Cat Body Condition Score Chart: 1 to 9 Explained

Cat body condition score chart (1 to 9)

What each score looks and feels like, and what it means for the food bowl.

Last updated 22 October 2026 · Estimates from standard cat body condition and energy guidelines

TL;DR: Vets score a cat's body shape from 1 (very thin) to 9 (obese). A score of 4 or 5 is ideal. Each point above 5 means roughly 10% over ideal weight, so a cat that scores 7 is about 20% too heavy.

A cat body condition score (BCS) rates body fat on a 9 point scale. You feel the ribs, look for a waist from above and check the belly from the side. Scores 1 to 3 are underweight, 4 and 5 are ideal, 6 and 7 are overweight, and 8 and 9 are obese.

Too thin

Ideal

Overweight

Obese

Each score seen from above (top) and from the side (bottom). Look for the waist behind the ribs and the line of the belly.

Score	Ribs	From above	From the side	Compared with ideal weight
1 Very thin	Ribs, spine and hip bones easy to see on a short coat	Very deep waist	Severe tummy tuck	Well below ideal
2 Thin	Ribs easy to see, no fat felt	Marked waist, little muscle	Clear tummy tuck	Below ideal
3 Thin	Ribs easy to feel with almost no fat	Obvious waist	Little or no belly fat	Below ideal
4 Ideal	Ribs easy to feel with a thin fat layer	Waist clearly visible behind the ribs	Slight tummy tuck	Ideal
5 Ideal	Ribs felt under a slight fat cover	Well proportioned, waist visible	Small belly fat pad	Ideal
6 Overweight	Ribs felt with light pressure under extra fat	Waist hard to see	Belly rounded, no tuck	About 10% over
7 Overweight	Ribs hard to feel under fat	No waist, back slightly broad	Belly clearly rounded	About 20% over
8 Obese	Ribs cannot be felt under fat	No waist, back noticeably broad	Round belly with a large fat pad	About 30% over
9 Obese	Ribs cannot be felt under heavy fat	Very broad back, fat on face and legs	Belly hangs, fat over the lower back	40% or more over

Descriptions follow the WSAVA body condition chart for cats. Percentages use the AAHA rule of about 10% extra weight per point above 5.

How do I check my cat's body condition score at home?

Do it with your cat standing, in good light. It takes about a minute.

Feel the ribs. Run a flat hand along your cat's side, from front to back. At an ideal score you feel each rib easily under a thin layer, like the back of your hand.
Look from above. Stand over your cat. A healthy cat has a visible waist just behind the ribs. A straight or bulging outline means extra fat.
Look from the side. The belly should tuck up slightly behind the ribs. A round or hanging belly points to a score of 6 or higher.

With a long coat, the eyes are easily fooled. Trust what your hand feels over what you see.

What is the difference between the 9 point and 5 point scale?

Some vets use a 5 point scale instead. There, 3 is ideal and each half point above 3 means about 10% extra weight. A 9 point score of 7 is roughly a 4 on the 5 point scale. This guide uses the 9 point scale, which is the one on the WSAVA chart.

What does the score mean for how much I feed?

At a score of 4 or 5, feed for your cat's current weight. The calculator above uses the standard estimate for that.

At 6 or more, set body condition to Chunky in the calculator. It then uses a gentler weight-prone estimate instead of the normal adult one. For a planned loss, see cat weight loss and let your vet set the target. To turn the score into a goal weight, use the chart in ideal cat weight.

At 3 or less, do not simply feed more. Very thin cats can be unwell, so please see a vet first.

Questions

What is a normal body condition score for a cat?

4 or 5 out of 9, or 3 out of 5. At that score you can feel the ribs easily under a thin layer of fat and see a waist from above.

Can I score my cat from a photo?

A photo from above and one from the side show the waist and belly well, but not what the ribs feel like. Do the rib check by hand too, especially if your cat has a long coat.

Is body condition score the same as weight?

No. Two cats with the same weight can have different scores because their frames differ. The score tells you whether the weight is right for that cat.

Related guides

Estimate only. Check with your vet. BowlMath gives a practical starting estimate, not veterinary advice. Cats should not lose weight too fast. Ask your vet before changing food a lot, and for kittens, seniors, pregnant or nursing cats, cats on special diets, or cats gaining or losing weight unexpectedly.