Cat Calorie Calculator
Calculate your cat's daily calorie needs by weight and life stage — kitten, adult, senior, pregnant, or nursing.
Daily calorie needs
Resting (RER)
198
kcal/day
Daily target
238
kcal/day
Wet food
1.4
cans/day
Dry food
0.68
cups/day
How cat calorie needs are calculated
Like dogs, cat calorie needs start with Resting Energy Requirement: 70 × (weight in kg)^0.75. Life stage multipliers adjust from there. Spayed/neutered adults need just 1.2× RER — relatively low because the hormonal change reduces metabolic rate. Kittens under 4 months need 2.5× RER to fuel rapid growth. Nursing cats have the highest needs: 2.6× RER plus 25 extra kcal per kitten being nursed.
Why indoor cats are prone to obesity
Indoor cats don't hunt, which removes the primary physical and mental stimulation that drives calorie burning in wild cats. Most indoor cats fall into the 'inactive' category, meaning they need only 1.0× RER — yet many owners feed based on the food bag, which targets moderately active cats. Even a 10–20% daily calorie surplus compounds quickly. A 10-pound cat eating just 20 extra kcal per day gains about a pound per year. Puzzle feeders and structured meal times (rather than free-feeding) are the single most impactful changes for indoor cats.
Wet vs. dry food for cats
Cats evolved as obligate carnivores who get most of their hydration from prey — which is roughly 70% water. Dry kibble is only 8–12% water. Chronically low water intake contributes to feline lower urinary tract disease (FLUTD) and chronic kidney disease, which affects roughly 30% of cats over age 12. Many vets recommend at least partial wet feeding for urinary and kidney health. Wet food also tends to have fewer carbohydrates, which cats have limited ability to metabolize.
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