Weighing
Last updated
Last updated
The weight of a kitten provides a great way to estimate their age
The weight of a kitten provides a great way to estimate their age.
On collecting your kittens, please weigh them and notify your Coordinator so we can check against their age/milestones and add to their record in Shelter Manager.
(it is a good idea to record all your kitten weights in a notebook)
Kittens of all ages should be growing constantly every day, but fluctuations can be experienced throughout the day depending on the timing of the weight measurement (before / after eating / toileting). To provide an accurate assessment of the weight, kittens should be weighed roughly at the same time every time.
How often you need to weigh your kittens depends on their age. Please refer to the table below for more specific details. Try to avoid weighing kittens twice a day as this creates both confusion and anxiety due to the rapid fluctuations throughout the day.
1 - 4 Weeks
Once Daily
4 - 5 Weeks
Three times a week
5 Weeks and above
Once a week
Any cat with poor appetite or lethargy
Once Daily
How much weight should my kitten gain?
Healthy kittens should gain at least 10-15 grams/day (some even up to 20 grams/day). Most kittens should gain at least 100 grams/week (some up to 150 grams/week). The table below provides a guide.
Please note the above table is for healthy kittens in good body condition and allowances have to be made for sick, underweight kittens. These kittens will often have ‘compensatory’ weight gain (greater than average) once their underlying health issues have been addressed.
When should I be concerned if my kitten is losing weight?
Kittens under 4 weeks - over a couple of days
Kittens 4 - 8 weeks - over a few days
Kittens over 8 weeks - over a week
Always monitor what may be the cause/or other issues - change of diet, vomiting, diarrhoea, not eating, change in behaviour, lethargy.
If you are concerned contact your t Coordinator. If they are unavailable, post on Foster Forum. FFARQ will advise on next steps and if a vet visit is required.
Any kitten that has reduced weight-gain should be monitored for up to 48hrs provided they still have a good appetite and do not have any clinical symptoms of disease.
You may be advised to offer the kittens additional/novel foods like cooked chicken (no skin or bones), Hills Science a/d or nutrigel.
If weight gain is still reduced after this time, or you are concerned, notify your Coordinator as a vet appointment may be necessary.
