Cat Food Calculator

How much should you feed your cat? Get daily calories, then split them between wet and dry food using the numbers on your cat’s actual food.

Your cat and food

261kcal per day

1.5 cans of wet food + 0.34 cup of dry food (≈ 5 tablespoons) a day.

RER 218 kcal× 1.2

How cat calories are calculated

Vets start from the resting energy requirement, RER = 70 × (weight in kg)0.75, then multiply by a factor for life stage (NRC 2006, WSAVA guidelines):

Cat× RER
Adult, spayed/neutered1.2
Adult, intact1.4
Adult, indoor & inactive1
Weight loss (use ideal weight)0.8
Needs to gain weight1.3
Senior (11+ years)1.1
Kitten under 12 months2.5
Pregnant1.8
Nursing kittens3

Indoor, neutered cats burn surprisingly little. More than half of pet cats in the US are overweight or obese, according to the Association for Pet Obesity Prevention’s surveys, so start at the low end and adjust.

For an overweight cat, use the ideal weight your vet suggests with the “Weight loss” setting.

Typical daily calories by weight

Spayed or neutered adult cats (1.2 × RER). Indoor, inactive cats may need 15–20% less.

Weightkcal/dayDry cups (380 kcal)3 oz cans (85 kcal)
5 lb (2.3 kg)1550.411.8
6 lb (2.7 kg)1780.472.1
7 lb (3.2 kg)2000.532.4
8 lb (3.6 kg)2210.582.6
9 lb (4.1 kg)2410.632.8
10 lb (4.5 kg)2610.693.1
11 lb (5.0 kg)2800.743.3
12 lb (5.4 kg)2990.793.5
13 lb (5.9 kg)3180.843.7
14 lb (6.4 kg)3360.884.0
15 lb (6.8 kg)3540.934.2
16 lb (7.3 kg)3710.984.4
18 lb (8.2 kg)4061.074.8

Ask a follow-up about your pet

Your question and the result above go to an AI model (via Vercel AI Gateway) to write a short, general answer. It is not a vet and can be wrong. Nothing is stored.

Questions owners ask

How much should I feed my cat a day?
An average 10 lb (4.5 kg) neutered indoor cat needs roughly 200–260 kcal a day. That is about half a cup of a typical dry food, or two 3 oz cans of wet food. Use the calculator with your food’s kcal numbers for a precise amount.
How many cans of wet food should a cat eat?
A 3 oz (85 g) can of wet cat food usually has 70–110 kcal; a 5.5 oz can 140–200 kcal. Divide your cat’s daily calories by the can’s calories. The calculator’s wet/dry slider does this for you.
Wet or dry food: which is better?
Both can be complete and balanced. Wet food adds water and helps some cats with weight control and urinary health; dry food is convenient and calorie-dense. Many vets suggest a mix. Check the label says “complete and balanced” (AAFCO in the US, FEDIAF in Europe).
How much should a kitten eat?
Kittens need about 2.5 × RER based on current weight, split into 3–4 meals until 6 months, then 2–3. Most kittens can free-feed a kitten food safely until about 6 months, when you should move to measured meals.
How fast should an overweight cat lose weight?
Slowly: about 0.5–2% of body weight per week. Never put a cat on a crash diet; rapid weight loss can trigger hepatic lipidosis (fatty liver), which is life-threatening. Work with your vet on a target.
How many meals a day should a cat have?
Cats naturally eat many small meals. Two to four measured meals, or a puzzle feeder, suit most adults better than one big bowl, and help indoor cats stay active.

Sources: National Research Council, Nutrient Requirements of Dogs and Cats (2006); WSAVA Global Nutrition Guidelines; 2021 AAHA/AAFP Feline Life Stage Guidelines; Association for Pet Obesity Prevention.

Keep going

Cat weight chartKitten weight by week and healthy adult ranges.Cat age calculatorCat years to human years, with the full age chart.Dog food calculatorDaily calories, cups and grams for your dog.