How much to feed a cat: portion calculator
Daily calories, grams and cost for your cat or kitten from its weight, age and the food's label. No email needed.
Short answer: a 4 kg neutered or indoor adult cat needs about 132–190 kcal a day (FEDIAF 2025). That is about 145–210 g of a typical wet food or 34–50 gof a dry food. Kittens need 1.5 to 2.5 times an active adult's calories for their weight.
A starting point for your cat
- Calories a day
- 132–190 kcal
- Food a day
- Add kcal per 100 g
- Cost a day
- Add kcal and price
- Cost per 30 days
- Add kcal and price
A 4 kg cat's metabolic weight is 40.67 = 2.53. FEDIAF gives 52–75 kcal per unit for “adult, neutered or indoor”, so the estimate is 132–190 kcal a day.
This is a starting point, not a prescription. Weigh food rather than using a scoop, split it into meals across the day, and check your cat's weight and body shaperegularly. Treats count towards the total. If you are worried about your cat's weight or appetite, contact your vet.
Compare UK cat foods on cost per dayHow much to feed a cat: chart by weight (kg)
Calories a day from FEDIAF's adult figures, and the grams that would supply the neutered or indoor range using two real labels: Lily's Kitchen Smooth Paté (90 kcal per 100 g, wet) and Perfect Fit Sensitive 1+ (turkey) (383kcal per 100 g, dry). Use your cat's ideal weight. Other foods differ, so check the kcal on your own label.
| Ideal weight | Neutered or indoor: kcal a day | Wet food a day | Dry food a day | Active and lean: kcal a day |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2 kg | 83–119 kcal | 92–130 g | 22–31 g | 159 kcal |
| 2.5 kg | 96–139 kcal | 105–155 g | 25–36 g | 185 kcal |
| 3 kg | 109–157 kcal | 120–175 g | 28–41 g | 209 kcal |
| 3.5 kg | 120–174 kcal | 135–195 g | 31–45 g | 231 kcal |
| 4 kg | 132–190 kcal | 145–210 g | 34–50 g | 253 kcal |
| 4.5 kg | 142–205 kcal | 160–230 g | 37–54 g | 274 kcal |
| 5 kg | 153–220 kcal | 170–245 g | 40–57 g | 294 kcal |
| 5.5 kg | 163–235 kcal | 180–260 g | 43–61 g | 313 kcal |
| 6 kg | 173–249 kcal | 190–275 g | 45–65 g | 332 kcal |
| 7 kg | 192–276 kcal | 215–305 g | 50–72 g | 368 kcal |
How much to feed a kitten by age and weight
Calories a day using FEDIAF's kitten multipliers on the active-adult figure for the kitten's current weight. Use the kcal on your kitten food's label to turn these into grams, or see the makers' own amounts in our kitten food comparison.
| Weight now | under 4 months | 4 to 9 months | 9 to 12 months |
|---|---|---|---|
| 0.5 kg | 126–157 kcal | 110–126 kcal | 94 kcal |
| 1 kg | 200–250 kcal | 175–200 kcal | 150 kcal |
| 1.5 kg | 262–328 kcal | 230–262 kcal | 197 kcal |
| 2 kg | 318–398 kcal | 278–318 kcal | 239 kcal |
| 2.5 kg | 370–462 kcal | 323–370 kcal | 277 kcal |
| 3 kg | 418–522 kcal | 365–418 kcal | 313 kcal |
| 3.5 kg | 463–579 kcal | 405–463 kcal | 347 kcal |
How we calculate this
Adult cats: FEDIAF, the European pet food federation, works out a cat's daily energy from its weight in kg to the power 0.67. It gives 52–75 kcal per unit for neutered or indoor cats and 100 kcal for active, lean cats (for a 4 kg cat, 40.67 = 2.53).
Kittens:FEDIAF gives multiples of maintenance: 2.0–2.5 up to 4 months, 1.75–2.0 at 4–9 months and 1.5 at 9–12 months. We apply them to the active-adult figure for the kitten's current weight.
Weight loss: FEDIAF does not give a weight-loss figure, so we use the American Animal Hospital Association's: resting energy of 70 × target weight0.75, times 0.8. Agree the target weight and the plan with your vet.
Grams are calories ÷ the food's kcal per 100 g × 100; cost is grams × price per kg. Growing kittens need more protein and calories; neutered or indoor cats need fewer calories. (International Cat Care, Should I feed my cat wet or dry food?.)
Formula sources
- FEDIAF Nutritional Guidelines (September 2025), Tables VII-9 and VII-10 · Adult cats: 52–75 kcal × kg^0.67 neutered or indoor, 100 kcal × kg^0.67 active. Kittens: 2.0–2.5 × maintenance up to 4 months, 1.75–2.0 at 4–9 months, 1.5 at 9–12 months. Checked 21 October 2026.
- AAHA 2021 Nutrition and Weight Management Guidelines, Box 1 · Resting energy = 70 × kg^0.75; feline weight-loss factor 0.8. AAHA notes that sedentary and indoor pets may need fewer calories. Checked 21 October 2026.
Questions
How much should I feed my cat a day?
For a 4 kg neutered or indoor adult cat, FEDIAF's figures give about 132–190 kcal a day. That is roughly 145–210 g of a wet food at 90 kcal per 100 g, or 34–50 g of a dry food at 383 kcal per 100 g. An active, lean 4 kg cat needs about 253 kcal. Use the calculator for your cat's weight and the food you buy.
What and how often should I feed a cat?
Feed a food labelled complete, which is designed to be the whole diet. International Cat Care says treats are nutritionally incomplete and should be no more than 10% of the diet. Several makers' feeding guides we checked (IAMS, Purina Pro Plan) suggest splitting the daily amount into at least two meals.
How many Lily's Kitchen trays should I feed my cat?
Lily's Kitchen's feeding guide for its Smooth Paté (as listed on zooplus UK) is 130–180 g a day for an indoor or neutered cat of 3–4 kg, which is about 1½ to 2 trays of 85 g, and 220–300 g for an active cat of the same weight.
Do kittens need more calories than adult cats?
Yes. International Cat Care notes that growing kittens need more protein and calories. FEDIAF puts a kitten's energy need at 2.0–2.5 times adult maintenance up to 4 months, 1.75–2.0 times at 4–9 months and 1.5 times at 9–12 months.
Why is my result different from the feeding guide on the pack?
Pack guides and formulas are both averages. FEDIAF's range for neutered or indoor cats is wide (52–75 kcal per unit of metabolic weight) because cats differ. Start with the pack guide or the middle of our range, weigh your cat every few weeks and adjust. Your vet can tell you your cat's body condition score.
To see what different foods cost per day, read our cat food comparison and cat food cost guide. For an upset tummy, see cat food for sensitive stomachs; for regular deliveries, our cat food subscriptions guide. Cats on dry food should be encouraged to drink: a water fountain can help some cats. Dog owners can use the dog food portion calculator.