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Cat Calorie Calculator

How much should your cat eat? Estimate daily calories, account for treats, then turn the result into food portions.

Set a daily calorie target

Start with your cat's details. Add body condition, meals and package calories when you have them.

Your cat

Changing units converts the weight you entered. Decimals are welcome.

Body condition & goal Adjust the starting estimate
How do I check body condition?

Watch your cat standing comfortably, then gently feel the ribs if they are happy to be handled. These sketches show where to look; they do not assign a score.

Look from aboveNotice whether the body narrows behind the ribs. Fur can hide the waist.
Gently feel the ribsNotice how easily you can feel them and how much soft covering there is. Stop if your cat is uncomfortable.

A belly pouch or body weight alone cannot tell you the score. Age, muscle and health need context. Keep “Not sure yet” selected if the signs are unclear.

Compare with the official WSAVA scoring chart (PDF)

Weight changes need a veterinary body condition assessment.

Meals & treats Starts with 2 meals and no treats

Enter what you actually give. Leave at 0 if you do not feed treats.

Convert calories to food amounts Optional

Use kcal per can, cup, pouch, serving or 100 g from the exact recipe.

Feeding safely

Never rapidly restrict calories for cats. If your cat is not eating, call a veterinarian the same day.

Next steps

Put the result into practice.

Plan everyday feeding

Start with weight and body condition, then work through calories and portions.

A few common questions

Is this a prescription feeding plan?

Use it as a starting estimate, then follow weight and body condition over time. Ask your vet about feeding during illness, pregnancy, growth or weight loss.

Why does body condition change the result?

A cat above or below ideal condition may need a different target than its current weight. Ask your vet to confirm the score before using a weight-change goal.

About this tool & sources

Your cat's health and history can change what is right for them. Use these results to support a conversation with your veterinarian. They cannot confirm a diagnosis or prescribe treatment.

Updated 2026-10-05

How this tool works

The calculation starts with a published RER equation. The selected multipliers are starting values, and several are site estimates that need individual review.

View rules and sources

  1. Resting energy equation

    Published value

    RER = 70 × body weight in kg^0.75 kcal/day.

    RER is the starting equation; it is not the final calorie need for every cat.

  2. Neutered adult factor

    Reference + site choice

    1.2 × RER before other site multipliers.

    1.2 is the lower endpoint of the source's 1.2–1.4 feline range. Selecting this endpoint for every neutered adult is a site choice.

  3. Intact adult factor

    Reference + site choice

    1.4 × RER before other site multipliers.

    1.4 is the lower endpoint of the source's 1.4–1.6 feline range. It is not a guarantee for an individual intact cat.

  4. Kitten under four months

    Reference + site choice

    2.5 × RER before other site multipliers.

    The feline growth factor is 2.5. The site uses it for this younger age band; the source does not establish this band's boundary.

  5. Kitten four to twelve months

    Site estimate or rule

    2.0 × RER before other site multipliers.

    The checked table gives feline growth as 2.5. Its age-split growth factor of 2.0 at four months or older is in the canine column. Applying 2.0 to this cat band has no exact feline support here and risks a cross-species reading.

  6. Senior factor

    Site estimate or rule

    1.15 × RER before other site multipliers.

    The source does not establish a universal senior-cat factor of 1.15. This is a site estimate; age alone does not determine energy needs.

  7. Pregnancy factor

    Reference + site choice

    1.8 × RER before other site multipliers.

    The source gives a gestation range of 1.6–2.0. A fixed 1.8 throughout pregnancy is a site selection within that range, not a stage-specific prescription.

  8. Activity multipliers

    Site estimate or rule

    Sedentary 0.9; typical 1.0; active 1.15.

    These extra activity multipliers are site estimates. The cited feline table does not publish this three-value scheme.

  9. Goal multipliers

    Site estimate or rule

    Maintain 1.0; lose 0.9, or 0.82 at BCS 8–9; gain 1.12.

    This multiplicative goal scheme is a site estimate. The source's standalone weight-loss factor of 0.8 does not validate multiplying these values by adult and activity factors.

  10. Target-weight approximation

    Reference + site choice

    Above BCS 5: weight ÷ [1 + 0.1 × (BCS − 5)]. Below 5: weight ÷ max[0.5, 1 − 0.1 × (5 − BCS)].

    The source supports approximate excess-weight steps above ideal. The reciprocal calculation is this site's implementation; extending the same step below ideal is a site estimate, not a validated underweight target.

  11. Weight used for the goal

    Reference + site choice

    Use estimated target weight for loss above BCS 5 or gain below BCS 5; otherwise use current weight.

    Ideal-weight calculations appear in weight-management guidance. This site's exact branch logic, including weight gain, is not a published protocol.

  12. Goal eligibility

    Site estimate or rule

    Only maintenance/growth for kittens and pregnancy. Gain/loss needs known BCS above 2 and an appropriate side of BCS 5.

    These eligibility checks are site guardrails. Passing them does not establish that a weight-change plan is appropriate.

  13. Combined result and rounding

    Site estimate or rule

    Target RER × life-stage × activity × goal; rounded to whole kcal, with a 35 kcal display floor.

    The combined scheme and 35 kcal floor are site rules. The floor is not a safe minimum intake or a recommendation.

  14. Result review labels

    Site estimate or rule

    Growth/pregnancy labels override condition bands. Otherwise: loss goal or BCS ≥7 → weight review; gain goal or BCS ≤3 → condition review; other cases → maintenance.

    These labels and thresholds are site routing rules; they do not establish that the calorie target is appropriate.

  15. Treat allowance

    Published value

    Treats: no more than 10% of the daily calorie target.

    The 10% allowance is supported. A treat amount above it produces a warning; this tool does not assess the diet's nutrient balance.

  16. Calories to portions

    Unit or portion arithmetic

    Food amount = assigned kcal ÷ package kcal per unit; multiply by 100 for kcal/100 g.

    This is unit arithmetic using the exact recipe's package calories. Cups, cans and pouches are not assumed to have the same size or calorie content.

  17. Meals and follow-up

    Reference + site choice

    1–6 meals/day; suggested body-condition check every 2–4 weeks.

    Meal limits and this fixed reminder are site choices. Follow-up frequency and feeding schedules should fit the individual cat.

Published values support the stated reference scope. They do not establish the accuracy or clinical validity of this tool.

Sources checked · No professional review recorded. Source checking is a record of reading, not a clinical review.