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Cat calorie calculator for kittens, adults and weight loss
How many calories does your cat need? Enter their weight in kg or lb, choose kitten, adult or senior, set activity and a maintain or weight-loss goal, and get a daily calorie estimate. Add the calories on your cat's wet or dry food label for grams or cups per day and per meal.
Estimated daily energy
Enter your cat's weight to see an estimate of calories per day.
A starting estimate for a healthy pet, not a prescription. Adjust with your veterinarian based on body condition.
Not veterinary advice. These figures are general estimates for healthy dogs and cats. They do not diagnose, treat or replace the advice of a licensed veterinarian. Pets with medical conditions, pregnant or nursing pets, and pets that are underweight or overweight should have their calorie targets set by a vet. If your pet's weight or appetite changes, talk to your veterinarian. See also our AI disclaimer.
By weight
Cat calories by weight: 3, 4, 5 and 6 kg
Cats span a narrower weight range than dogs, so a few kilograms matter. Each weight below has its own page with every life stage and activity level. For example, a 4 kg neutered or spayed adult cat at moderate activity needs about 238 kcal a day, and an intact one about 277 kcal. Starting point, not veterinary advice.
| Weight | Neutered adult | Intact adult | Weight loss |
|---|---|---|---|
| 3 kg (6.61 lb) | 191 kcal | 223 kcal | 160 kcal |
| 4 kg (8.82 lb) | 238 kcal | 277 kcal | 198 kcal |
| 5 kg (11.02 lb) | 281 kcal | 328 kcal | 234 kcal |
| 6 kg (13.23 lb) | 322 kcal | 376 kcal | 268 kcal |
The formula
The cat calorie formula and its factors
Daily kcal = 70 x weight in kg0.75 x factor
For cats the activity setting changes the factor more than it does for dogs. A neutered or spayed adult uses 1.0, 1.2 or 1.4 at low, moderate and high activity. At 4 kg that is 198, 238 and 277 kcal a day. Starting point, not veterinary advice.
Cat factors
| Life stage or goal | Low | Moderate | High |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kitten (under 1 year) | 2.5 | ||
| Adult, neutered or spayed (1 to 10 years) | 1.0 | 1.2 | 1.4 |
| Adult, not neutered (1 to 10 years) | 1.0 | 1.4 | 1.6 |
| Senior (over 10 years) | 1.0 | 1.2 | 1.2 |
| Weight loss goal (adults only)Resting energy of the current weight. Puppies and kittens use their growth factor. | 1.0 | ||
Very active pets vary a lot; ask your vet to set a target.
Cat calorie calculator for weight loss
For an adult cat, the weight-loss goal is the resting energy of the current weight. A 4 kg cat gets 198 kcal a day, which is the same as the low-activity figure. Many indoor cats are already near that floor, and when the calculator reaches it, it says the number is already the lowest safe estimate. Starting point, not veterinary advice.
Rapid weight loss can be risky for cats, so any loss plan should be gradual and set by your vet. The calculator never goes below resting energy and has no ideal-weight box. Kittens are not put on a weight-loss goal.
Cat calorie calculator for kittens
A kitten under 1 year uses 2.5 times resting energy whatever the activity. A 1 kg kitten is about 175 kcal a day and a 2 kg kitten about 294 kcal. Weigh kittens often and re-check the number as they gain weight. Starting point, not veterinary advice.
The kitten feeding chart lists calories and meals at several weights.
Feeding a senior cat
The senior stage starts over 10 years, and a cat of exactly 10 still counts as an adult. At 4 kg a senior cat is about 238 kcal a day at moderate activity. Older cats can lose weight without meaning to, and weight or appetite changes are a reason to call your vet. Starting point, not veterinary advice.
Wet and dry cat food
Many households feed both. Enter one food in the calculator for cups or grams, or split the daily number between the two foods using each label's calories, as in the example in the questions below. Wet food is mostly water, so a small number of calories can mean a lot of grams.
How many meals for a cat?
Two meals a day is common for adult cats and three for kittens, but that is feeding practice, not part of a calorie standard, so ask your vet. The meal plan generator splits the daily number into the meals you pick and lays out a sample week. Looking for dogs? Try the dog calorie calculator.
Got questions?
Cat calorie calculator FAQ
How many calories does a cat need per day by weight?
Resting energy is 70 x weight in kg to the power of 0.75, multiplied by a factor for life stage and activity. A neutered or spayed adult cat at moderate activity needs about 191 kcal a day at 3 kg, 238 at 4 kg, 281 at 5 kg and 322 at 6 kg. An intact adult at 4 kg needs about 277. Starting point, not veterinary advice.
What is the cat calorie calculator formula?
Daily energy = resting energy x factor. The factors here are 2.5 for a kitten under 1 year, 1.2 for a neutered or spayed adult (1.0 at low activity and 1.4 at high), 1.4 for an intact adult (1.0 low, 1.6 high) and 1.2 for a senior cat over 10 years. These are guideline values for healthy cats, not a prescription.
How many calories should a cat eat to lose weight?
Choose the weight-loss goal, available for adult cats. It uses the resting energy of the current weight: 198 kcal a day for a 4 kg cat and 268 kcal for a 6 kg cat. A low-activity cat is already at that floor, and the calculator says so. Weight loss in cats should be gradual and supervised, so ask your vet for a target. Starting point, not veterinary advice.
Is there a cat calorie calculator for kittens?
Yes. A kitten under 1 year uses 2.5 x resting energy, so a 1 kg kitten is estimated at about 175 kcal a day and a 2 kg kitten at about 294 kcal. Activity and weight goals are switched off for kittens. Kittens grow quickly, so weigh them often and re-check the number; your vet can check growth. Starting point, not veterinary advice.
How do I work out calories for wet and dry cat food together?
Take each food's kcal from its label and make them add up to the daily number. For example, if wet food supplies a third of the day for a 4 kg neutered cat, that is about 79 kcal of wet food, which at 85 kcal per 100 g is 93 g (example figures only), and the remaining 159 kcal comes from dry food. Starting point, not veterinary advice.
How many meals should a cat eat a day?
Common practice is about 3 meals a day for a kitten and 2 for an adult cat, so with two meals the gap is often around 12 hours. Meals per day is common feeding practice, not a published calorie standard. Ask your vet how often to feed your pet. The meal plan generator splits the daily number into the meals you choose.
How many calories does a senior cat need?
The senior stage here starts over 10 years of age. At 4 kg, a senior cat is estimated at about 238 kcal a day at moderate activity and 198 at low activity. Older cats can lose weight without meaning to, so a falling weight or appetite is a reason to call your vet. Starting point, not veterinary advice.
Does the cat calorie calculator work in kg, in the UK and in Canada?
Yes. Enter the weight in kg or lb, and pounds are converted to kilograms exactly (1 lb is 0.45359237 kg). The weight must be between 0.2 and 120 kg; outside that range the calculator asks you to check the number and unit instead of giving a calorie figure.
Related pages and guides
- How many calories should a 3 kg cat eat?
- How many calories should a 4 kg cat eat?
- How many calories should a 5 kg cat eat?
- How many calories should a 6 kg cat eat?
- Dog and cat feeding calculator
- Meal plan generator with a sample 7-day schedule
- Kitten feeding chart
- Cat feeding schedule by age
- Foods toxic to dogs and cats
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