Suggested next steps
Continue this workflow
Move to a practical next or previous step without transferring your entered values.
About Cat Calorie Calculator: Daily Feline Energy Needs
Estimate daily maintenance energy requirements for cats based on body weight and life stage or activity level.
Uses the standard WSAVA/NRC feline metabolic equation: Resting Energy Requirement (RER) multiplied by life-stage energy multipliers.
How the calculation works
Resting Energy Requirement (RER)
RER = 70 × (body weight in kg)^0.75.
Maintenance Energy Requirement (MER)
Daily calories = RER × life-stage multiplier (e.g., 1.2× for neutered adult, 1.4× for intact adult, 1.0× for inactive adult, 2.0–2.5× for growing kittens).
How to use this calculator
- 1Weigh your cat and enter the weight in kilograms.
- 2Select the general life-stage or activity description that best matches your cat.
- 3Review the calculated baseline RER and daily caloric target in kcal/day.
Understanding the result
RER represents the baseline energy needed at complete rest in a thermo-neutral environment.
Actual caloric needs vary by individual metabolism, activity, and life stage. The calculator provides baseline maintenance energy estimates rather than clinical diets.
Important limitations
- Individual metabolic rates vary by age, neuter status, breed, ambient temperature, and exercise.
- This tool provides general non-clinical estimates, not a therapeutic prescription or clinical diet plan.
- This calculator estimates general daily energy needs only. Do not use it for therapeutic feeding, disease-specific feeding, prescribed calorie restriction, or veterinary weight-loss plans. Sick, pregnant, or medically restricted cats require individualized veterinary care.
Explore this topic
Frequently asked questions
What is RER in feline nutrition?
Resting Energy Requirement (RER) is the basal metabolic calorie requirement of a normal animal at rest.
Why do neutered cats need fewer calories?
Neutering decreases resting metabolic rate and physical activity levels, reducing maintenance caloric needs by approximately 20–25% compared to intact cats.
How do I convert daily calories into canned or dry food portions?
Check the kcal/can or kcal/cup statement on your cat food label, then divide your cat's daily calorie requirement by that number.
Is entered pet data stored or tracked?
No. Calculations execute entirely in your browser.
Related tools
Selected from curated relationships first, then the same subtopic and category.