Cat feeding chart by weight — how much food does a cat of your cat's weight need? This guide is the chart in words: the daily calories for a cat at every weight from 2 kg to 11 kg, for every life stage, plus the cups and grams that those calories mean, and how to use the chart for your individual cat. The chart is built from the resting energy requirement (RER) formula vets use, so every number can be checked: RER equals 70 times body weight in kg to the power of 0.75, and daily needs are the RER multiplied by the factor for the cat's life stage.
The short version is: find your cat's weight in the left column, pick the column for its life stage, and read the calories. Then turn the calories into food with the cups and grams table below, measure the food with scales, and adjust by body condition — you should be able to feel the ribs easily under a thin layer of fat and see a waist from above and from the side. Every figure is an estimate, and the right amount is the one that keeps weight steady.
Cat feeding chart: calories by weight
Use the row nearest your cat's weight, then pick the column that matches the cat's life. A kitten's row is different — see the life-stage section below — and a pregnant or nursing cat needs considerably more, which your vet should set individually.
| Body weight | Neutered indoor adult (×1.2) | Intact adult (×1.4) | Active / outdoor (×1.5) | Senior (×1.2) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2 kg | 140 | 165 | 175 | 140 |
| 2.5 kg | 165 | 195 | 210 | 165 |
| 3 kg | 190 | 225 | 240 | 190 |
| 4 kg | 240 | 275 | 295 | 240 |
| 5 kg | 280 | 330 | 350 | 280 |
| 6 kg | 320 | 375 | 405 | 320 |
| 8 kg | 400 | 465 | 500 | 400 |
| 11 kg | 505 | 590 | 635 | 505 |
If your cat is between two rows, take the lower figure first: it is easier to add food to a cat that is losing weight than to take weight off a cat that has gained it. Note that calories are the real target and cups or grams are only a translation. Different foods have very different calorie densities, so always check the kcal per cup or per 100 g on your own bag or tin and work from that. The cups and grams figures below assume a typical dry food at around 350 kcal per cup or per 100 g — a common figure, but your food may differ by a wide margin, and the bag's number always wins over this guide's.
Cat feeding chart: cups and grams by weight
| Body weight | Grams (neutered indoor adult) |
|---|---|
| 2 kg | 40 g |
| 2.5 kg | 47 g |
| 3 kg | 54 g |
| 4 kg | 69 g |
| 5 kg | 80 g |
| 6 kg | 91 g |
| 8 kg | 114 g |
| 11 kg | 144 g |
Split the daily amount into two meals for an adult cat — morning and evening — rather than one large meal. If you feed wet food, use the tin's kcal figure to convert: a typical wet food is around 70 to 100 kcal per 100 g. Mixed feeding is fine as long as the total calories add up — the common mistake is to give a full measure of dry food plus a full tin or pouch of wet food, which roughly doubles the ration. Measure food with scales or a measuring cup, not a mug or a handful, and keep treats under 10% of daily calories. The cat food calculator works out the figure for your cat's exact weight, and the how many calories should a cat eat per day guide gives the full calorie tables by weight.
How the chart is worked out
The chart is worked out from the RER formula, in three steps. First, work out the RER: 70 times body weight in kg to the power of 0.75. For a cat of 5 kg, that is about 235 calories a day. Second, multiply by the factor for the cat's life stage: about 1.2 for a typical neutered adult, about 1.4 for an intact adult, about 1.4 to 1.6 for an active or outdoor cat, about 2.5 for a kitten, and about 1.1 to 1.4 for a senior. Third, turn the calories into food: divide by the kcal per cup or per 100 g on your own bag or tin. That is all the chart is — the same three steps, at every weight — and you can work out any weight that is not in the table by following them.
The factors are the standard ones used in veterinary nutrition, but they are still starting points. A cat that is mostly a couch companion needs less than one that is out all day, and a cat that has been neutered typically needs about 10–20% fewer calories than before. The right amount is the one that keeps weight steady: weigh the cat monthly, and if weight drifts up, cut food by about 10% and re-weigh in a month rather than changing everything at once. The cat food calculator by weight and age guide gives the same numbers by weight and age, and the feeding schedule generator builds a timetable from your cat's age and size.
Feeding by life stage
Kitten (up to about 12 months). A young animal needs more calories per kilo than an adult, because it is growing. Use the ×2.5 factor on the RER at the young animal's current weight, and re-weigh every two weeks, because the amount changes quickly as it grows. Feed a food labelled complete and balanced for kittens, in three to four meals a day until about six months, then two meals a day. Do not overfeed a young animal to make it grow faster: rapid growth and excess weight strain developing joints, and in a large-breed puppy that matters more than in a small one.
Adult (about 18 months to senior age). Two meals a day, a complete adult food, measured amounts, and a monthly weigh-in. This is the stage where weight most often creeps up, because the cat has stopped growing but the owner keeps feeding young-animal amounts, or because exercise drops while food stays the same. If your cat is neutered, expect to cut food by roughly 10–20% after the operation and watch the waistline for the next few months.
Senior (from about 11 years). Older cats often need fewer calories — the ×1.1–1.4 range — because they move less, but they still need good protein to hold muscle. A senior food, or an adult food fed in a smaller amount with your vet's agreement, is usually right. Some seniors develop kidney or other health issues that change the diet entirely, which is a vet decision, not a food-brand decision. The how much food should a senior cat eat guide gives the calorie tables for senior cats by weight.
Common mistakes when using a feeding chart
The most common mistake is feeding by the chart alone and never checking the cat: the chart gives a starting point, and the cat's body condition is the check. Weigh the cat monthly, feel the ribs, and look for a waist — if the cat is gaining weight on the chart's figure, the factor is too high for that individual, and the amount should come down by about 10%. The second is feeding by the bag's chart alone: bag charts are generous, because they are written for active animals and rounded up, so treat them as a maximum, not a target. The third is treat creep: a biscuit here, a piece of cheese there, and the cat's daily calories rise by a quarter without anyone noticing. The fourth is guessing the amount instead of weighing it: a mug or a handful is not a measure, and the hidden extra is often the whole reason a cat is overweight. The fifth is switching foods suddenly, which upsets digestion — change foods gradually over a week.
For related reading, see the cat food calculator, the how many calories should a cat eat per day guide, the cat food calculator by weight and age guide, the cat ideal weight calculator, the feeding schedule generator, the how much food should a senior cat eat guide.
Frequently asked questions
How much food should a cat eat per day?
Find your cat's weight in the chart above and read the calories for its life stage: a typical neutered adult cat of 5 kg needs about 280 calories a day. Turn the calories into food by dividing by the kcal per cup or per 100 g on your own bag or tin, measure with scales, and adjust by body condition and your vet's advice.
How do I use a feeding chart for my cat's exact weight?
Take the row nearest your cat's weight, or work it out from the RER formula: 70 times weight in kg to the power of 0.75, multiplied by the factor for your cat's life stage. Or use the cat food calculator, which does the same calculation for any weight.
How many cups of food should a cat eat?
It depends on the food: a typical dry food is around 350 kcal per cup, so a cat needing 280 calories a day needs roughly 0.8 cups. Always check the kcal per cup on your own bag and work from that — the bag's number always wins over this guide's.
How much should a kitten eat?
Use the RER formula with a factor of about 2.5 for kittens, applied to the young animal's current weight and re-checked every two weeks as it grows. A food labelled complete and balanced for kittens is the right base.
How much should a senior cat eat?
Older cats often need fewer calories — the ×1.1–1.4 range — because they move less, but they still need good protein to hold muscle. A senior food, or an adult food fed in a smaller amount with your vet's agreement, is usually right. If your cat has a health condition, ask your vet before choosing a special diet.
Why is my cat gaining weight on the chart's amount?
Because the chart's factor is a starting point, not a prescription for your individual cat: your cat's activity, neuter status, or health may be different from the chart's assumption. Cut food by about 10%, keep treats under 10% of daily calories, and re-weigh in a month. If weight keeps rising, ask your vet to set a target weight.
Results on this page are estimates for general information only and are not veterinary advice. If your pet is ill, underweight, overweight, pregnant, or has a health condition, consult your veterinarian before changing diet or care.