Cat Food Calculator – How Much Should I Feed My Cat?
Pouch guidelines assume an 'average' cat. This works out your cat's calories, then the grams of wet and dry food that match.
Your cat's daily feeding chart
238 kcal a day
- From meals
- 214 kcal
- Treat allowance (max 10%)
- 24 kcal
- Dry food per day
- 28 g
- Wet food per day
- 126 g (1.5 × 85 g pouches)
- Per meal (4 meals)
- 7 g dry + 31 g wet
Pouch calories vary a lot – check the packet and update the figures above.
How cat portions are worked out
The starting point is resting energy requirement: 70 multiplied by body weight in kilograms to the power of 0.75. For a 4 kg cat that comes to about 198 kcal. That figure is then multiplied by a factor for life stage. Neutered adults sit at 1.2, intact adults at 1.4, seniors around 1.1 and kittens at 2.5, because growing takes an enormous amount of energy. Weight loss uses 0.8 and – this matters – the ideal weight rather than the current one.
Worked example: a 4 kg neutered indoor cat
RER is roughly 198 kcal. Multiply by 1.2 and you get about 238 kcal a day. Set aside ten per cent for treats, leaving around 214 kcal from meals. Split evenly between wet and dry, that is about 107 kcal from each: roughly 28 g of a 3,800 kcal/kg dry food and about 126 g of an 850 kcal/kg wet food, which is one and a half 85 g pouches.
Reading the label
Look for metabolisable energy in kcal per 100 g or per kg. Pouches vary hugely – a jelly pouch may hold 60 kcal while a rich pâté of the same weight holds 100. If the tin does not state it, the manufacturer's website usually does. Our defaults of 3,800 kcal/kg dry and 850 kcal/kg wet are reasonable stand-ins until you find the real number.
Feeding patterns that suit cats
- Split the daily amount into four or five small meals – it matches how cats naturally hunt and eat.
- Use puzzle feeders or scatter dry food so eating takes effort and time.
- Keep water away from food bowls; cats prefer to drink elsewhere.
- In multi-cat homes, feed separately so you know exactly who ate what.
- Weigh food – a scoop of dry food can easily be twenty per cent out.
Weight loss in cats needs care
Cats must lose weight slowly, around half to one per cent of body weight a week. Rapid loss can trigger hepatic lipidosis, where fat floods the liver and the cat becomes seriously ill. Use the ideal weight from our body condition tool, feed to the 0.8 factor, and weigh your cat monthly. Any diet for a cat with kidney disease, diabetes or another condition should be planned with your vet.
When to speak to your vet
Book an appointment if your cat is losing weight without a diet, has suddenly become ravenous, has stopped eating for more than 24 hours, or is vomiting regularly. Appetite changes in cats are one of the earliest signs of illness and are worth acting on quickly.
Frequently asked questions
How many calories does a cat need a day?
Start with 70 × weight in kg to the power 0.75, then multiply: 1.2 for a neutered adult, 1.4 intact, 1.1 for a senior, 2.5 for a kitten and 0.8 for weight loss using the ideal weight.
How much wet food should I feed my cat?
It depends on the calories in the pouch. A typical 85 g pouch holds around 70 kcal, so an average 4 kg neutered cat needs roughly three to four pouches a day if fed wet food only.
Is wet or dry food better for cats?
Both can be complete. Wet food adds water, which suits cats prone to urinary problems, while dry food is easier to portion and use in puzzle feeders. Many owners feed a mix, which this calculator handles.
How many meals a day should a cat have?
Cats naturally eat many small meals – four or five is ideal. Puzzle feeders and timed feeders make that easy without extra calories.
Why does my neutered cat need less food?
Neutering lowers energy needs by roughly a quarter, which is why so many cats gain weight in the months afterwards. Reduce the portion at the time of neutering rather than waiting.
My cat eats grass or begs constantly. Am I underfeeding?
Not necessarily. Weigh the food for two weeks and check body condition. Constant hunger with weight loss needs a vet check for thyroid disease or diabetes.
How do I feed two cats different amounts?
Feed separately in different rooms, use microchip-operated bowls, or time meals so each cat finishes their own. Free-feeding a shared bowl makes portion control impossible.
Can I put my cat on a diet at home?
Only slowly and ideally with your vet. Cats that lose weight too fast can develop hepatic lipidosis, a serious liver condition.
Estimates only – not a substitute for advice from your vet.
Last reviewed: 22 September 2026