Cat Calorie Calculator
Work out how many calories your cat needs each day, and how much dry or wet food that is.
Enter your cat's details
How much should your cat eat?
Enter your cat's weight to see their daily calories and how much food that is.
How much should I feed my cat?
Start with calories. Vets estimate a cat's daily needs from their weight, then adjust for age, activity, and whether they are spayed or neutered. Once you know the calories, the label on your cat's food tells you how many cups, cans, or grams that is.
Most pet cats live indoors and are neutered, so they need fewer calories than you might think, and feeding guides on the bag are often generous. Small amounts add up: a few extra pieces of kibble a day can mean a pound or two of weight gain over a year.
Cat calorie chart by weight
| Weight | Laid-back | Typical indoor | Active |
|---|---|---|---|
| 6 lb (2.7 kg) | 150 | 180 | 210 |
| 7 lb (3.2 kg) | 165 | 200 | 235 |
| 8 lb (3.6 kg) | 185 | 220 | 260 |
| 9 lb (4.1 kg) | 200 | 240 | 280 |
| 10 lb (4.5 kg) | 220 | 260 | 305 |
| 11 lb (5.0 kg) | 235 | 280 | 325 |
| 12 lb (5.4 kg) | 250 | 300 | 350 |
| 13 lb (5.9 kg) | 265 | 320 | 370 |
| 14 lb (6.4 kg) | 280 | 335 | 390 |
| 16 lb (7.3 kg) | 310 | 370 | 435 |
| 18 lb (8.2 kg) | 340 | 405 | 475 |
Calories per day, rounded to the nearest 5. Based on AAHA life stage factors.
How the calculator works
First we work out your cat's resting energy requirement, the calories needed just to keep the body running: 70 times body weight in kilograms raised to the power of 0.75. Then we multiply by a factor from the American Animal Hospital Association (AAHA) guidelines: 1.2 for a typical neutered indoor cat, 1.4 for an intact cat, 1.0 for laid-back cats or those that gain weight easily, and 2.5 for growing kittens.
For weight loss, we use 0.8 times the resting energy requirement at the target weight, as AAHA recommends. If you feed both wet and dry food, we split the calories between them in the proportion you choose.
Wet food, dry food, or both?
- Wet food is about three quarters water, so it has far fewer calories per bite. It can help cats that need to lose weight, drink little, or have urinary or kidney problems.
- Dry food is calorie dense, so small measuring mistakes matter. Use a proper measuring cup, or better, a kitchen scale.
- Mixed feeding works well for many cats. Decide what share comes from each, then use the calculator to set both amounts.
Is your cat a healthy weight?
Run your hands along your cat's sides and look from above:
- Ideal: ribs easy to feel under a thin layer of fat, and a visible waist behind the ribs.
- Overweight: ribs hard to feel, no waist, or a belly that sways or bulges.
- Underweight: ribs, spine, or hip bones easy to see or feel sharply.
Older cats often lose weight as they age, which can be a sign of illness, so mention any change to your vet. Not sure how old your cat is in human years? Try our cat age calculator.
Frequently asked questions
How many calories does a cat need a day?
A typical spayed or neutered indoor cat of 10 lb (4.5 kg) needs roughly 260 calories a day. Lazy or older indoor cats may need closer to 220, and active or intact cats 300 or more. Kittens need about two and a half times the resting calories of an adult of the same weight.
How much should I feed my cat?
Work out your cat's daily calories, then divide by the calories on the food label. For example, 260 calories is about two thirds of a cup of a dry food with 400 calories per cup, or about three 3 oz cans of a wet food with 85 calories per can. Weigh your cat monthly and adjust.
Should I feed my cat wet or dry food?
Both can be complete and balanced. Wet food has more water and fewer calories per bite, which can help cats that need to lose weight or drink little. Dry food is convenient and costs less. Many owners feed a mix: just make sure the total calories add up to your cat's daily needs.
How many times a day should I feed my cat?
Most adult cats do well with at least 2 meals a day, and many prefer several small meals. Kittens need at least 3 meals a day. Puzzle feeders and spreading dry food across the day can help indoor cats stay active.
How fast should an overweight cat lose weight?
Slowly: about 1 percent of body weight a week. Cutting food too quickly, or letting a cat go without eating, can cause a dangerous liver problem called hepatic lipidosis. Plan weight loss with your vet, who can set a safe target and check for medical causes.
How many treats can my cat have?
Treats should make up no more than about 10 percent of daily calories. For a cat that needs 250 calories a day, that's up to 25 calories of treats, which can be just a few pieces. Feed a little less of the main food to make room for them.
Sources
- Cline MG, Burns KM, Coe JB, et al. 2021 AAHA Nutrition and Weight Management Guidelines for Dogs and Cats. Journal of the American Animal Hospital Association, 2021; 57(4): 153 to 178.
- AAHA. Energy requirement calculations: resting energy requirement and life stage factors (2021 guidelines resource).
- World Small Animal Veterinary Association. Global Nutrition Guidelines and toolkit, including body condition score charts.
Sources last checked: . How we calculate
