How much to feed a cat
Enter your cat's weight and life stage to get a daily calorie target and the amount to feed, in cups of dry food or cans of wet food. A cat feeding chart by weight follows below.
Range 0.6 to 0.7 cups
- Daily calories
- 261 kcal
- Per meal
- 0.33 cups
- Resting needs
- 218 kcal
Cat feeding chart by weight
The chart updates to match the weight unit, life stage, food type and food energy you choose above. The default shows an adult neutered cat eating dry food of 400 kcal per cup.
| Cat weight (lb) | Calories a day | Dry food (cups) a day |
|---|---|---|
| 4 | 131 | 0.3 |
| 6 | 178 | 0.4 |
| 8 | 221 | 0.6 |
| 10 | 261 | 0.7 |
| 12 | 299 | 0.7 |
| 14 | 336 | 0.8 |
| 16 | 371 | 0.9 |
| 18 | 406 | 1.0 |
How the estimate works
The amount of food is daily calories divided by the kcal in one cup or one can. The range shown is 10 percent either side. These are the standard veterinary formulas for resting energy and daily needs.
| Life stage | Factor |
|---|---|
| Kitten, growing | 2.5 |
| Adult, neutered or spayed | 1.2 |
| Adult, not neutered | 1.4 |
| Prone to weight gain | 1.0 |
| Weight loss | 0.8 |
Questions
How much wet food should I feed my cat?
Switch the calculator to wet food and enter the kcal per can from the label. Small cans differ from large ones, so use the number printed on yours. If you feed only wet food, the result is the number of cans per day.
Can I mix wet and dry food?
Yes. Work out the daily calories first, then split them between the two foods. If wet food supplies half of the calories, give half of the dry amount.
How often should I feed my cat?
Many adult cats do well on two or more small meals a day. Kittens usually eat three or four meals.
Why is the factor lower for a cat that gains weight easily?
Neutered and indoor cats often burn fewer calories. The "prone to weight gain" setting uses a lower factor so the amount fits a less active cat.
Is this exact?
No. It is a starting point. Cats vary by age, activity and health. Weigh your cat every few weeks and adjust the amount in small steps.
When should I ask a vet?
For kittens, pregnant or nursing cats, cats with health problems, or any cat that is losing or gaining weight quickly, ask your vet for a feeding plan.
What about kittens?
Kittens need more energy for growth. See how much to feed a kitten and the cat weight chart by age.
How many calories does my cat need?
See the cat calorie calculator, and for grams use cups to grams.
What about dogs?
Dogs use different life stage factors. Try the how much to feed a dog calculator.
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.