How Much to Feed a Cat Chart
A cat feeding chart with daily calories and real portions — cups of dry, cans of wet, or a mix — by body weight and life stage. Based on the resting energy formula vets use, not the generous numbers on the bag.
Daily feeding chart — adult indoor cats
| Cat weight | Calories/day | Dry only (350 kcal/cup) | Wet only (3-oz cans) | Half and half |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 5 lb | ~155 kcal | ½ cup | 2 | ¼ cup + 1 |
| 6 lb | ~180 kcal | ½ cup | 2¼ | ¼ cup + 1 |
| 8 lb | ~220 kcal | ⅔ cup | 2¾ | ⅓ cup + 1½ |
| 10 lb | ~260 kcal | ¾ cup | 3¼ | ⅓ cup + 1½ |
| 12 lb | ~295 kcal | ⅚ cup | 3¾ | ½ cup + 2 |
| 15 lb | ~350 kcal | 1 cup | 4½ | ½ cup + 2 |
| 18 lb | ~400 kcal | 1⅛ cups | 5 | ⅔ cup + 2½ |
These assume a neutered indoor adult (a ×1.2 activity factor). Add roughly 20% for an active or outdoor cat, and use your food's actual kcal-per-cup — brands range from 250 to 550, which changes the cup count dramatically.
By life stage
| Life stage | Calorie factor | Meals per day |
|---|---|---|
| Kitten (0–6 months) | 2.5 × RER | 3–4 |
| Kitten (6–12 months) | 1.8 × RER | 3 |
| Adult, neutered indoor | 1.2 × RER | 2 |
| Adult, active or outdoor | 1.4 × RER | 2 |
| Weight loss | 1.0 × RER of target weight | 2–3 small |
| Senior (11+) | 1.1–1.4 × RER | 2–3 small |
daily calories = RER × life-stage factor
Why bag charts run high
Feeding guidelines printed on packaging are averages across a wide population and tend to be generous — they're calculated for an unneutered, moderately active cat, which describes very few house cats. Most neutered indoor cats need noticeably less. If your cat is gaining weight while you follow the bag exactly, that's why.
Get the figure for your specific cat and your specific food with thecat food calculator.
Practical feeding rules
- Measure, don't scoop. Eyeballed portions overfeed reliably. A cheap kitchen scale is even better than a measuring cup.
- Treats count. Keep them under 10% of daily calories and subtract from meals — a few treats can be a tenth of a small cat's day.
- Multiple cats need separate bowls, ideally in different rooms, or the confident one eats both dinners.
- Weigh monthly. A pound of drift takes months to notice by eye and minutes to catch on a scale.
Check where your cat currently sits with the cat weight chartand the body condition scale.
Frequently asked questions
How much should I feed my cat per day?+
A typical 10 lb indoor cat needs about 250 calories a day — roughly ¾ cup of dry food, or three to four 3-oz cans of wet food, or a mix. Active or outdoor cats need more; cats on a weight-loss plan need less.
How many times a day should I feed my cat?+
Two meals a day suits most adult cats; three or four suits kittens. Cats are natural grazers, so several small meals is closer to their instinct than one large one — and it helps with the empty-stomach bile vomiting some cats get.
Is wet or dry food better for cats?+
Both can be complete nutrition. Wet food is about 75% moisture, which supports urinary and kidney health and is harder to overfeed. Dry is convenient and cheaper. Many vets suggest a mix — and the calorie totals in this chart work for any combination.
How do I know if I am feeding too much?+
Use body condition rather than the bowl: you should easily feel ribs under a thin fat layer and see a waist from above. If not, reduce portions by 10% and re-check in a month. Weight gain is gradual and easy to miss without monthly weigh-ins.