Dog & Cat Calorie Calculator
How much should your dog or cat eat each day? Enter the weight and condition to get a daily calorie guide, grams of food and a treat limit.
Daily guide
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How the calculation works
Vets start from the resting energy requirement (RER) = 70 × body weight (kg)0.75, then multiply it by a factor for the pet's life stage and activity. We use the factors published by the Pet Nutrition Alliance.
Factors: neutered adult dog 1.6, intact adult dog 1.8, neutered adult cat 1.2, intact adult cat 1.4. For growing pets the source gives a range of 2–3; we use 3.0 for puppies under 4 months, 2.0 after that, and 2.5 for kittens. On a diet, the guide uses the goal weight, not the current weight.
Treats should stay under 10% of the day's calories (WSAVA). Enter your treats above and the food grams are reduced by the same calories.
Other sources use slightly different formulas (for example NRC-based guides), so results can differ a little from other calculators.
Important
The result is a starting point. Real needs can differ by up to 50% between pets. Adjust while watching body shape (body condition score) and weight, and follow your vet's advice. This calculator is not for pets that are pregnant, nursing or ill. Never put a cat on a crash diet or let it go without food: cats can develop a serious liver disease (hepatic lipidosis).
FAQ
How many calories does my dog need per day?
Start with 70 × weight (kg)^0.75, then multiply by about 1.6 for a neutered adult dog or 1.8 for an intact one. A neutered 10 kg dog needs about 630 kcal per day as a starting point.
How many calories does my cat need per day?
Start with 70 × weight (kg)^0.75 and multiply by about 1.2 for a neutered adult cat or 1.4 for an intact one. A neutered 4 kg cat needs about 240 kcal per day as a starting point.
How do I turn calories into grams of food?
Find "kcal per 100 g" (or kcal/kg ÷ 10) on the package. Grams per day = daily calories ÷ kcal per 100 g × 100.
How many treats can I give?
Keep treats under 10% of daily calories, and reduce the main food by the same amount.
How fast should a pet lose weight?
Aim for a slow, steady loss of about 1–2% of body weight per week (cats: up to 2%, never fast). Serious weight loss should be planned with your vet.
Can I use this for a pregnant or nursing pet?
No. Their needs range from about 1.6 to 6 times the resting energy and change week by week. Ask your vet.
Why is the package feeding guide different?
Package guides cover many pets at once. Neutering, activity and age change needs a lot, so use both as a starting point and adjust by body shape.