Cat Food Calculator
Calculate your cat's daily calorie needs and how many cups of dry food or cans of wet food that means.
How to use the Cat Food Calculator
- Enter the cat's weight and pick its unit – For weight loss, enter the target (ideal) weight.
- Choose the life stage / activity.
- Enter the share of calories from wet food.
- Enter the dry food calories per cup.
- Enter the wet food calories per can – A 3 oz can is often 70–100 kcal; a 5.5 oz can 150–200 kcal.
- Press Calculate. The result updates automatically as you type.
About the Cat Food Calculator
Most indoor cats need far fewer calories than people expect: a typical 10 lb (4.5 kg) neutered cat needs only about 250–270 kcal a day, which is roughly two-thirds of a cup of average dry food. Small overfeeding adds up quickly, and obesity raises a cat's risk of diabetes, arthritis and urinary problems.
Mixing wet and dry food is popular because wet food adds water to the diet. Set the share of calories from wet food and the calculator splits the daily total between both. Cats with obesity should lose weight gradually under veterinary guidance; rapid weight loss in cats can cause a serious liver condition called hepatic lipidosis.
Results are estimates for general guidance and are not veterinary advice. Ask your veterinarian about your own pet.
Formula
RER (kcal/day) = 70 × (body weight in kg)0.75
Daily calories = RER × factor
Cups of dry = calories × (1 − wet share) ÷ kcal per cup
Cans of wet = calories × wet share ÷ kcal per can
Common factors: neutered adult 1.2, intact adult 1.4, inactive or obese-prone 1.0, weight loss 0.8 × RER at ideal weight, kitten 2.5.
Example calculation
Using the default values:
- Cat's weight = 10 lb
- Life stage / activity = Adult, neutered/spayed
- Share of calories from wet food = 0%
- Dry food calories per cup = 400 kcal/cup
- Wet food calories per can = 90 kcal/can
the calculator returns:
- Daily calories: 261 kcal/day
- Dry food per day: 0.65 cups
- Resting energy requirement (RER): 218 kcal/day
Frequently asked questions
How much should I feed my cat a day?
A typical neutered adult cat needs about 20–25 kcal per pound of ideal body weight, roughly 200–280 kcal for most house cats.
Is wet or dry food better for cats?
Both can be complete and balanced. Wet food provides more water and is often helpful for urinary health and weight control; dry food is convenient and economical.
How do I know if my cat is overweight?
You should be able to feel the ribs with light pressure and see a waist behind the ribs from above. A hanging belly pouch is normal in many cats, but a round abdomen is not.
Last updated: · Category: Pets calculators