Weighing Kittens

Monitoring weight is an absolutely essential part of neonatal kitten care. Knowing the kitten's weight will help you determine their progress and wellbeing, help with dosing medication and food, and alert you when the kitten is unwell. Weighing kittens is not optional--if you want your kittens to succeed, you must make weighing a part of your kitten care routine! Click here for a printable weight monitoring sheet.

Weigh neonatal kittens at every meal, or at least once daily, until they are fully weaned and healthy. A healthy kitten should gain roughtly 7 to 14 grams per day. If the kitten is not gaining weight, or is losing weight, this can be a sign of illness and should be addressed immediately. 

Watch an Instructional Video on Weighing Kittens

Use a small digital scale to weigh your kittens such as a digital kitchen scale. Placing the kitten in a bowl or bin on the scale will help keep the kitten stable--just be sure to tare the scale first so that only the kitten's weight is being recorded. Weigh your kitten in grams for the most accurate reading!

Check out the Weight and Feeding Chart to determine the average healthy weight for each week of kitten development, and note that this is only a guideline--not a rule book. Every kitten's weight will vary, but what is most important is that the kitten is making progress. If the kitten is underweight or losing weight, bring her to a vet immediately to ensure that she is treated and supportive care is put into place. 

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Disclaimer: Kitten Lady is not a licensed veterinarian. Her statements do not constitute medical advice, and for questions/concerns about kitten health, caregivers should contact their vet.