Free calculator

Dog & cat calorie calculator

Enter your pet's weight and life stage to see daily calorie needs, how much food that is in grams and ounces, and a sensible treat limit.

  • Uses the RER formula from veterinary nutrition
  • Neutered, intact, puppy/kitten, senior and weight-loss factors
  • Works in kg or lb

Daily calorie needs

Your pet
Unit
If your pet needs to lose weight, enter its ideal weight, not the current one. Not sure? Use the ideal weight calculator.
Enter a weight between 0.3 kg (0.7 lb) and 100 kg (220 lb).
Printed on the bag as "metabolizable energy" (kcal/kg). Leave empty to use an average value.
Enter a value between 1500 and 6000.
Method

How the calorie calculation works

The calculator uses the two-step method common in veterinary nutrition: resting energy requirement (RER), then a life-stage factor.

1. Resting energy requirement (RER)

RER = 70 × (body weight in kg)0.75Energy used at rest for basic body functions. (1 kg = 2.2 lb)

2. Daily needs = RER × factor

Life stageDogCat
Neutered adult× 1.6× 1.2
Intact adult× 1.8× 1.4
Puppy / kitten× 2.0 – 3.0× 2.5
Weight loss (ideal weight)× 1.0× 0.8
Senior / less active× 1.4× 1.1
Active / working× 2.0 and up—

3. From calories to grams

Food (g/day) = daily kcal ÷ food kcal/kg × 1000Dry dog foods are usually 3,300–4,000 kcal/kg; cat foods 3,600–4,300 kcal/kg.

These values are a starting point. Two pets of the same weight can differ by up to 20%. The best guide is the weight trend over 2–4 weeks.

FAQ

Frequently asked questions

How many calories does a 10 kg (22 lb) dog need?

For a neutered adult dog, RER is about 394 kcal; × 1.6 gives about 630 kcal a day. An intact dog needs about 710 kcal.

How many calories does a 4 kg (9 lb) cat need?

For a neutered adult cat, RER is about 198 kcal; × 1.2 gives about 238 kcal a day.

How many grams of food should I feed my dog?

Divide daily calories by the food's kcal/kg and multiply by 1000. For 630 kcal and a 3,600 kcal/kg food, that is about 175 g (6.2 oz) a day.

Do treats count?

Yes. Treats should be no more than 10% of daily calories; reduce the main meal on days you give more treats.

How accurate is this?

The formula is a general estimate used in veterinary nutrition. Real needs vary; adjust based on weight trend and check with your vet.

⚠️This tool gives general, estimated values for information only. It does not replace an examination or advice from a veterinarian. Ask your vet for a feeding and weight plan for your pet.

Track those calories every day

Vaccines, medications, meals, walks, calories and weight for your cat or dog in one app. Free to download, Premium free for 1 month.

Get it on Google Play
CanlıDostumFree · Google Play
Get