Siamese cats, known for their unique appearance and lovable personality. If you have one of these wonderful creatures at home, you’ll know how hard it is to tell them ‘no.’
Fat cats are incredibly common these days, so you may not even realize your Siamese is on the chunky side of life. The extra pounds may seem cute, but can actually cause numerous health problems for your Siamese.
A healthy female adult Siamese typically weighs around 7.7lbs – 10.6lbs, whereas a male weighs about 9.9lbs – 12.1lbs.
Keep on reading to find out everything you need to know about your Siamese’s weight – as well as tips and tricks to help keep those extra pounds off!
What are the signs of an overweight cat?
Determining whether or not your Siamese cat is overweight may be more complex than simply checking their weight.
For example, a male Siamese can reach 15lbs and still be considered healthy. However, a female Siamese at 15lbs would be considered overweight.
If your Siamese is experiencing any of the following symptoms, they are usually associated with obesity:
If you feel along the ribcage of a healthy cat, their padding shouldn’t be any thicker than that on the back of your hand. If you have to firmly press to feel their ribs, it may be a sign your Siamese is overweight. If you fail to feel their ribs, then your Siamese is more than likely obese.
You can also use the 1-5 condition score to check whether or not your Siamese is overweight. You’ll want to stand over your Siamese and look down at their hips. If there is a slight indentation at the waist, this means your Siamese is at a healthy weight. If there is a bulge when you look down, this could indicate they’re a little too chubby.
If you’re still not sure whether or not your Siamese is overweight, you should always check with your local veterinarian.
Why is my Siamese cat so fat?
Assuming your Siamese is an indoor cat, it is much more common for an indoor cat to be overweight than it is for an outdoor one. Outdoor cats get plenty of exercise running, climbing, and jumping, as opposed to one who sits inside all day and doesn’t get much of a workout.
Cats usually become overweight when they are overfed and lack exercise. If your Siamese cat is around 10lbs, they’ll only need to consume around 200 calories a day to stay healthy.
Of course, cats can’t feed themselves. Therefore their humans are in charge of how much food they intake a day.
Calories also don’t only come from their dinner – treats contain many calories, so if you give your Siamese treats each day, this could be contributing to the weight gain.
There are a few other reasons why your Siamese cat may be overweight:
It’s important to figure out why your Siamese is gaining weight before you can help them lose some extra pounds.
What is a healthy weight for a Siamese cat?
A healthy male adult Siamese typically weighs around 9.9lbs – 12.1lbs, whereas a female weighs about 7.7lbs – 10.6lbs. It’ll take around 2 years for your Siamese to become fully grown.
Since Siamese cats have sleek coats, they’re known for looking long and slim. As long as they’re hitting the recommended weight for their sex and age, you shouldn’t worry if they look a little skinny.
As your Siamese cat grows, this is how its weight should change:
How fat is too fat for a cat?
When it comes to determining whether or not your Siamese is overweight or obese, you should look at their body weight instead of body fat.
Your Siamese is considered overweight if they weigh 10-20% above their ideal weight. For example, if you have a female Siamese, their weight should be around 8 – 10.6lbs. If she weighs 11.6lbs – 12.6lbs, she is considered overweight. If your Siamese female is anywhere over 13lbs, she is considered obese.
If you’re concerned your Siamese is overweight, you should take them to the vets for a physical examination. Your vet will use a body condition scoring scale – 3 is considered normal, while 9 indicated obesity.
Your vet may also insist on blood work tests to see whether or not there is an underlying medical condition causing your Siamese to be overweight.
Why should my Siamese cat lose weight?
Did you know, even 2 extra pounds can cause a whole range of medical issues for your Siamese? When your cat becomes overweight, it’s more of a question of “when” and not “if.” Therefore, you should help your Siamese shed the pounds asap.
Cats who are a healthy weight live much longer and happier than a Siamese who is overweight or obese. Overweight cats tend to not have much energy, so in turn, they become less playful and energetic. It is also normal for them to spend more time alone.
It can be hard to see signs of illness since a chubby Siamese will want to sit around all day and contribute to their lazy characteristics.
How can my Siamese cat lose weight?
Just like humans, getting your cat to lose weight should be a combination of a few things such as a healthy diet and exercise. However, unlike humans, it’s not as easy as fewer calories = weight loss.
Diet
Always consult your vet before putting your Siamese on a diet. If your cat goes without food for as little as two days, this could result in a disease called hepatic lipidosis – fatty liver syndrome.
If you use free feeding for your Siamese, it’s time to bin this habit. Swapping to a canned food diet several times a day is much better for their health.
Having a scheduled dinner time helps deter your cat away from boredom nibbling or eating just for the sake of it. Of course, you should never overfeed or underfeed your Siamese as this will do no good.
Check out the chart below for a suggested diet plan for your Siamese.
NOTE: Always consult your vet before changing your Siamese’s diet.
| Skinny | Normal | Overweight | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 4lbs | 30 grams | 30 grams | 20 grams |
| 6lbs | 45 grams | 45 grams | 30 grams |
| 8lbs | 70 grams | 60 grams | 45 grams |
| 10lbs | 90 grams | 70 grams | 45 grams |
| 12lbs | 110 grams | 90 grams | 60 grams |
| 14lbs | 120 grams | 90 grams | 70 grams |
| 16lbs | 135 grams | 110 grams | 90 grams |
You should always allow around 3 weeks for you Siamese to become accustomed to their new diet. Begin by offering a small amount of their new food in a separate bowl. If you have a picky eater on your hands, it could take 2 – 3 weeks before they decide to try it.
Once your Siamese has begun warming up to their new diet, you can begin mixing a quarter of their new diet food with 3 quarters of their old food for a few days. After, you can swap to half and half, and then finally switch to the new diet after a couple of weeks.
If you’re having a hard time getting your Siamese on their new diet, give your vet a call to see if they can give you any suggestions – don’t give up!
Exercise
Embedded in a cat’s instinct is the need to be a natural hunter. Cats love nothing more than hunting their prey, climbing trees, and running around like a lunatic.
Of course, just like when humans are overweight, all chubby cats want to do is lay around and bask in their laziness. Therefore, it is important that you get your Siamese cat up and about, stimulating those natural hunting instincts.
Make sure you have plenty of toys to keep your Siamese active – balls, feather toys, fishing toys, laser pointers, moving mice… anything you think your Siamese will deem interesting.
Play with your Siamese as much as you can, but ideally at least 2 times a day for 10 minutes. The aim of the game is to find a toy that gets them moving – not one they can lazily swipe their paw at as they lay on the floor like a loaf of bread.
Interactive toys are the best option. Just like this YVE LIFE Cat Laser Toy that’s so interactive, your Siamese cats can entertain themselves even while you’re out! Follow the link to check it out on Amazon.
Siamese cats are very intelligent creatures, therefore they can get bored very easily. That’s why you should always switch up the game and introduce new toys and ways to exercise. If you’re running out of ideas to keep your Siamese cat entertained, this one I wrote is just for you!
Other ways to keep your chunky but funky Siamese in shape include:
Is my Siamese cat too thin?
Due to their sleek fur, Siamese cats are naturally “skinny” in appearance. However, if your adult Siamese weighs under 7.7lbs (9.9lbs for males) they could be considered underweight.
If your cat is underweight, you should be able to tell simply by looking at them. Since the coat of a Siamese is short, the tell-tale signs should be visible.
If your Siamese shows any of these symptoms, they are underweight:
Why is my Siamese skinny?
Your Siamese cat may be underweight for two reasons: They’re not eating enough, or they’re using more calories than they’re consuming.
If your Siamese is stressed they probably won’t feel like eating. The same goes if they have a dental issue or other medical diseases. I have a recent article that talks about dental issues in Siamese cats. Check it out if you need help in identifying whether your cat has healthy teeth and gums.
Weight loss can be the first sign of an underlying health issue and it usually includes nausea and vomiting. This meaning, even if your Siamese is eating the recommended amount of calories, they’re losing them just as quickly.
A skinny Siamese doesn’t always equal a medical emergency. It may simply be that the food they’re given doesn’t contain enough nutrition. If you have two cats at home, one may also be more domineering when it comes to food, and you may not even realize they’re not getting enough.
However, it is always best to schedule a check-up to make sure there are no underlying health issues.
How can my Siamese put on weight?
If your Siamese needs to put on a few extra pounds, take a look at these tips:
NOTE: You should always consult your vet before changing your Siamese’s diet.
Is my Siamese cat a healthy weight?
The healthy weight for a Siamese cat falls in the 7.7lbs – 10.6lbs for a female whereas a male should weigh between 9.9lbs – 12.1lbs. If your feline falls 10 – 20% under or over this threshold it means their weight is a cause for concern.
Not only can an under or overweight cat have underlying health issues, but their weight can also cause various issues that could be avoided when sticking to a healthy diet.
To ensure your kitty is always happy and healthy, you should keep an eye on their diet to make sure they are always eating the recommended amount of calories.
We gathered all the health tips tailored towards maintaining your Siamese cat’s optimal well-being. Check it out here: Siamese Cat Health: A Complete Guide
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