How many calories does a cat need per day?
An indoor, neutered 4 kg (8.8 lb) cat needs about 226 kcal a day; a lean, active one about 253; the WSAVA chart gives 226-253. Cats scale less steeply than dogs: a 6 kg cat needs 266 kcal, not twice the 202 of a 3 kg cat. The table runs from 2 to 8 kg with the resting requirement, both NRC 2006 adult equations and the chart range, then the target for a cat that should lose weight.
Adult cats, 2 to 8 kg
Resting requirement (70 x kg^0.75), the indoor or neutered equation (130 x kg^0.4), the lean or active equation (100 x kg^0.67) and the WSAVA chart range, all from the same code as the calculator.
| Cat weight | RER | Indoor / neutered | Lean / active | WSAVA chart |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2 kg (4.4 lb) | 118 | 172 | 159 | 159-172 |
| 2.5 kg (5.5 lb) | 139 | 188 | 185 | 185-188 |
| 3 kg (6.6 lb) | 160 | 202 | 209 | 202-209 |
| 3.5 kg (7.7 lb) | 179 | 215 | 231 | 215-231 |
| 4 kg (8.8 lb) | 198 | 226 | 253 | 226-253 |
| 4.5 kg (9.9 lb) | 216 | 237 | 274 | 237-274 |
| 5 kg (11 lb) | 234 | 247 | 294 | 247-294 |
| 5.5 kg (12.1 lb) | 251 | 257 | 313 | 257-313 |
| 6 kg (13.2 lb) | 268 | 266 | 332 | 266-332 |
| 7 kg (15.4 lb) | 301 | 283 | 368 | 283-368 |
| 8 kg (17.6 lb) | 333 | 299 | 403 | 299-403 |
Weight loss target
Current intake on the indoor equation against the resting requirement of the target weight, which is what a weight-loss plan feeds. Grams, pouches and how many weeks the plan takes are in how many calories should a cat eat to lose weight.
| Now → target | Indoor now | Diet target | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| 5 kg → 4 kg | 247 | 198 | 20% less |
| 5.5 kg → 4.5 kg | 257 | 216 | 16% less |
| 6 kg → 4.5 kg | 266 | 216 | 19% less |
| 6.5 kg → 5 kg | 275 | 234 | 15% less |
| 7 kg → 5 kg | 283 | 234 | 17% less |
| 8 kg → 6 kg | 299 | 268 | 10% less |
From calories to pouches and grams
Divide the daily calories by the kcal printed on the pouch or by the kcal/kg of the kibble: for the 4 kg indoor cat that is about 2.5 pouches of 90 kcal, or 60 g of a 3,800 kcal/kg kibble. The cat food calculator does the split for any wet and dry mix; the wet food guide has the pouch tables, how much wet food to feed a cat in grams has the grams, and how many grams in a cup of dry cat food turns grams into cups. Kittens are fed per kilogram by age: how many calories a kitten needs.
Frequently asked questions
- Which column is my cat?
- Most house cats, neutered and mostly indoors, are the "indoor" column (NRC obese-prone equation, 130 x kg^0.4). Outdoor or genuinely active cats with a visible waist are the "lean" column (100 x kg^0.67). If your cat is gaining on the indoor figure, drop 10% and re-weigh in two weeks.
- How many calories should a cat eat to lose weight?
- Feed the resting requirement of the target weight (AAHA 2021): a 6 kg cat that should weigh 4.5 kg gets 216 kcal a day, 19% below the 266 kcal of an indoor 6 kg cat. Aim for 0.5-1% of body weight a week and never fast a cat: rapid loss risks hepatic lipidosis. Use a weight-loss food so nutrients are not cut with the calories.
- What is RER?
- The resting energy requirement, 70 x kg^0.75: 198 kcal for a 4 kg cat. Adult maintenance is RER times a factor; the NRC equations in the table are the published fits for cats and sit between roughly 1.0 and 1.3 x RER across the table, closest to RER for heavier indoor cats.
- Do calories change after neutering?
- Yes. Neutering lowers energy needs by roughly a quarter within weeks while appetite often rises, which is why the indoor equation is the safer default after surgery. Reduce portions when you bring the cat home, not when the weight has already crept up.
- What about kittens and senior cats?
- Kittens are fed per kilogram by age (218 kcal/kg under 8 weeks, NRC 2006), which the kitten guide covers. Senior cats over about 11 often need more, not less, because they digest fat and protein less well; weigh monthly and ask the vet if weight drops.
More guides
- How much wet food to feed a cat per day?
Pouches and cans a day for cats from 3 to 6 kg, wet only or half wet, half dry, for pouches labelled 70 to 110 kcal, plus the grams of kibble to add.
- How many calories does a kitten need? How much to feed a kitten by age and weight
A 12-week, 1.2 kg kitten needs about 214 kcal a day (178 kcal per kg, NRC 2006). Calories by age in weeks and months, per kg and per lb, pouches and cups.
- How much dry food to feed a cat per day? Grams by weight
Grams and cups of dry food a day for 3 to 6 kg cats, and how many grams in a cup of dry cat food: 92 to 113 g on five US labels. Per meal and per bag.
- How many calories should a cat eat to lose weight?
Diet calories by target weight (resting requirement of the ideal weight, AAHA 2021), grams and pouches a day, and how many weeks a safe plan takes at 0.5-2% a week.
Sources
- NRC 2006, Nutrient Requirements of Dogs and Cats — adult, puppy and kitten energy equations
- WSAVA, Calorie Needs for Healthy Adult Dogs (July 2020) — chart range for dogs
- WSAVA, Calorie Needs for Healthy Adult Cats (July 2020) — chart range for cats
- AAHA 2021 Nutrition and Weight Management Guidelines — weight loss at the resting requirement of the target weight
Published 2026-09-17, last updated 2026-10-03. Figures are starting points from the published equations: individual animals vary by up to 30%, so adjust by body condition and ask your vet for puppies under 8 weeks, pregnancy, lactation or any illness.