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Kitten weight chart
Enter your kitten’s age and weight to see whether it is on track.
How kittens grow
A newborn kitten weighs about 70 to 115 grams (2.5 to 4 oz) and should gain steadily from the first day, about 7 to 15 grams (¼ to ½ oz) a day. Most kittens double their birth weight in the first two weeks. By 8 weeks, a typical kitten weighs about 2 pounds.
After that, growth gradually slows, mostly after about 6 months. Kittens reach most of their adult size by about a year, though they keep filling out until 12 to 18 months. Males end up heavier than females.
Kitten weight from birth to 8 weeks
The usual range of weights for newborn and young kittens, from the ASPCA.
| Age | Grams | Ounces |
|---|---|---|
| Birth | 70–115 g | 2.5–4.1 oz |
| 1 week | 142–190 g | 5.0–6.7 oz |
| 2 weeks | 191–295 g | 6.7–10.4 oz |
| 3 weeks | 240–400 g | 8.5–14.1 oz |
| 4 weeks | 289–505 g | 10.2–17.8 oz |
| 5 weeks | 338–610 g | 11.9–21.5 oz |
| 6 weeks | 387–715 g | 13.7–25.2 oz |
| 7 weeks | 436–820 g | 15.4–28.9 oz |
| 8 weeks | 485–925 g | 17.1–32.6 oz |
Kitten weight from 2 to 18 months
Typical weight by age, with the range for 9 in 10 kittens that grew up to a healthy weight in small type. Divide pounds by 2.2 for kilograms. Figures for 12 and 18 months rest on fewer kittens and are less certain.
| Age | Male | Female |
|---|---|---|
| 2 months | 2.2 lb1.2–3.7 lb | 2.2 lb1.5–3.4 lb |
| 3 months | 3.6 lb2.4–5.4 lb | 3.3 lb2.2–4.5 lb |
| 4 months | 4.9 lb3.4–6.9 lb | 4.3 lb3.1–5.6 lb |
| 5 months | 6.4 lb4.2–8.5 lb | 5.3 lb3.8–6.6 lb |
| 6 months | 7.2 lb5.2–9.6 lb | 5.6 lb4.2–7.2 lb |
| 9 months | 9.0 lb6.7–11.6 lb | 6.4 lb4.8–8.8 lb |
| 1 year | 9.6 lb6.8–12.8 lb | 6.8 lb5.2–9.4 lb |
| 18 months | 10.1 lb7.2–13.5 lb | 7.3 lb5.4–11.8 lb |
Weighing a kitten
For a kitten under 8 weeks, weigh at the same time each day on a kitchen scale that reads in grams, before a meal. For an older kitten, once a week while it is growing fast (up to about 4 months) and once a month after that is plenty. Write the numbers down, because the trend matters more than any one weight.
Kittens vary a lot. A kitten who is a little below or above the typical weight is usually fine if it is active, eating well and gaining steadily. A kitten that is losing weight, not gaining, or lethargic should be seen by a vet. Under 8 weeks old, call a vet the same day.
What these charts are based on
For kittens under 8 weeks we use the ASPCA kitten age and weight chart. From 8 weeks to 18 months, the figures are our analysis of the open data from Salt et al. (2022): about 12,700 weigh-ins of about 7,000 domestic shorthair kittens from Banfield veterinary hospitals in the US. The kittens were included because their vet rated their body condition normal or ideal as adults, and they were weighed before being neutered. Neutered kittens tend to end up heavier, especially females neutered early. Breed matters too: for a kitten of a larger breed, follow your vet’s advice or a breed-specific chart.
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Common questions
How much should a kitten weigh at 8 weeks?
A typical 8-week-old kitten weighs about 2.0 lb (900 g) for a male and 2.1 lb (940 g) for a female. Most kittens that grew up to a healthy weight were between about 1.1 and 3.5 lb at that age. The ASPCA chart gives a narrower usual range of 485 to 925 g (1.1 to 2.0 lb) at 8 weeks, so either can be normal.
How much weight should a kitten gain each week?
Newborn kittens gain about 7 to 15 grams (¼ to ½ oz) a day, which is about 50 to 100 grams (2 to 3.5 oz) a week. Gain slows as they get older. Between 2 and 4 months a typical kitten adds about 1 to 1.5 pounds a month.
How big will my kitten get?
It depends on the sex and breed. A typical male domestic shorthair weighs about 9.5 to 10 lb at 12 to 18 months, and a female about 7 lb. Breed matters too. There is no reliable way to predict adult weight from a single kitten weight, so use the table to see whether yours is tracking along a typical curve.
How can I tell how old my kitten is?
Weight alone is a rough guide because healthy kittens vary so much. The ASPCA says to use the weight chart together with developmental milestones such as teeth and eye changes. If you have found a young kitten, ask a vet or local rescue to check.
Is my kitten underweight?
Compare the weight with the table, then look at the kitten. A kitten in good shape is active and playful, has a rounded tummy but no bulging, and you can feel the ribs under a light covering. A kitten that is thin, weak, losing weight or not gaining should see a vet.
Sources: ASPCA, “Kitten Age & Weight Chart” (2023). Salt C, German AJ, Henzel KS, Butterwick RF, “Growth standard charts for monitoring bodyweight in intact domestic shorthair kittens from the USA”, PLOS ONE 2022;17(11):e0277531, CC BY 4.0 (our analysis of the open data). Salt C, Butterwick RF, Henzel KS, German AJ, “Comparison of growth in neutered Domestic Shorthair kittens with growth in sexually-intact cats”, PLOS ONE 2023;18:e0283016. An estimate to help you track growth, not veterinary advice.