Pet Food Calculator
Calculate the exact daily calories and food portions your dog or cat needs based on weight, age, and activity level.
How to Calculate Pet Food Portions
Overfeeding is the number one cause of pet obesity, which affects over 50% of dogs and cats in developed countries. This calculator uses the Resting Energy Requirement (RER) formula used by veterinarians to determine exactly how many calories your pet needs each day.
The RER Formula
Resting Energy Requirement (RER) = 70 x (body weight in kg) ^ 0.75. This gives the baseline calories a pet needs at rest. We then multiply by an activity factor based on your pet's lifestyle, age, and reproductive status to get their Daily Energy Requirement (DER).
Activity Factors
- Neutered adult (low activity): RER x 1.2–1.4
- Intact adult (moderate): RER x 1.6–1.8
- Active/working dog: RER x 2.0–5.0
- Puppy/kitten: RER x 2.0–3.0
- Weight loss: RER x 1.0
Feeding Schedule
Puppies under 6 months should eat 3–4 times per day. Puppies 6–12 months can eat 2–3 times daily. Adult dogs do well with 2 meals per day. Cats often prefer 2–3 smaller meals or even free-feeding with measured daily portions.
Reading Pet Food Labels
Check the "kcal/cup" or "kcal/can" on your pet food label. Premium foods typically have 350–500 kcal per cup for dry food. Wet food has fewer calories per volume. Once you know the calories per cup, divide your pet's daily calorie needs by that number to get the cups per day.
Signs of Overfeeding
If you cannot feel your pet's ribs with light pressure, they may be overweight. Other signs include difficulty breathing during exercise, reluctance to move, and visible fat deposits. Obesity shortens a pet's lifespan by an average of 2.5 years and increases the risk of diabetes, joint disease, and cancer.