Study scientists investigating domestic cats sometimes use the body condition score (BCS). It is a metric which numerically measures a domestic cat’s appearance caused by the status of their weight. The method is explained below.
Note: please read the entire article and not just the title as to do so will probably mislead you 💕👍😢.
4,020 domestic cats in Sydney, Australia were screened for BCS which was cross-checked with lifespan and survival time. The objective was to see if there was a correlation between a certain BCS and shortened or lengthened lifespan.
You would have thought that cats with non-ideal BCS scores would have shorter lifespans due to health issues linked to being overweight or underweight.
The results were surprising in that cats with ideal BCS scores (4-5) lived shorter lives than those with BCS scores of 6 (the first level of being overweight).
It was suggested in the study (and by me) that the reason for this surprising result is:
- The cats scoring BCS 6 lived longer but with chronic illnesses caused by being overweight with excess fat and fat around organs.
- These cats were pampered by their caregivers which is why they were overweight but the pampering increased longevity due to quality caregiving.
Also BCS 3 cats (very underweight) live shorter lives as did those that were very obese (BCS 9).
The conclusion is that BCS is linked to life expectancy which for me is unsurprising as body condition impacts health. The same applies to people.
Below is some information about the BCS system.
9 point BCS scoring
The nine-point body condition score (BCS) is a system used to assess a cat’s weight and overall body condition. It helps veterinarians and pet owners evaluate whether a cat is underweight, at an ideal weight, overweight, or obese. Here’s how it works:
BCS 1-3 (Under Ideal):
- Ribs are visible on shorthaired cats.
- No palpable fat.
- Severe abdominal tuck.
- Lumbar vertebrae and wings of ilia easily palpated.
BCS 4-5 (Ideal):
- Well-proportioned.
- Observe a waist behind the ribs.
- Ribs are palpable with slight fat covering.
- Minimal abdominal fat.
BCS 6-7 (Overweight):
- Ribs are palpable with slight excess fat covering.
- Waist and abdominal fat pad distinguishable but not obvious.
- Abdominal tuck absent.
BCS 8 (Obese):
- Ribs are not easily palpated with moderate fat covering.
- Waist is poorly discernible.
- Obvious rounding of the abdomen.
- Moderate abdominal fat pad.
BCS 9 (Severely Obese):
- Ribs are not palpable under heavy fat cover.
- Heavy fat deposits over the lumbar area, face, and limbs.
- Distention of the abdomen with no waist.
- Extensive abdominal fat deposits.
An ideal BCS for cats is typically marked as 4 or 5. Cats with a BCS of 8 or 9 are considered obese. Remember that maintaining a healthy body weight is essential for your cat’s overall well-being! 😺🐾
Study citation: Teng KT, McGreevy PD, Toribio J-AL, Raubenheimer D, Kendall K, Dhand NK. Strong associations of nine-point body condition scoring with survival and lifespan in cats. Journal of Feline Medicine and Surgery. 2018;20(12):1110-1118. doi:10.1177/1098612X17752198
