How Much Should I Feed My Cat? A Calorie-Based Guide

Why the Bag Instructions Are Wrong

The feeding guidelines on cat food packaging are notoriously generous. They are designed to sell more food, not to maintain your cat’s ideal weight. Following bag instructions is a leading contributor to the feline obesity epidemic (60% of US cats are overweight).

The Calorie Approach

Step 1: Determine Your Cat’s Ideal Weight

Most domestic cats should weigh between 8-11 lbs. Talk to your vet if you are unsure of your cat’s ideal weight.

For more on this topic, see our guide on 7 Cat Health Emergencies That Cannot Wait Until Morning.

Step 2: Calculate Daily Calorie Needs

The standard formula for an average indoor adult cat:

For more on this topic, see our guide on How to Get Your Cat to Drink More Water.

Daily calories = ideal weight (lbs) × 20 calories

Ideal Weight	Daily Calories
8 lbs	160 kcal
10 lbs	200 kcal
12 lbs	240 kcal

Adjust up for highly active cats (+20%) or down for senior/sedentary cats (-20%).

Step 3: Read the Can or Bag

Every cat food lists calories per can, pouch, or cup on the label (usually as “kcal/can” or “kcal/cup”). Divide your cat’s daily calorie needs by the calories per serving to determine the correct portion.

Wet vs. Dry Food

• Wet food: 70-100 kcal per 3 oz can. Lower calorie density, higher moisture content. Better for hydration and weight management.
• Dry food: 300-400 kcal per cup. Very calorie-dense. Easy to overfeed. Measure with a kitchen scale, not a scoop.

Feeding Schedule

• Kittens (under 1 year): Free-feed or 3-4 measured meals per day.
• Adults: 2 measured meals per day (morning and evening).
• Overweight cats: 2 measured meals, no free-feeding, no treats (or deduct treat calories from meals).