How are pet calories estimated?

Resting energy needs (70 × weight in kg^0.75) are multiplied by a factor for life stage and neutering.

Why do puppies and kittens need more?

They are growing, so they use more energy for their size.

Should I follow this for an overweight pet?

Use the weight-loss option, and work with your vet for a safe plan.

Pet Food Calorie Calculator

Choose dog or cat, enter your pet's weight and life stage, and see the daily calorie target. Add the kcal per kg from the food label to get grams per day.

Your Pet

Weight

Life Stage

Food Energy (kcal/kg — from the label, optional)

Estimate daily calorie needs for dogs and cats from body weight and life stage, then convert into grams of your specific food per day.

Formula

RER = 70 × weight (kg)^0.75. Daily calories = RER × life-stage factor. Grams per day = calories ÷ (food kcal per kg ÷ 1000).

Reference Values

•Neutered adult dog: ×1.6
•Neutered adult cat: ×1.2
•Weight loss: ×1.0 (dog) or ×0.8 (cat)

FAQ

Common questions about Pet Food Calorie Calculator

How we calculate this

We use the standard published formula for this calculation, and we show the working so you can check it.

Spotted a mistake? Tell us and we'll check it within a few days. See how we check our calculators.

Pet care disclaimer

An estimate for a healthy adult animal. Ask your vet before changing the diet of a pet that is young, old, pregnant, nursing, overweight or unwell.