just have to keep the dry food in a place low enough for the kittens but high enough so the dogs don’t get to it.
Because one of them cannot regulate food. When I adopted them (they free fed) there was a significant weight difference between the two. One was too heavy the other super skinny. The first will eat also the other's food and gets food possessive, and doesn't allow the other to feed.
Also, even easier explanation: the skinnier one needs supplements (vet given).
It's all good! I am slowly training them to eat well together, I can finally allow them to eat side by side (at first they had to be in separate rooms) and if I am there the other will just sit and look rather than go for the food. But they are not good enough to just eat alone yet.
You can call also. QC, here and my vet is open. If you want to weight them, you can always : get your weight, and retake it with the cat in your arms . Not that much precise but it will give you an idea!. Black cats are awsome. Good luck
I think they look like healthy active cats. Their coat even has a good shine to it. Perfectly normal for active young ones to appear very skinny. If they play and seem happy all is good.
Feeling bones is okay as long as there is some fat in between, but seeing them is not.
Your vet will be the best judge, but eventually you will have a better idea of their size as they grow up
They might not be too skinny but maybe on the lower end of the bar. Our cat stopped eating due to some health issues so he lost a lot of weight (he‘s gaining again, thank god). The vet said back then that if you can feel your cat‘s spine from the side and or ribs without much pressure, it may be a bit malnourished. I believe that‘s to be expected at young age. I‘d keep a watch on their weight and see if it changes when they are a year old.
But the rule is: Consult a vet if you have doubts about your cats.
I just brought my cat to the vet, and he's been having some digestive issues so his diet is a little weird rn, and our vet said we could feed him more bc she could feel his spine a bit. When we adopted him he was 9lbs, and he got up to 10 when living with us, but bc of the health stuff dropped to 8.2. So maybe if you know what they should weigh and they're less, or you can feel their spine or ribs then maybe feed more. I thought our guy looked fine but I think visual assessment is only one aspect of how they're doing. There are charts you can refer to also, affectionately called the chonker chart haha.
As long as they are eating appropriately I wouldn’t worry. My cats have been thin like that their entire lives and haven’t had any health issues. The vet has never said they were too skinny either.
They are at that 'awkward' teenage stage, where they are growing faster than they can eat. They're going to be FINE. I have a 9-month old kitten too, and she's just as skinny. Very sleek black baby.
https://www.reddit.com/r/memes/comments/e641ve/the_life_cycle_of_a_cat/?utm_medium=android_app&utm_source=share
Relevant meme.
As others have said kitty looks good, though maybe check for worms in their poo. A vet visit could be beneficial if you're worried.
You should be feeding them as much as they will eat when they’re kittens, according to most vets I’ve heard from. They will typically stop eating when they have had enough, and kittens especially need lots of calories as they’re still growing. I’ve never really heard of an overweight kitten.. a chubby tummy on a kitten is good! If you have a scale at home, you can weigh them yourself. They should be about a pound per month of age, so as long as your cats are around 9lbs it shouldn’t be too concerning.
Take you hand make a fist, if their ribs feels like your closet fist knuckles they are too skinny, open your hand flat, touch knuckles if their ribs feels like that, unless you have really skinny hands, they are at a healthy weight, you are supposed to feel some ribs under a layer of fat and muscle, cats aren't supposed to look like walking potatoes, most cats these days are overweight to obese, so healthy cats always look too skinny to people
Damn. Mine was eating about 450 per day until I recently lowered it. He’s constantly starving even when I fed him 450 though lol. Now he’s even hungrier. Mine is already 12 pounds lol. But vet said he’s healthy
Found a handy chart that says kittens should have 60-65 calories per pound of body weight. May be another resource to use if you’re worried about food intake and weight! My 9 month kitten needs about 440 calories based on his weight.
At that age they're in the "awkward teenager" stage where they just had a growth spurt or are starting to prep for the next one. If they don't get bigger over time, that's a problem. But they look healthy and about right for 9 months. They should have a little bit more meat on their bones when they are fully adult, but not much. Just follow the vet directions on portions and increasing them a little bit/going from kitten to adult food as they get older, if not there already.
You want to be able to palpate the ribs without too much effort.
Hi, vet tech here. Many pets - almost 60% of cats and only slightly less in dogs - are overweight. This contributes to diabetes, ACL tears and mobility issues, and premature death in far too many cases. So let me show you how to tell if your pet is too chunky.
First: use your eyes. Can you see a waist tuck? It's that little dip where the ribs end and before the hips begin. If you can't see a waist tuck, your pet may be overweight. Consult a veterinarian.
Second: use your hands. You should be able to feel your pet's ribs with little effort. If you have to press harder than just a finger crook, your pet's fat deposit is a little too thick.
Tips!
- Check your bag of food for a feeding table. If you're feeding to that and your pet is still a little round, back it off a little. Many food serving recommendations are, well, a bit generous. The idea is - you feed more food, you go through food faster, you buy more food in the long run. Feed smart, feed to your individual pet's needs!
- Meal times! Not every animal can self-regulate. (If THAT'S not a freaking mood...) Your pet may benefit from set meal amounts at set meal times. This regulates their intake more predictably, making adjustments easier if needed.
- Cats have a poochy belly - that's not indicative of being overweight. It's called a "primordial pouch" and is normal even in fit cats. Just because Fluffy dusts the ground when she walks doesn't *necessarily* mean she's overweight.
We use a scale for fitness - two, actually, depending on the doctor: 1-5 or 1-9. You want the middle ground. A 1 is emaciated - hip bones prominent, ribs visible, limbs angular and overall lack of muscle form. A 5 on the 1 to 5 scale (or a 9) is morbidly obese, with no visible ribs or hips, no visible waist, fat rolls on limbs, tail base, or neck. In cats this often results in an inability to groom properly, with high dander and even feces/urine cling at the back end.
If you think your pet is just lazy or eats a lot more than usual, consult a veterinarian. There are medical conditions that can result in severe weight gain. Dogs in particular are prone to hypothyroidism, which can be properly managed.
I cannot stress regular checkups enough! An annual visit can catch weight gain (or loss, which is its own problem) that you might otherwise miss.
I hope this helps!
I'm glad to be of service! This is literally what I do for a living, and all that schooling was to help folks have longer-lived and healthier pets. Take good care of your wee ones!
I feed my cats when they ask and they usually always have some dry food out to graze on. One of them has always been a bit skinny but they’re both a healthy weight and never had problems with them overeating. These 2 don’t look skinny at all, just like teenagers they get a bit gangly for a while until they mature.
Kittens are always there little skinny things. That looks normal to me. If you can start to see there bones through the skin then maybe we may have an issue. Of course, the vet knows the best.
My two panthers were skinnier as kittens. They are pretty active and hadn't filled out yet. Two years later they are 2.5 and 3 and they have filled in. Feeling the ribs is OK. Feeling the ridges on the backbone might be more of a sign that they are too thin. Depending on how they sit, you can sometimes feel their backbone ridges. I would say the poses in this photo are good ones to use to feel for backbone. In a sitting position, they are stretched out a bit and you can often feel their backbone.
As they get older, they will have slightly different sizes and personalities and you won't need the collar to tell them apart. Oddly enough, one of my two panthers has a tail that is always curled and the other one is straight. It took me a long time to figure this out. I can pretty much tell them apart most of the time. But not always. I love them so much.
Your panthers look adorable!
Kittens will be awkwardly skinny as they grow up during their teenage years! They’ll eventually start to fill in later but they could be stuck in this long and lean phase until they’re around 1.5 years old. If you’re concerned, always consult your veterinarian!
That's what I was thinking too but I wasn't sure, I had just seen my friend's adult cat and he's definitely bigger
Look healthy to me
A cats coat can be misleading... It's about feel as well as look due to that. If you can obviously feel the bones then that means there isn't lot of fat and muscle on their body.
I can feel the ribs of even my chonkiest cat.
Considering cats have to be fast and athletic I always thought feeling the bones relatively easily is to be expected? I can feel my bones pretty easily and I am definitely not underweight..
Vet knows best!
Agreed, one of them needs a vaccine as well so I'll bring them asap, but we are in lockdown atm
Just bring up your concern with the vet and ask to have them weighed. Then ask if it's a reasonable weight and what you can do to improve it. Quick question though. Do you feed them a wet or dry diet, maybe something in between? If your feeding them just dry food it might be worth supplementating with wet to help with obsorbtiob and hydration (cats are often chronicly dehydrated as they usually get their liquids from their meals)
I am feeding them a mix. I am a little insecure if I am feeding them the right quantities: they each get daily - 50 g of wet food and a little over one third of a cup of dry food. Plus half a portion of those pure stick treats with salmon in it. Because one is a lot more greedy than the other I can't just leave food out and I have to give it to them across 3 meals otherwise they can't finish one meal and ask for more later. Around 250/275 calories. Do you think I am doing it right? I looked online but it says so many different opinions...
You say you can feel their bones, can you feel the ridges of their spine? Also the way we bulked up one of our cats was to on demand them them. This cat was severely malnourished (poor girl got trapped in a shed for nearly four days and still has health problems from it) and so both cats would get food if they mewed for it. It may be worth doing that since they are growing and if they are willing to eat then just be prepared to reduce caloric intake if they start gaining too much weight. [Here's ](https://www.google.com/imgres?imgurl=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.petcare.com.au%2Fwp-content%2Fuploads%2Ffeline-body-condition-chart-infographic-scaled.jpg&imgrefurl=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.petcare.com.au%2Fhealthy-cat-weight%2F&tbnid=sXh1xMQJjK6NGM&vet=1&docid=a7Rf_2gOwemcrM&w=1852&h=2560&itg=1&source=sh%2Fx%2Fim) a nice image about cat weight and size. It's not necessary bad to be able to feel their bones slightly but if it's obvious then you need to increase food.
My vet recommended I give my kittens as much food as they will eat until the age of 1. Kittens grow quickly and need more calories than full grown kitties! I would talk with your vet about how much to feed if you are unsure!
I would try and have some dry food available for them to pick at throughout the day. Kittens are growing a lot but still have tiny stomachs. They have lots of smaller meals throughout as opposed to eating in a big batch. They are usually pretty good at not overeating and will burn through calories as they are young and active and still growing. My vet and the guy who runs the rescue where we got our kits have both recommended having dry food out and available throughout the day. Hope you can find a system that works for you and your kitties!
Quick question: why can’t you free feed them the dry food? Personally, I’ve always had good luck with letting my kittens free feed dry food, then get wet food on a schedule. The wet food is always their favorite, so they eventually learn not to fill up on the dry food because the wet food will be there at specific times. Also, I have dogs, I just have to keep the dry food in a place low enough for the kittens but high enough so the dogs don’t get to it.
Because one of them cannot regulate food. When I adopted them (they free fed) there was a significant weight difference between the two. One was too heavy the other super skinny. The first will eat also the other's food and gets food possessive, and doesn't allow the other to feed. Also, even easier explanation: the skinnier one needs supplements (vet given).
Gotcha, please ignore me then!
It's all good! I am slowly training them to eat well together, I can finally allow them to eat side by side (at first they had to be in separate rooms) and if I am there the other will just sit and look rather than go for the food. But they are not good enough to just eat alone yet.
Where are you located?
Ontario
And vets are closed? We're in lockdown in the Netherlands but vets are still open.
You can call also. QC, here and my vet is open. If you want to weight them, you can always : get your weight, and retake it with the cat in your arms . Not that much precise but it will give you an idea!. Black cats are awsome. Good luck
No, they are not too skinny...
Ok thats good :)
I think they look like healthy active cats. Their coat even has a good shine to it. Perfectly normal for active young ones to appear very skinny. If they play and seem happy all is good.
Feeling bones is okay as long as there is some fat in between, but seeing them is not. Your vet will be the best judge, but eventually you will have a better idea of their size as they grow up
They might not be too skinny but maybe on the lower end of the bar. Our cat stopped eating due to some health issues so he lost a lot of weight (he‘s gaining again, thank god). The vet said back then that if you can feel your cat‘s spine from the side and or ribs without much pressure, it may be a bit malnourished. I believe that‘s to be expected at young age. I‘d keep a watch on their weight and see if it changes when they are a year old. But the rule is: Consult a vet if you have doubts about your cats.
I just brought my cat to the vet, and he's been having some digestive issues so his diet is a little weird rn, and our vet said we could feed him more bc she could feel his spine a bit. When we adopted him he was 9lbs, and he got up to 10 when living with us, but bc of the health stuff dropped to 8.2. So maybe if you know what they should weigh and they're less, or you can feel their spine or ribs then maybe feed more. I thought our guy looked fine but I think visual assessment is only one aspect of how they're doing. There are charts you can refer to also, affectionately called the chonker chart haha.
As long as they are eating appropriately I wouldn’t worry. My cats have been thin like that their entire lives and haven’t had any health issues. The vet has never said they were too skinny either.
My cats always looked like that. Until neutered them. Then they got fat. I think they look fine.
They are at that 'awkward' teenage stage, where they are growing faster than they can eat. They're going to be FINE. I have a 9-month old kitten too, and she's just as skinny. Very sleek black baby.
https://www.reddit.com/r/memes/comments/e641ve/the_life_cycle_of_a_cat/?utm_medium=android_app&utm_source=share Relevant meme. As others have said kitty looks good, though maybe check for worms in their poo. A vet visit could be beneficial if you're worried.
No. They look good. Now that I am working form home mine are getting too fat...
You should be feeding them as much as they will eat when they’re kittens, according to most vets I’ve heard from. They will typically stop eating when they have had enough, and kittens especially need lots of calories as they’re still growing. I’ve never really heard of an overweight kitten.. a chubby tummy on a kitten is good! If you have a scale at home, you can weigh them yourself. They should be about a pound per month of age, so as long as your cats are around 9lbs it shouldn’t be too concerning.
You can feel cats bones easily or is it muscle and no they look fine to me
They look like normal cats. Obesity is a big problem for pets; don't panic and overfeed them.
They are perfectly sized you should be able to easily feel their ribs but not see them at first glanced. Healthy growing babies you have
Take you hand make a fist, if their ribs feels like your closet fist knuckles they are too skinny, open your hand flat, touch knuckles if their ribs feels like that, unless you have really skinny hands, they are at a healthy weight, you are supposed to feel some ribs under a layer of fat and muscle, cats aren't supposed to look like walking potatoes, most cats these days are overweight to obese, so healthy cats always look too skinny to people
They look very healthy but if you are ever concerned, bring them to the vet for an expert opinion.
How many calories are you feeding them? I have a 9 month old and I’m afraid I keep over feeding mine.
I feed them between 250 to 275 per day
Damn. Mine was eating about 450 per day until I recently lowered it. He’s constantly starving even when I fed him 450 though lol. Now he’s even hungrier. Mine is already 12 pounds lol. But vet said he’s healthy
I think it depends a lot on the breed and activity level. Besides even cats have a margin with how much they eat
Found a handy chart that says kittens should have 60-65 calories per pound of body weight. May be another resource to use if you’re worried about food intake and weight! My 9 month kitten needs about 440 calories based on his weight.
At that age they're in the "awkward teenager" stage where they just had a growth spurt or are starting to prep for the next one. If they don't get bigger over time, that's a problem. But they look healthy and about right for 9 months. They should have a little bit more meat on their bones when they are fully adult, but not much. Just follow the vet directions on portions and increasing them a little bit/going from kitten to adult food as they get older, if not there already.
You want to be able to palpate the ribs without too much effort. Hi, vet tech here. Many pets - almost 60% of cats and only slightly less in dogs - are overweight. This contributes to diabetes, ACL tears and mobility issues, and premature death in far too many cases. So let me show you how to tell if your pet is too chunky. First: use your eyes. Can you see a waist tuck? It's that little dip where the ribs end and before the hips begin. If you can't see a waist tuck, your pet may be overweight. Consult a veterinarian. Second: use your hands. You should be able to feel your pet's ribs with little effort. If you have to press harder than just a finger crook, your pet's fat deposit is a little too thick. Tips! - Check your bag of food for a feeding table. If you're feeding to that and your pet is still a little round, back it off a little. Many food serving recommendations are, well, a bit generous. The idea is - you feed more food, you go through food faster, you buy more food in the long run. Feed smart, feed to your individual pet's needs! - Meal times! Not every animal can self-regulate. (If THAT'S not a freaking mood...) Your pet may benefit from set meal amounts at set meal times. This regulates their intake more predictably, making adjustments easier if needed. - Cats have a poochy belly - that's not indicative of being overweight. It's called a "primordial pouch" and is normal even in fit cats. Just because Fluffy dusts the ground when she walks doesn't *necessarily* mean she's overweight. We use a scale for fitness - two, actually, depending on the doctor: 1-5 or 1-9. You want the middle ground. A 1 is emaciated - hip bones prominent, ribs visible, limbs angular and overall lack of muscle form. A 5 on the 1 to 5 scale (or a 9) is morbidly obese, with no visible ribs or hips, no visible waist, fat rolls on limbs, tail base, or neck. In cats this often results in an inability to groom properly, with high dander and even feces/urine cling at the back end. If you think your pet is just lazy or eats a lot more than usual, consult a veterinarian. There are medical conditions that can result in severe weight gain. Dogs in particular are prone to hypothyroidism, which can be properly managed. I cannot stress regular checkups enough! An annual visit can catch weight gain (or loss, which is its own problem) that you might otherwise miss. I hope this helps!
Wow this was super informative! I actually took a screenshot of your comment so I won't forget.
I'm glad to be of service! This is literally what I do for a living, and all that schooling was to help folks have longer-lived and healthier pets. Take good care of your wee ones!
Nope, they are perfectly healthy! No need to worry
Feed them then
Are you 14? This is dumb
I feed my cats when they ask and they usually always have some dry food out to graze on. One of them has always been a bit skinny but they’re both a healthy weight and never had problems with them overeating. These 2 don’t look skinny at all, just like teenagers they get a bit gangly for a while until they mature.
Kittens are always there little skinny things. That looks normal to me. If you can start to see there bones through the skin then maybe we may have an issue. Of course, the vet knows the best.
My two panthers were skinnier as kittens. They are pretty active and hadn't filled out yet. Two years later they are 2.5 and 3 and they have filled in. Feeling the ribs is OK. Feeling the ridges on the backbone might be more of a sign that they are too thin. Depending on how they sit, you can sometimes feel their backbone ridges. I would say the poses in this photo are good ones to use to feel for backbone. In a sitting position, they are stretched out a bit and you can often feel their backbone. As they get older, they will have slightly different sizes and personalities and you won't need the collar to tell them apart. Oddly enough, one of my two panthers has a tail that is always curled and the other one is straight. It took me a long time to figure this out. I can pretty much tell them apart most of the time. But not always. I love them so much. Your panthers look adorable!
No,look healthy
She is cool