Cat Food Calculator
Work out your cat's daily portions — dry, wet or mixed — from their weight and lifestyle, with the calorie math shown and a safe weight-loss mode built in.
From the bag; wet assumes 80 kcal per 3-oz can
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You might also need:Dog Food Calculator·Cat Age Calculator
The feline feeding formula
portions = kcal split across dry (kcal/cup) and wet (≈80 kcal per 3-oz can)
A 10 lb (4.5 kg) indoor cat: RER ≈ 218 kcal, × 1.2 = about 260 kcal per day. That's ¾ cup of dry, or three 3-oz cans, or half of each. Cats self-regulate poorly on free-fed dry food — measured meals are the single best defense against the gradual chonk.
Daily calories by cat weight (indoor, ×1.2)
| Cat weight | kcal/day | Dry only | Wet only (3-oz cans) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 6 lb | ~180 | 0.5 cup | 2¼ |
| 8 lb | ~220 | 0.6 cup | 2¾ |
| 10 lb | ~260 | 0.75 cup | 3¼ |
| 13 lb | ~315 | 0.9 cup | 4 |
| 16 lb | ~365 | 1.05 cups | 4½ |
Feeding well
- Weigh, don't scoop: a few extra kibbles a day is a pound a year on a cat. A $10 kitchen scale pays for itself.
- Fresh water everywhere: cats drink more from bowls away from food; fountains genuinely help dry-fed cats.
- Check their age bracket: seniors often need more protein, kittens far more calories — see where yours sits with the cat age calculator.
- Found a stray kitten? Estimate their age (and feeding needs) with the kitten age calculator.
Frequently asked questions
How much should I feed my cat per day?+
A typical 10 lb indoor cat needs about 200–250 kcal per day — roughly ½ cup of dry food, or three 3-oz cans of wet food, or a mix. The calculator personalizes this from your cat’s weight and lifestyle using the veterinary RER formula.
Is wet or dry food better for cats?+
Both can be complete nutrition. Wet food’s ~75% moisture supports hydration and urinary health and is harder to overfeed; dry is convenient and dental-friendlier. Many vets suggest a mix — this calculator splits portions however you feed.
How many calories are in a can of cat food?+
A 3-oz can runs 70–90 kcal; a 5.5-oz can 150–200 kcal. Dry food runs 300–400 kcal per cup. Check your brand’s label — the spread between brands is wide enough to matter a lot for a small animal.
My cat begs constantly — are they actually hungry?+
Usually not: cats quickly learn that yelling produces snacks. If the daily calorie target is met and body condition is good, begging is behavioral. Puzzle feeders and scheduled small meals help more than surrender does.
How do I help my cat lose weight safely?+
Feed for 80% of their ideal weight’s needs (the weight-loss option in the calculator), prefer wet food, and aim for no more than 1–2% body-weight loss per week. Crash-dieting a cat is dangerous — rapid weight loss can trigger fatty liver disease. Involve your vet.