Cat calorie calculator
Enter your cat's weight and life stage to see how many calories a day the standard veterinary formula suggests. To turn calories into cups or cans, use the how much to feed a cat calculator.
Range 235 to 287 kcal
- Resting needs
- 218 kcal
- Life stage factor
- 1.6
Cat calories by weight
Daily calories for an adult cat at four common settings. The weight loss column uses the target weight.
| Weight (lb) | Resting | Weight loss | Prone to gain | Neutered | Not neutered |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4 | 109 | 88 | 109 | 131 | 153 |
| 6 | 148 | 119 | 148 | 178 | 208 |
| 8 | 184 | 147 | 184 | 221 | 258 |
| 10 | 218 | 174 | 218 | 261 | 305 |
| 12 | 249 | 200 | 249 | 299 | 349 |
| 14 | 280 | 224 | 280 | 336 | 392 |
| 16 | 310 | 248 | 310 | 371 | 433 |
| 18 | 338 | 270 | 338 | 406 | 473 |
All values are kcal a day. Resting is the energy a cat needs at rest, and the other columns multiply it by a life stage factor.
How the calculation works
| Life stage | Factor |
|---|---|
| Adult, neutered or spayed | 1.2 |
| Adult, not neutered | 1.4 |
| Prone to weight gain | 1.0 |
| Weight loss (use target weight) | 0.8 |
| Kitten, growing | 2.5 |
Calories for weight loss
For a cat that needs to lose weight, enter the target weight and choose weight loss. Cats should lose weight slowly, so ask your vet for a target and a plan, and weigh your cat every few weeks.
Calories for kittens
Kittens use a higher factor because they are growing. Choose the kitten setting, or see how much to feed a kitten and the cat weight chart by age.
Questions
How many calories should my cat eat a day?
For a 10 lb neutered adult cat the formula gives about 261 kcal a day. Enter your own cat above.
How many calories does an indoor cat need?
Indoor cats are often less active. If your cat gains weight easily, use the prone to weight gain setting and check body condition.
How many calories does a cat need to lose weight?
Use the target weight and the weight loss setting. For a 10 lb target that is about 174 kcal a day.
How do I turn calories into cups or cans?
Divide the daily calories by the kcal in one cup or one can, printed on the food. The how much to feed a cat calculator does this for you, and the cups to grams calculator gives the amount in grams.
Is this exact?
No. It is a starting point from the standard veterinary formula. Cats vary, so adjust the amount in small steps based on weight and body condition.
Sources
- Hill's Pet Nutrition, Estimated Energy Requirements for Dogs and Cats (resting energy requirement and life stage multipliers).
Last reviewed 2026-10-26. This page is general information and not veterinary advice.