- Daily calories = 70 × weight in kg to the power of 0.75, times a life-stage factor.
- About 1.2 for a neutered adult, 1.4 for an intact adult, 2.5 for kittens.
- Wet food has far fewer calories per gram than dry, so portions look bigger.
- Never starve a cat to slim it down.
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A starting point from the standard veterinary formula. Weigh your cat every 2 to 4 weeks and adjust by about 10%. Many older cats need more, not less, as digestion becomes less efficient, so check body condition. For a plan for one exact food, including mixed wet and dry, build a plan.
How the formula works
- Resting energy. 70 × body weight in kg to the power of 0.75. A 4 kg cat needs about 198 kcal a day at rest.
- Life-stage factor. About 1.2 for a neutered adult, 1.4 for an intact adult, 2.5 for kittens and 0.8 for weight loss, using the target weight.
- Grams of food. Divide by the food's calories per gram. Wet food has far fewer calories per gram than dry, because most of it is water.
Feeding chart for adult cats
Calories a day, with grams of dry food at 3,900 kcal per kg and Delicat pouches (70 g, about 62 kcal each):
| Cat's weight | Neutered | Not neutered |
|---|---|---|
| 3 kg | 191 kcal · 49 g dry | 223 kcal · 57 g dry |
| 4 kg | 238 kcal · 61 g dry | 277 kcal · 71 g dry |
| 5 kg | 281 kcal · 72 g dry | 328 kcal · 84 g dry |
| 6 kg | 322 kcal · 83 g dry | 376 kcal · 96 g dry |
| 7 kg | 361 kcal · 93 g dry | 422 kcal · 108 g dry |
Wet, dry or both?
Cats come from desert ancestors and often drink little. Wet food adds water, which supports the urinary tract. Many owners feed dry food for convenience and add wet food once a day, splitting the calories between the two. See wet vs dry food, and for neutered cats, the best food for a sterilised cat.
Never starve a cat to slim it down
Gosbi foods for adult cats
Gosbi OriginalSterilizedFrom $9.00$8.10 on subscription
Gosbi ExclusiveChicken & Salmon SterilizedFrom $5.00$4.50 on subscription
Gosbi DelicatAdult Chicken & Salmon (pouch)From $1.75$1.57 on subscription
Gosbi NatsbiChicken (pouch)From $2.00$1.80 on subscription
Gosbi OriginalKittenFrom $9.00$8.10 on subscription
Gosbi DelicatKitten Chicken (pouch)From $1.75$1.57 on subscriptionQuestions
How many times a day should I feed my cat?
Two or more small meals suit most cats. Kittens need three or four.
My cat is always hungry. Should I feed more?
Not necessarily. Check weight and body shape first. Wet food and puzzle feeders help a cat feel full on the same calories.
Does a sterilised cat need special food?
A sterilised recipe helps, but the measured portion matters most, as neutered cats need fewer calories.
This guide is general information for healthy pets, not veterinary advice. If your pet has a health condition, is pregnant, or is losing or gaining weight unexpectedly, talk to your vet.