A Guide To The Domestic Shorthair Cat Weight Chart By Age

A domestic shorthaired cat isn’t a specific breed, but rather a description of cats of different species with this type of fur.

This is actually the most common type of cat found in the United States. These cats have a mixed ancestry, which resulted in them having a range of personalities. Also, various fur colors and markings are present with these felines.

Despite these differences, there is a general guideline for their weight in different stages of their lives.

Let’s look at the domestic shorthair cat weight chart by age, and find out how big this feline is supposed to be. This chart will help you estimate whether your cat is the right weight for its age.

Domestic Shorthair Cat Weight Chart By Age

Newborn Domestic Shorthair Kitten

When just born, newborn domestic shorthair kittens weigh between 3-6 ounces.

According to the kitten feeding chart by age, kittens should gain between a half and three-quarters of an ounce in the first couple of weeks of their lives.

Your newborn domestic shorthair kitten should eat every 1 to 2 hours for the first two weeks. At around 3 to 4 weeks of age, you can extend the feeding intervals to every 3 to 4 hours.

Mother milk provides kittens with all the necessary nutrients in this period. If the kitten doesn’t get enough of it, it should be supplemented with a high-quality feline milk replacer.

It will be enough to give it kitten formula every 4 to 6 hours when it reaches 4 weeks. A 5-week-old kitten should start weaning, meaning that it should eat every 6 hours. This is the period when kittens start switching to solid food.

After reaching 8 weeks of age, the domestic shorthair kitten should have a meal every 6 to 8 hours.

3-Months-Old Kitten

A domestic shorthair kitten should weigh 2-4 pounds at the age of three months. It’s expected for males to be larger than females in general.

This is the period when kittens are ready to leave their mother and should be fully weaned and well-socialized.

By this point, your domestic shorthair kitten is growing and will benefit from a mixed diet, getting both dry and wet food. Of course, the food should be specially formulated for kittens.

Exercise and playing are crucial for kittens at this age to keep them entertained and make them socialized. Also, regular exercise keeps them at a healthy body weight.

4-Months-Old Kitten

A healthy and well-fed 4-month-old domestic shorthair kitten should weigh 4-5.5 pounds. At this age, it will be enough to give it meals every 8 hours.

It’s important to feed your growing cat with regular and quality meals. But, it’s also crucial to avoid overfeeding and ensure that your kitten engages in regular exercise to prevent obesity.

5-Months-Old Kitten

At this point, your domestic shorthair kitten should weigh between 5-6 pounds.

As this kitten is growing and burning calories, its body should be supplied with energy, as explained by PetMD.

In case you’re unsure about how many daily calories your kitten needs, you can always ask a vet for advice. They can provide guidance on the appropriate calorie intake, which you can then divide among the daily meals.

As the kitten is growing up, its meals should become larger and less frequent.

As the kitten continues to grow, its meals should gradually become larger and less frequent.

6-Months-Old Kitten

A domestic shorthair cat should weigh 5-5 to 6.6 pounds at the age of six months.

This is the time when you should provide your cat with a lot of entertainment, such as interactive toys, tall cat trees, and scratching posts.

From this point forward, feeding your cat every 8 to 12 hours will be sufficient.

9-Months-Old Kitten

In this period, your kitten should weigh anywhere between 6.75 pounds and 8.75 pounds. 

By this time, your domestic shorthair kitten will start looking like a grown-up cat, although it will typically still continue to grow.

1-Year-Old Kitten

A one-year-old domestic shorthair kitten will usually weigh 6-9 pounds, with males being on the heavier side.

It’s worth noting that it’s possible for a cat to exceed 9 pounds at this age without being considered overweight. This variation in weight can depend on the cat’s build, as domestic shorthair cats can vary in this regard.

The 1-year mark is a perfect time to take your cat for a vet check-up and to see whether it’s progressing well, and how its size is looking.

3-Years-Old Kitten

Most domestic shorthair cats will weigh up to 9 pounds at three years old. However, it’s possible to see some of them reaching up to 15 pounds.

This doesn’t mean that they are obese, but you should ask a vet for an opinion on your cat’s size.

When Does The Domestic Shorthair Cat Reach Her Full Size?

Most kittens typically stop growing between the ages of 8 and 16 months, according to the cat growth chart.

The same is true for the domestic shorthair cat, but there could be some exceptions. 

It’s not impossible for this cat to continue growing up to the age of around three years. If your cat is otherwise healthy, and this is confirmed by a vet, her long-lasting progress shouldn’t worry you.

Some cats mature later and continue developing, both physically and emotionally, for a longer period of time.

What To Do If Your Domestic Shorthair Cat Is Underweight?

An optimal body weight is crucial for a cat’s general health. The data from this domestic shorthair cat weight are general, and some deviations are always possible.

However, in the case you notice your cat is severely leaping out of the desirable range, this could mean it’s underweight.

Cats Protection explains the following signs a cat is underweight:

• You’re able to see its ribs

• Its belly tucks up clearly behind its ribs when you look it from the side

• You can see its spine

• When you touch it, you can’t feel a layer of fat over its ribs and spine

The most important thing here is to rule out any medical condition that could cause low body weight in your pet. Therefore, you need to consult your veterinarian.

If your cat is healthy, the vet might suggest a special diet to help promote a healthy weight in it.

To encourage your cat to eat well, you should keep its food bowl away from its toilet area. The food you give it should be in accordance with its age and energy levels. 

Patience is key in this process. You may need to make adjustments to your cat’s diet a few times before finding the one that suits it the best.

What To Do If Your Domestic Shorthair Cat Is Overweight?

Just as it’s not good for your pet to be underweight, obesity is also a problem you don’t want to see in your cat.

Of course, you can use this weight chart to check whether your cat is obese, but there are also some other signs.

Your cat struggling with jumping and running quickly could indicate an obesity problem in it. When cats are healthy and at optimal body weight, they should perform these activities easily.

The Cumberland Animal Clinic suggests looking for your cat’s waistline to check their weight. Look down at your cat from directly above while it’s standing, and then look for a small indent above its hips.

If you can’t see its waist, or its sides are bulging, this indicates that your domestic shorthair is obese.

Once again, you should have a talk with your vet about the best steps for treating your cat’s weight problem.

Maybe you’ll need to decrease its meals or to encourage it to exercise more regularly. Here it’s also essential to eliminate any potential health issues that could cause the weight gain in your feline friend.

Final Thoughts

Keeping a cat at a healthy body weight is crucial for its health and well-being. Hopefully, this domestic shorthair cat weight chart by age has provided you with a fair insight into this cat’s desirable size.

Slight deviations are always possible and don’t have to indicate anything wrong with your furry friend.

However, if you notice your cat is severely underweight or overweight, it’s time you consult a veterinarian.

Feeding your cat a high-quality diet is crucial to keep it at your side for many years to come. Also, providing it with regular physical activity is equally important.