Cat Food Portion Calculator

Look for the "Calorie Content" or "Metabolizable Energy" statement on the back or side of the package, usually near the guaranteed analysis. It is typically listed as kcal/cup (for dry food) or kcal/can (for wet food). AAFCO-compliant US cat foods are required to include this information. If it is not on the label, check the manufacturer's website.

Most adult cats do well with 2 meals per day, spaced 8-12 hours apart. Kittens benefit from 3-4 meals daily to support their rapid growth. Feeding multiple smaller meals helps maintain steady blood glucose levels, reduces begging behavior between meals, and prevents the gorging that can occur when a cat eats only once a day.

Convert by weighing one cup of your kibble on a kitchen scale in grams. Then: kcal/cup = (kcal/kg ÷ 1000) × grams per cup. For example, if the food provides 3,600 kcal/kg and one cup weighs 110 g: (3,600 ÷ 1,000) × 110 = 396 kcal/cup. Alternatively, most manufacturers list kcal/cup on their websites even when it is not prominent on the bag.

For weight loss, enter the <em>target</em> weight you want your cat to reach, not their current weight. The calculator applies a 0.8 multiplier (80% of RER) to that target weight. Using current weight would set calories too high to produce a meaningful deficit, while using target weight correctly calibrates portions to achieve gradual fat loss while preserving lean muscle.