When assessing the healthy weight for your kitty, age is a major consideration. The number of pounds your kitty weighs can vary and still be in acceptable range. You shouldn't be able to see Kitty's ribs, but you should be able to find them when you pet her.
The Kitten
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A cat is considered a kitten for the first year of her life. Kittens grow rapidly and are very active, and it's normal for her to look a bit lanky during rapid growth phases, as long as she is getting enough food. Regular checkups at the vet can help ensure that she is not underweight.
Adolescence
Most of your kitty's development is finished by adolescence. Between 6 months and 1 year, your cat will begin to be sexually active if you have not yet had her spayed. She is still very active, and so it's fine for her to be somewhat lean.
Adulthood
Things start to slow down for your cat as she enters adulthood at or after 1 year, because she's not growing or changing as quickly as when she was a kitten. It's important at this stage to be vigilant about checking that the numbers on the vet's scale don't start creeping too high.
Seniors
As cats age, they sometimes have health issues that extra weight can worsen, such as arthritis and heart, kidney or liver disease. Carrying less weight after the age of 12 years or so is important to Kitty's good health and ease of movement.
Always check with your veterinarian before changing your pet’s diet, medication, or physical activity routines. This information is not a substitute for a vet’s opinion.
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Writer Bio
Cait Smith has been writing professionally since 2003 when she wrote and edited for her college paper, "The Cherokee Signal" for three years. She then wrote for two years at her university paper "The Echo," while she studied journalism. She holds a Bachelor of Arts in communications from the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga.