How To Use A Cat Scale
Introduction
Like humans, cats should be weighed regularly to ensure they’re healthy. However, unlike humans, who will step on a scale with little fanfare and make their weight known, felines are less than thrilled about being weighed. While you may want to check with your vet before weighing your cat at home, the process isn’t too complicated if you know how to do it right. Here’s how:
Preparing the cat
- Make sure your cat is comfortable. You will have to hold them for the entire time you weigh them, so make sure they are in a position that makes them feel safe and secure. If you have not already done so, pick up your cat and place her on a weighing platform or scale.
- Do not stress out your cat! The process of weighing someone can be stressful for some animals, but if your cat is particularly high strung or nervous, try talking to her in a soothing tone while holding her or placing treats near where she will be weighed.
- Make sure that there are no other health factors involved in why your cat has been gaining weight recently; if so, contact an animal care professional immediately (and follow their advice). This includes issues such as pregnancy (a common cause), lactic acid build-up from lactation (in female cats), heat cycles (in female cats), obesity due to overeating/gluttony or simply being unwell
Preparing the scale
When you’re preparing your cat scale, make sure to place it on a flat surface. You may want to use the scale with a carpeted area, but make sure that the floor has no rugs or carpets on it. A rug can throw off the reading and make it harder for you to get an accurate measurement.
The surface should also be stable and level. If you don’t have a perfectly flat platform for your cat to stand on, try using some books under one side of the scale so that it’s raised slightly above the ground level in front of you.
Weighing the cat
The first step is to make sure that the cat is standing on the scale. It’s important not to put your cat on a scale while they’re sitting on it, because this will skew the results of your weighing. Similarly, if your cat is standing on anything other than the scale at all, this too will affect your weight measurement. So make sure that you place them directly onto their feet and don’t let them stand anywhere else!
Reading the display
- The results should be recorded.
- The cat’s weight should be compared to its weight from the previous visit. If it’s gained, talk to your vet about what you can do to keep that weight off. If it’s lost, check in with your vet about how best to help your cat regain its healthy size.
- If you find that your cat is overweight or underweight, contact your veterinarian immediately for advice on how best to handle this situation
A cat should be weighed at regular intervals and the results should be recorded.
It is important to weigh your cat at regular intervals and record the results. This will allow you to monitor their weight and identify any changes in the amount of food they are eating or how much they are exercising.
A healthy diet, together with regular exercise and plenty of love, can help prevent obesity in cats. However, if you notice that your cat appears slightly overweight or has started to put on weight over a period of time then it may be necessary to reduce the amount of food they eat until they reach an ideal body weight (see ‘How do I know my pet’s ideal body condition score?’).
Conclusion
Take care when weighing your cat.