How this calculator works
It estimates your cat's daily energy need with the veterinary RER method (70 × kg0.75, times a feline life-stage factor), then divides by the energy density printed on your food's label.
Cat feeding has one twist dogs don't: the enormous gap between wet and dry. Wet food is mostly water, so the portions look wildly different for the same calories:
| Food type | Typical energy | ~240 kcal looks like |
|---|---|---|
| Dry food (kibble) | 350–420 kcal / 100 g | ~65 g |
| Wet food (pouches, cans) | 70–95 kcal / 100 g | ~300 g (≈3.5 pouches) |
Most owners mix: a pouch or two of wet plus a measured scoop of dry. That's fine — just run this calculator for each food and make the calories add up to the daily target, not the grams. In mixed feeding, it's the dry food that usually smuggles in the surplus, because 20 g of "just a little kibble" is a tenth of many cats' entire daily budget.
Two habits fix most portion drift: weigh dry food with a kitchen scale (free-pouring runs 10–20% over), and count treats inside the daily total — a 10% ceiling is a good rule.
Frequently asked questions
How many pouches a day for a 4 kg cat?
On wet food alone, about 3 to 3.5 standard 85 g pouches (a typical pouch is 65–90 kcal and a 4 kg neutered cat needs ~240 kcal). In mixed feeding, commonly 1–2 pouches plus a weighed dry portion.
The label shows kJ — what do I enter?
Divide the kJ figure by 4.184. Example: 335 kJ/100 g ÷ 4.184 ≈ 80 kcal/100 g. EU wet food labels usually show both.
Why does my cat act starving on the calculated amount?
Neutered indoor cats have modest needs and impressive acting skills. If body condition is good (ribs easy to feel, visible waist), the portion is right. Slow-feeders, puzzle feeders and splitting the day into 3–4 small meals help the amount feel like more.