Cat Calorie Calculator
Daily calories your cat needs by weight, age and neuter status.
Enter your values
Enter the cat weight in kg.
Choose one of: Kitten under 4 months, Kitten 4-12 months, Neutered adult, Intact adult, Weight loss, Weight gain, Senior, low activity.
Enter the dry food energy in kcal per 100 g.
Enter the wet food energy in kcal per 100 g.
Results update instantly as you type — no submit needed. Your values are remembered on this device, and the shareable link reopens the calculator with exactly these numbers.
- Daily calories
- 260 kcal
- Resting requirement
- 216 kcal
- Dry food only
- 68 g per day
- Wet food only
- 324 g per day
- Half and half
- 34 g dry + 162 g wet
- Per meal (2 meals)
- 130 kcal
- Treat allowance (10%)
- 26 kcal
Working
- 1RER = 70 x 4.5^0.75 = 216 kcal
- 2216 x 1.2 = 260 kcal/day
Quick answer
A cat's resting energy requirement is 70 x weight in kg^0.75. Daily needs multiply that by a life-stage factor from 0.8 for weight loss to 2.5 for kittens.
RER = 70 x kg^0.75; MER = RER x factor
At a glance
| What it does | Daily calories your cat needs by weight, age and neuter status. |
|---|---|
| Category | Pets |
| Inputs needed | Cat weight, Life stage, Dry food energy, Wet food energy |
| Main output | Daily calories |
| Formula | RER = 70 x kg^0.75; MER = RER x factor |
| Cost | Free — no sign-up, no download |
How to use the Cat Calorie Calculator
- 1Weigh your cat, ideally on a pet scale or by holding them on a bathroom scale.
- 2Choose the life stage that matches age, neuter status and whether you are managing weight.
- 3Read the kcal from the food label and use the gram amounts as your daily ration.
Inputs explained
- Cat weight(kg)
- Enter the cat weight in kg.
- Life stage
- Choose one of: Kitten under 4 months, Kitten 4-12 months, Neutered adult, Intact adult, Weight loss, Weight gain, Senior, low activity.
- Dry food energy(kcal per 100 g)
- Enter the dry food energy in kcal per 100 g.
- Wet food energy(kcal per 100 g)
- Enter the wet food energy in kcal per 100 g.
Worked example
Using the values the calculator loads with:
Inputs
- Cat weight4.5 kg
- Life stageNeutered adult
- Dry food energy380 kcal per 100 g
- Wet food energy80 kcal per 100 g
Results
- Daily calories260 kcal
- Resting requirement216 kcal
- Dry food only68 g per day
- Wet food only324 g per day
- Half and half34 g dry + 162 g wet
- Per meal (2 meals)130 kcal
- Treat allowance (10%)26 kcal
- RER = 70 x 4.5^0.75 = 216 kcal
- 216 x 1.2 = 260 kcal/day
Frequently asked questions
Why is my cat always hungry on this amount?
Dry food is calorie-dense but low in volume. Swapping part of the ration to wet food gives a bigger, more filling portion for the same calories.
How fast should a cat lose weight?
No more than 0.5 to 1% of bodyweight per week. Faster loss in cats risks hepatic lipidosis, which is serious — involve your vet.
What do I need to enter into the Cat Calorie Calculator?
Just 4 values: cat weight, life stage, dry food energy, wet food energy. Every field starts with a realistic example, so you can change one number at a time and watch the result update instantly.
How does the Cat Calorie Calculator work out the answer?
A cat's resting energy requirement is 70 x weight in kg^0.75. Daily needs multiply that by a life-stage factor from 0.8 for weight loss to 2.5 for kittens. It applies the formula RER = 70 x kg^0.75; MER = RER x factor and shows the working so you can check each step by hand.
Is the Cat Calorie Calculator free, and do I need an account?
It is completely free with no sign-up, no download and no usage limit. Everything is calculated in your browser, so the numbers you type never leave your device.
Results are estimates for general information. For medical, legal, structural or financial decisions, confirm with a qualified professional.