Cat calorie calculator

How many calories does your cat need a day? Enter their weight, age and how active they are. Add your food’s label and you’ll get grams too.

How the calculator works

It uses the formula vets start from. First, resting energy: what a cat burns lying still, 70 × body weight in kg to the power of 0.75. Then a multiplier for life stage and activity: for an adult cat, 1.2 (not very active), 1.4 (normally active) or 1.6 (very active); 2.0 for kittens and 1.1 for seniors.

Every cat is different. Use the figure as a starting point, weigh your cat every couple of weeks, and adjust portions by about 10% if the weight drifts. If your vet has given you a number, use theirs.

Daily calories for an adult cat, by weight

Weight	Not very active	Normally active	Very active	Senior
2.5 kg (6 lb)	167	195	223	153
3 kg (7 lb)	191	223	255	176
3.5 kg (8 lb)	215	251	287	197
4 kg (9 lb)	238	277	317	218
4.5 kg (10 lb)	260	303	346	238
5 kg (11 lb)	281	328	374	257
6 kg (13 lb)	322	376	429	295
7 kg (15 lb)	361	422	482	331

Turning calories into a portion

Find the calories on the food’s label, usually written as kcal per kg or per cup. Divide your cat’s daily calories by the calories per gram, then split that across the day’s meals. Remember treats: a few a day can be 10% of the total. The calculator does this for you if you enter the label’s kcal per 100 g.

PetTrackr helps you keep track. It is not veterinary advice: if your pet seems unwell, call your vet.

Questions people ask

How many calories should my cat eat a day?

Roughly 70 × weight in kg^0.75, times 1.2 to 1.6 depending on activity. A normally active 4.5 kg adult cat needs about 300 kcal a day. Use the calculator above for your cat’s exact weight.

Do indoor cats need fewer calories?

Usually, yes. Most indoor cats are best served by the “not very active” figure, especially after neutering.

How fast can a cat safely lose weight?

Slowly: about 0.5 to 1% of body weight a week. Cats that lose weight too fast risk a serious liver condition called hepatic lipidosis, so make any diet change with your vet.

Should I count treats?

Yes. Keep treats under 10% of the day’s calories; for a 300 kcal cat that is only about 30 kcal.

PetTrackr does this every day, for you.

The app keeps your pet’s calories, weight and growth up to date from what you log, and tells you when something drifts. Join the waitlist for early access and a launch discount.