Pet Calorie Calculators & Feeding Guide

Feeding for Health and Ideal Weight

Why calories matter

Feeding well starts with matching calories to your pet’s body and lifestyle. Calories power growth, play, and daily life. Too many add excess body fat and raise health risks. Too few can lead to low energy and poor body condition. The goal is a healthy body condition, not just a lower number on the scale, which is why the right calorie target is personal to your pet.

Two pets at the same weight can need very different calories. Needs change with biology, lifestyle, health, and the food itself. Start with an estimate, then fine-tune based on how your pet looks and feels.

  • Species and size: Cats typically need fewer calories per pound than dogs. Toy and giant breeds have different energy needs.

  • Life stage: Puppies and kittens, pregnant or lactating females need more calories. Senior pets need specific dietary formulations to support health, lean muscle mass, and body condition.

  • Spay/neuter status: Spayed and neutered pets usually need fewer calories.

  • Lifestyle and exercise: Daily activity changes calorie use. A couch companion and a trail buddy do not need the same intake.

  • Health and medications: Thyroid disease, hormonal imbalances, arthritis, pets recovering from illness, and medications may change needs.

  • Food choices: Calorie density varies widely. Always check kcal per cup, can, pouch, or treat.

What “body condition” means:

Body condition is your pet’s overall fat and muscle status. Veterinarians score it with a Body Condition Score (BCS), usually 1 to 9 in whole numbers, by looking at and feeling the ribs, waist, and abdomen. An ideal BCS is typically 4 or 5, where ribs are easy to feel, the waist is visible from above, and there is a gentle tummy tuck from the side.

Let’s figure out how many calories your pet eats in a typical day

Step 1: Find the calorie information on the package.


Look for “Calorie Content (calculated)” on your pet’s food or treat label.
This tells you how many calories are in each serving, which is essential for figuring out your pet’s daily intake.

  • Dry food: May list calories per cup or per kilogram (kg)

  • Wet food: Usually lists calories per can or pouch

  • Treats: Often list calories per treat

Step 2: Enter the numbers into the daily calorie calculator below.


Use the calorie info you found to add each food, treat, or snack your pet eats in a typical day.

  • Dry food: Look for the calories listed per cup, not for the whole bag. You can ignore the “kcal/kg.” Use the kcal/cup (or per scoop) to figure out how much to feed.

    Wet food: Check the label for calories per can or pouch. This is the number you’ll use to figure out how many cans or pouches your pet needs each day.

    Treats: Many packages show calories per treat, but some don’t. If you can’t find it, check the brand’s website or use a similar treat to get a rough estimate.

What “kcal” means:

kcal means kilocalorie, the same as the food calorie; on pet food labels “calorie” and “kcal” are equivalent, and labels usually list kcal per cup, per can/pouch, or per treat, with some also showing kcal/kg (energy density).

Pet Calorie Daily Calculator

See how much your pet is really eating. Track their meals and treats to calculate their daily calories.

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Percentage of Daily Calories
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Treats
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Treat total
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Percentage of Daily Calories
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Total Daily Calories 0

Disclaimer: This calculator is for educational purposes and is not a substitute for an exam or a personalized nutrition plan. Calorie needs vary with age, body condition, activity, and health.

Treat calories count toward the daily total. Many veterinary guidelines, including the Association for Pet Obesity Prevention (APOP), suggest keeping treats at ≤10% of daily calories. Always verify calories on food and treat labels and consult your veterinary team before making diet changes.

Knowing how many calories your pet should eat helps you set a healthy feeding plan. This number is based on their ideal weight, activity level, and other factors like age or whether they’ve been spayed or neutered.

Use the calculator below to estimate your pet’s daily calorie needs. Once you know this target, you can compare it to how many calories they’re actually eating to see if you need to make changes.

Now let’s figure out how many calories your pet NEEDS a day.

Why this matters: Spayed/neutered dogs usually need about 20% to 30% fewer calories to maintain a healthy weight due to changes in sex hormones.
Why this matters: We use activity to adjust for lifestyle - lower factors for indoor dogs and higher for active or working dogs.
Split the daily total into even meals.
Estimated Daily Calories
—kcal/day
Typical range: — kcal/day Treats ≤10%: up to — kcal/day

This estimate shows how many calories your pet should eat each day. It’s based on an ideal weight, reported activity level, and whether your pet has been spayed or neutered. Treats are not included in the total or calories per meal. If you give treats or extra food, be sure to subtract those calories from your pet’s daily total to help prevent overfeeding.

If your pet needs to lose weight, this number should be adjusted downward using a target weight. Always work with your veterinarian before making dietary changes for weight loss.

Important: This tool is provided by the Association for Pet Obesity Prevention (APOP) for educational purposes only and should not be used as a substitute for veterinary care. Energy needs vary depending on your pet’s health status, body condition, age, and activity level. Always review any diet or weight plan with your veterinary team, and do not begin a weight-loss program, restrict calories, or start an exercise routine without your veterinarian’s guidance.
Enter your cat’s current weight. Small entries are fine (decimals allowed).
Why this matters: Spayed/neutered cats usually need about 20% to 30% fewer calories to maintain a healthy weight due to changes in sex hormones.
Choose the option that best fits your cat’s routine: mostly indoor/inactive, or moderately active.
Split the daily total into even meals.
Estimated Daily Calories
—kcal/day
Typical range: — kcal/day Treats ≤10%: up to — kcal/day

This step helps you find the target number of calories your pet should eat from meals only — treats aren’t included here. The total is based on their ideal weight, activity level, and other factors like age or whether they’ve been spayed or neutered.

If your pet needs to lose weight, this number will need to be adjusted down. Always check with your veterinarian before making diet or activity changes, especially for weight loss.

Once you know this number, you can compare it to how many calories your pet is actually eating, then add treats on top to see the full daily total. Use the calculator below to get started.

Senior note: Some cats over about 12 years may have increased energy and protein needs to maintain a healthy body condition.
Safety note: Avoid rapid or severe calorie restriction in cats. Sudden food reduction or inappetence can increase the risk of a life-threatening liver condition known as hepatic lipidosis. Work closely with your veterinarian to set safe calorie and feeding goals.
Important: This tool is provided by the Association for Pet Obesity Prevention (APOP) for educational purposes only and should not be used as a substitute for veterinary care. Energy needs vary depending on your pet’s health status, body condition, age, and activity level. Always review any diet or weight plan with your veterinary team, and do not begin a weight-loss program, restrict calories, or start an exercise routine without your veterinarian’s guidance.

Make Every Meal Count: Measuring and Feeding Tips

Getting the calorie numbers right is only part of the equation. How you measure and serve food every day can make a big difference in your pet’s weight and health.

  • Use a gram scale if possible. It’s the most accurate way to measure and avoid overfeeding.

  • Avoid heaping scoops and free feeding. A “cup” can vary a lot, and a little extra at each meal adds up over time.

  • Feed smaller meals more often and make mealtime fun. Splitting your pet’s daily food into two or more smaller meals helps them feel satisfied and keeps energy steady.
    You can also use food puzzles or slow feeders to make eating more challenging and rewarding, which supports both physical and mental health while preventing gulping or overeating.

  • Track treats and table food. Treats should make up no more than 10% of your pet’s total daily calories.
    Human food is often very calorie-dense, and even small amounts can quickly put your pet over their daily limit — leading to gradual weight gain over time.

What should you do next?

Use these APOP resources to check body condition, learn typical breed ranges, and start a safe weight plan.

Pet Weight Check

Learn how to feel ribs, check the waist, and score body condition.

Start Weight Check

Breed Weight Ranges

Look up typical ranges for dog and cat breeds. Confirm with BCS.

Browse Breed Ranges

Dog Body Condition

See the 1–9 BCS system and how to evaluate weight and health.

Dog BCS Guide

Cat Body Condition

Feline BCS guide with signs of ideal, overweight, and underweight cats.

Cat BCS Guide