Enter your cat’s weight, activity level, and life stage to calculate daily calories, cups of dry food, cans of wet food, and recommended meals per day.
| Weight | Calories | Dry | Wet Cans |
|---|
Feeding your cat the right amount is crucial for longevity and quality of life. Feline obesity is an epidemic — over 60% of pet cats are overweight, leading to diabetes, joint disease, and shortened lifespans. This guide covers the science of cat nutrition and how to feed correctly at every life stage.
| Food Type | Serving | Calories |
|---|---|---|
| Dry Kibble | 1 cup (avg) | ~350 kcal |
| Wet Food (small) | 85g can | ~85 kcal |
| Wet Food (large) | 156g can | ~200 kcal |
| Treats (Temptations) | 1 piece | ~2 kcal |
Scenario 1: Average Indoor Cat. James’s 4.5 kg indoor adult cat needs 252 kcal/day. He feeds: 1/3 cup dry in the morning (117 kcal) + 1 large can wet in the evening (200 kcal) = 317 kcal. That is 65 kcal over target. He reduces dry to 1/4 cup (88 kcal). New total: 288 kcal. Close enough. Use our Cat Age Calculator to check life stage.
Scenario 2: Growing Kitten. Maria’s 2 kg, 4-month kitten needs 350 kcal/day (kitten factor 2.5x). Fed 4 times daily: 87 kcal each. She uses kitten-specific food (higher calorie and protein). At 6 months, she reduces to 3 meals. At 12 months: adult food, 2 meals.
Scenario 3: Overweight Cat. David’s cat weighs 7 kg but should be 5 kg. He feeds for 5 kg: 225 kcal/day. Weight loss target: 1-2% per week = 50-100g/week. At this rate, reaching 5 kg takes about 10 months. Slow is safe — rapid weight loss causes liver disease in cats.
Scenario 4: Nursing Mother. Priya’s 4 kg cat is nursing 4 kittens. Lactation factor 2.5x. Daily need: 500 kcal. That is nearly double normal. She free-feeds high-quality kitten food (higher calories). Fresh water critical. Kittens wean at 4-8 weeks, then mom returns to normal feeding.
💡 Key insight: Cats are obligate carnivores — they must eat meat. Unlike dogs, cats cannot thrive on plant-based diets. Look for food with named meat as the first ingredient (chicken, salmon, turkey), not “meat by-products” or grains. Protein should be 30%+ of dry food, 8%+ of wet food.
| Avg cat weight | 4-5 kg |
| Daily calories | 200-300 |
| Meals/day | 2 (adult) |
| Water/day | 50 ml/kg |
| Treat limit | <10% cal |