Home / Pet feeding
Cat Food Calculator: Calories and Wet–Dry Portions
Estimate daily energy for an indoor, neutered or intact adult cat, kitten or vet-supervised weight-loss plan. Split food calories between wet and dry and convert them to portions.
Cat Food Calculator: Calories and Wet–Dry Portions: Calculates RER = 70 × kilograms^0.75 and MER = RER × multiplier. It reserves treat calories, then splits the remaining calories by the chosen wet-food percentage. Wet portions use kcal/kg; dry portions use kcal/kg or kcal/cup. The mix is by calories, not weight. Use the [cat age calculator](/cat-age-calculator) for age and life-stage context. Runs 100% locally in your browser with zero server file uploads.
- Category
- Home & family tools
- Runs
- In your browser
- Cost
- Free · no sign-up
- Availability
- Ready to use
Runs entirely in your browser
Ask your vet to confirm an appropriate weight, calorie target and complete diet, especially for kittens, puppies, illness or weight loss. For weight loss, enter the vet-agreed ideal weight. This is a starting estimate; monitor body condition and adjust with your vet. Do not restrict a growing pet's food for weight loss.
Formula: RER = 70 × weight in kg^0.75; MER = RER × multiplier; food kcal = MER × (1 − treat share/100); grams = food kcal × 1000 ÷ kcal/kg; cups = food kcal ÷ kcal/cup.
Mix formula: wet kcal = food kcal × wet share/100; dry kcal = food kcal − wet kcal. The split is by calories, not weight or volume.
Weight: 4 kg / 8.82 lb. RER: 197.99 kcal/day. Multiplier: 1.2. Treat allowance: 0 kcal/day; main food: 237.59 kcal/day. Food calorie densities are editable label examples, not recommendations for a particular product.
Wet: 118.79 kcal/day at 1000 kcal/kg; dry: 118.79 kcal/day at 4000 on the selected label scale.
Use the kcal/cup value for that exact food and the manufacturer's cup measure. Cups cannot be converted to grams without that food's density. Treats should generally be no more than 10% of total calories; choose a complete diet for the life stage. Pregnancy, lactation and medical diets need an individual veterinary plan.
Starting factors: neutered adult 1.2, intact adult 1.4, indoor/inactive 1.0, kitten 2.5, weight loss 0.8. AAHA adult ranges are 1.2–1.4 neutered and 1.4–1.6 intact; indoor is an inactive estimate, not a universal requirement.
AAHA 2021: RER and life-stage factors · WSAVA: nutritional assessment and monitoring
Feline energy factors
AAHA 2021 Box 1 gives feline factors: neutered 1.2–1.4, intact 1.4–1.6, inactive 1, growth 2.5 and weight loss 0.8. The tool starts at the lower adult values and treats indoor as inactive. Weight-loss calculations use an agreed ideal weight. Source: https://www.aaha.org/resources/2021-aaha-nutrition-and-weight-management-guidelines/weight-reduction-in-the-obese-pet/0/
Monitoring and mixed food
WSAVA nutritional assessment and NRC energy guidance provide background for veterinary feeding plans. Sources: https://wsava.org/global-guidelines/global-nutrition-guidelines/ ; https://doi.org/10.17226/10668
After reserving treat calories, wet calories equal food calories times wet share; dry calories are the remainder. Grams equal calories times 1000 divided by kcal/kg. The food-label examples are editable scenarios. Ask your vet to confirm the plan and monitor body condition.
How to use it
- Enter kilograms or pounds and choose a feeding plan; use vet-agreed ideal weight for weight loss.
- Review the multiplier, treat share and wet share of food calories.
- Enter wet kcal/kg and dry kcal/kg or kcal/cup to read daily portions.
Privacy & limitations
Your cat's weight and food values are calculated in your browser.
Related tools
Frequently asked questions
Does indoor always mean the same calories?
No. The indoor option is an inactive starting estimate. Review the editable multiplier with your vet and monitor weight and body condition; individual needs vary.
What if the wet label lists calories per can?
Divide kcal per can by can mass in kilograms to obtain kcal/kg. For example, 85 kcal in an 85 gram can gives 1000 kcal/kg. Use a complete diet suited to the life stage.
Can I put a kitten on a weight-loss plan?
Do not restrict growing kittens for weight loss using this estimate. Ask your vet about growth, overweight concerns, illness and any special feeding plan.
Free tool · runs in your browser · no account required