Feline Calorie Calculator
Feline Daily Calorie Calculator
Estimate your cat's daily calorie needs (RER/MER) and how many grams of food that means, based on weight and activity level.
These are general estimates — actual needs vary by individual metabolism, health conditions, and food type, so check with your veterinarian for a precise feeding plan.
About the Feline Daily Calorie Calculator
RER (Resting Energy Requirement) is the number of calories your cat’s body needs at complete rest, just to maintain basic functions. MER (Maintenance Energy Requirement) adjusts that baseline for your cat’s actual life stage and activity level, since a playful kitten or intact adult burns noticeably more energy than a neutered, indoor senior cat.
Feeding based on calories, rather than a generic scoop size, is one of the more reliable ways to keep your cat at a healthy weight, since portion needs can vary a lot between individual cats even at the same body weight.
Frequently Asked Questions
What exactly is RER?
RER stands for Resting Energy Requirement, an estimate of the calories your cat burns at rest, calculated from their body weight.
Why does activity level change the calorie number so much?
Growing kittens and intact adult cats have much higher metabolic demands than a neutered, sedentary adult, so the same body weight can need very different calorie totals depending on life stage.
Do treats count toward this daily total?
Yes. Treats and any table scraps should be factored into your cat’s total daily calories, not added on top of the calculated amount, to avoid gradual weight gain.