How many calories does my cat need a day?

Start from RER = 70 × (body weight in kg)^0.75 kcal, then multiply by an activity factor — about 1.2 for a neutered indoor adult, 1.4 for an intact or active cat, and 1.0 for a very inactive one. A typical 10 lb neutered cat needs roughly 260 kcal a day.

How much is that in food?

Divide the daily calorie target by your food’s calories per cup or per can (on the label) and split across meals. Wet food is much less calorie-dense than dry, so the volumes look very different.

How do I help my cat lose weight?

Feed the calorie target for your cat’s TARGET weight and reduce slowly, under veterinary guidance. Cats must never crash-diet: losing weight too fast can trigger hepatic lipidosis, a life-threatening liver disease.

Wet food, dry food, or both?

Either can be complete and balanced — what matters is total calories and a diet formulated for cats. Many cats do well with some wet food for extra moisture. Use the calories on each label to balance the amounts.

How often should I feed my cat?

Two meals a day suits most adult cats; some prefer several tiny meals, which mimics natural grazing. Kittens need more frequent feeding — see the kitten calculator.

Cat feeding

How much should you feed your cat?

Enter your cat’s weight and lifestyle for a daily calorie target and servings. Built on the vet RER/MER formula.

A cat eating from a bowl — Photo: Engin Akyurt / Pexels

Body weight

Cat & activity

The usual maintenance level for a desexed indoor cat.

Your food (optional — turns calories into portions)

Mix wet & dry

Daily calories to feed

— kcal

Resting need (RER) — kcal · ×— for activity

Good to know

General guidance only — an estimate, not veterinary advice. Always check with your vet about your pet’s growth, weight and diet.

How this was calculated

We use the standard veterinary formula. The resting need is RER = 70 × (weight in kg)^0.75 kcal/day. We then multiply by a factor for your cat: a neutered indoor adult is about ×1.2, an intact or active cat ×1.4, and a weight-loss plan ×0.8 on the target weight. Cats are prone to obesity, so feeding to the number and then to body condition matters.

Source: WSAVA & AAHA feline nutrition guidelines. Full method on our methodology page.

Is my cat overweight? →Feeding a kitten →

Built by the PawGauge team, reviewed against cited veterinary sources. Last reviewed 29 June 2026.

About our figures →

How to check your cat’s body condition

Run both hands over the ribs and look at your cat from above and the side. Match the shape from above to the closest picture — at an ideal 4–5/9 you can feel the ribs easily and see a waist.

Underweight BCS 1–3 Ribs, spine and hips obvious; very obvious waist; no fat.

Ideal BCS 4–5 Ribs easily felt; clear waist behind the ribs; slight tummy tuck.

Overweight BCS 6–7 Ribs hard to feel; waist barely there; rounding tummy.

Obese BCS 8–9 Ribs can’t be felt; no waist; fat over the spine and tail base.

Based on the 9-point body condition score — WSAVA Global Nutrition Guidelines. A guide only; your vet can score your cat precisely.

How cat calorie needs work

A cat’s calorie need starts with its resting energy requirement — 70 × (weight in kg)^0.75 — the energy to keep the body ticking over. Multiply that by an activity factor and you get the maintenance amount to feed. Indoor neutered cats sit at the low end (×1.2) and gain weight easily, which is why feline obesity is so common.

The number is a starting point. Check your cat’s body condition every few weeks and adjust — you should be able to feel the ribs and see a slight waist from above. For weight loss, go slowly and with your vet: cats that drop weight too fast can develop a dangerous liver condition.

Cat feeding questions

How many calories does my cat need a day?: Start from RER = 70 × (body weight in kg)^0.75 kcal, then multiply by an activity factor — about 1.2 for a neutered indoor adult, 1.4 for an intact or active cat, and 1.0 for a very inactive one. A typical 10 lb neutered cat needs roughly 260 kcal a day.
How much is that in food?: Divide the daily calorie target by your food’s calories per cup or per can (on the label) and split across meals. Wet food is much less calorie-dense than dry, so the volumes look very different.
How do I help my cat lose weight?: Feed the calorie target for your cat’s TARGET weight and reduce slowly, under veterinary guidance. Cats must never crash-diet: losing weight too fast can trigger hepatic lipidosis, a life-threatening liver disease.
Wet food, dry food, or both?: Either can be complete and balanced — what matters is total calories and a diet formulated for cats. Many cats do well with some wet food for extra moisture. Use the calories on each label to balance the amounts.
How often should I feed my cat?: Two meals a day suits most adult cats; some prefer several tiny meals, which mimics natural grazing. Kittens need more frequent feeding — see the kitten calculator.