Cat Food Calculator: How Much to Feed a Cat

This tool provides a general estimate and does not replace professional veterinary advice.

Updated October 13, 2026 · How we check our tools

What is the Cat Food Calculator?

A typical indoor 10 lb cat needs about 260 calories a day, and a very active one about 390. That is roughly ⅔ cup a day of a dry cat food with 400 calories per cup, split across two or more meals.

The Cat Food Calculator calculates daily food portion in grams or cups for cats based on weight, age and activity level. Overfeeding is one of the most common and most preventable health problems in pets, while underfeeding a growing or active animal can slow development or sap energy.

Cats generally live 12-18 years when they are well looked after. Diet-wise they are an obligate carnivore, which shapes almost every feeding decision you make. Cats live indoors comfortably given vertical space to climb, scratching surfaces, a quiet litter area and daily play that satisfies their hunting drive. Keep an eye out for dental disease, chronic kidney disease in seniors, obesity. These are the conditions cats are most commonly seen for.

How much to feed a cat: calories and cups by weight

Daily calories from resting energy (70 × kg^0.75) times 1.2 (less active), 1.5 (moderate) or 1.8 (very active). Cups assume a dry food with 400 kcal per cup; check your bag.
Cat weight	Less active	Moderate	Very active	Cups a day (moderate)
6 lb (2.7 kg)	180 kcal	220 kcal	270 kcal	0.6
8 lb (3.6 kg)	220 kcal	280 kcal	330 kcal	0.7
10 lb (4.5 kg)	260 kcal	330 kcal	390 kcal	0.8
12 lb (5.4 kg)	300 kcal	370 kcal	450 kcal	0.9
15 lb (6.8 kg)	350 kcal	440 kcal	530 kcal	1.1

How does the Cat Food Calculator work?

The estimate starts from a resting-energy formula based on body weight, then adjusts for activity level, life stage and, where relevant, the specific nutritional profile of cats. It is a starting point, not a verdict. Somebody who has actually examined your cat will always know more than a formula does.

Factors that matter

Body weight: the single biggest driver of daily calorie needs
Activity level: a sedentary indoor animal needs meaningfully less than an active or working one
Life stage: since growing, pregnant or nursing animals need more energy per kilogram than a stable adult
Spay/neuter status: which typically lowers metabolic needs somewhat

How do you use the Cat Food Calculator?

Enter the body weight in whichever unit you use (lb, oz, kg)
Pick your activity level (Low, Moderate, High)
Enter the calories per cup of your food
Press Calculate, then read the result alongside the sources listed below

Bring the number to your next appointment. Vets can work with a figure and a date far more easily than with "he seems a bit off lately".

For related questions, see the other nutrition tools or browse every cat tool.

Before you rely on this

One number on one day is rarely the full picture. What matters more is the direction of travel: whether your cat is trending steadily, drifting, or changing suddenly. A sudden change is always worth a call to your vet, even when the individual figure still falls inside a normal range.

Sources and references

The formulas, reference ranges and species data behind the Cat Food Calculator come from these veterinary references, professional bodies and published research.

Built on veterinary referencesFormulas and ranges come from veterinary manuals, university research and welfare bodies, listed above for you to check.
Instant resultsNo page reload, no waiting and no account. Enter your details and the result appears straight away.
Private by designCalculations run in your browser. Nothing you enter is stored on our servers or shared with anyone.
Always freeEvery XpertsPet tool is free to use, with no premium tier and nothing to sign up for.

Frequently asked questions

How much should I feed my cat a day?

Most adult indoor cats need 20–30 calories per lb of body weight. For a 10 lb cat that is about 200–300 calories, or ½–¾ cup of a typical dry food. Wet food has far fewer calories per ounce, so portions look bigger.

How many times a day should a cat eat?

Two to four small meals suit most adult cats better than one large one. Kittens under six months need three to four meals a day.

How do I know if I am overfeeding my cat?

You should be able to feel the ribs under a thin layer of fat and see a waist from above. If you cannot, cut the daily amount by about 10% and recheck in a month.

What is the Cat Food Calculator based on?

It uses published reference data and formulas from sources including Cornell Feline Health Center, WSAVA Global Nutrition Guidelines, NRC. The full list, with links, is in the sources section above.