CalculatorExample answer
How much should I feed my cat? (calorie + portion)
Daily calories (starting range): 130–389 kcal/dayEstimate
Midpoint ~260 kcal/day (RER 216 x 1.2). Start here, then adjust by body condition — not by the bag's chart.
This is a typical case. Run it for your cat →
Full result
Food per day: 144–432 g/dayCalculated
At 90 kcal/100 g. Split across meals. Re-weigh in 2–4 weeks and adjust to keep body condition 4–5/9.Watch for these
- Prescription or disease diets (CKD, diabetes) are a vet's decision — this calculator is for healthy adult/kitten maintenance only.
Routine decision. You can act on this at your own pace.
How this was decided
- RER = 70 x (kg)^0.75 (EV-011)
- MER = RER x 1.2 (neutered adult (1.2 x RER)) (EV-011)
- portion grams = kcal / food energy density
When this doesn’t apply
- Life-stage factor 1.2 (neutered adult (1.2 x RER)); individual need varies ~+-50%, so this is a starting range.
Sources
- WSAVA/ISFM/AAFP T1; Association for Pet Obesity Prevention (APOP) T2; Merck Vet Manual T2 · Tier 1 · verified 2026-07-17 · commercial bias noted · source conflict noted
Real questions cat owners ask
- How much wet food does a cat need a day?
- How many grams of dry food should a cat eat per day?
- What ratio of wet to dry food should I feed?
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