Cat Food Calculator (Calories, Wet and Dry Food)
Enter your cat’s weight, life stage and the foods’ calories to plan daily feeding.
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Cat Food Calculator (Calories, Wet and Dry Food) by TheCalcTools
How the Cat Food Calculator (Calories, Wet and Dry Food) works
RER = 70 × (body weight in kg)^0.75 kcal a day. The AAHA guidelines multiply this by 1.2 to 1.4 for a neutered adult cat, 1.4 to 1.6 for an intact adult and 2.5 for a kitten; overweight cats are fed 0.8 × RER of their ideal weight.
Mixing wet and dry food is common: wet food adds water and helps some cats stay lean. Split the calories, then convert each part using its label.
The formula
Worked example
Using the default values shown in the calculator:
| Cat's weight (kg) | 4.5 |
|---|---|
| Life stage | Neutered adult (1.2 to 1.4 × RER) |
| Share of calories from wet food | 50 % |
| Wet food calories per can or pouch (kcal) | 85 |
| Dry food calories per cup (kcal) | 400 |
| Dry food calories per kg (kcal/kg) | 3800 |
- A 4.5 kg neutered cat needs 260 kcal a day.
- Half from wet food is 1.53 cans of 85 kcal; the other half is 0.32 cups of dry food (34 g).
Result:
| Daily calories (MER) | 260 |
|---|---|
| Wet food: cans or pouches per day | 1.53 |
| Dry food: cups per day | 0.32 |
| Dry food: grams per day | 34 |
| Resting energy (RER) | 216 |
Frequently asked questions
How many calories does a 4.5 kg cat need?
About 70 × 4.5^0.75 × 1.2 ≈ 260 kcal a day for a neutered indoor adult.
Is dry food bad for cats?
Not necessarily, but it is calorie-dense and easy to overfeed. Measure portions and monitor weight.
Sources and further reading
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This calculator gives estimates for information only. Check important results independently before you rely on them. See our disclaimer.