Only if you are tracking something — a kitten’s growth, a vet-set weight program, or a cat whose weight you want to watch between visits — and then the resolution matters more than the capacity.
A scale is an instrument, not an appliance, and it is worth buying for a reason.
When it earns its place
A kitten, where two-gram resolution turns a guess into a growth curve. A vet-set weight program, where weekly home weighing on the same scale is far more informative than a monthly visit. A cat whose weight you want to watch, because coat hides a great deal.
Choosing one
Resolution for the smallest animal you will weigh; platform size for the largest. Two grams for a kitten, ten for a cat, and a low wide platform for a dog that has to walk on rather than be lifted.
The carrier trick
Put the carrier on the scale, tare to zero, then put the cat in. Almost every cat that refuses a bare platform will sit in a box on one.
What it does not do
Interpret. A weight that moves without a reason you can name is a call to the vet, not a longer spreadsheet.
This does not replace your device’s manual. Blade temperatures, locking mechanisms and cleaning procedures differ from model to model, and the manufacturer’s instructions take precedence over anything written here. Unplug a device before dismantling it, check a hot blade or an air nozzle against your own hand before it goes anywhere near an animal, and keep a mechanism that closes or rotates under supervision until you know how it behaves.
Last reviewed 2026-08-17