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Pet Calorie Calculator

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Enter your dog or cat's weight and activity level to find their estimated daily calorie needs, using the standard veterinary formula.

Pet Calorie Calculator

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Estimated daily calories
854 kcal/day
Resting energy (RER)
534 kcal/day
A general estimate based on standard veterinary formulas - not a substitute for advice from your vet, especially for pets with a health condition or specific dietary needs.

The formula

RER (Resting Energy Requirement) = 70 x (weight in kg)^0.75 MER (Maintenance Energy Requirement) = RER x activity factor
Example

A 15kg neutered adult dog, normal activity (factor 1.6): RER = 70 x 15^0.75 ≈ 534 kcal, MER = 534 x 1.6 ≈ 854 kcal/day.

Step-by-step guide

  1. Choose dog or cat, and enter your pet's current weight.
  2. Choose the life stage or activity level that best matches your pet.
  3. Read the estimated daily calorie needs.

Why this uses body weight to the power of 0.75, not a simple multiple

Resting energy needs don't scale directly with weight - a 30kg dog doesn't need exactly double the calories of a 15kg dog, because larger animals have proportionally less surface area relative to their body mass, and metabolic rate is more closely tied to surface area than raw weight. Raising body weight to the power of 0.75 (sometimes called "metabolic body weight") is the standard veterinary approach to account for this - it's the same type of formula used across species in comparative veterinary nutrition, adjusted here with dog- and cat-appropriate activity multipliers.

Common mistakes

Using your pet's ideal weight when they're currently overweight - for a weight loss plan, a vet typically calculates calories based on a target weight, not the current one, which this general calculator doesn't automatically account for.
Applying this estimate directly to a pet with a diagnosed medical condition - conditions like thyroid disorders or diabetes can significantly change actual calorie needs, and should be guided by a veterinarian's specific recommendation.

Frequently asked questions

Is this the same formula veterinarians actually use?

Yes - the RER formula (70 x weight in kg^0.75) is a standard, widely-taught veterinary nutrition formula. The activity multipliers used to get from RER to daily needs (MER) can vary slightly between veterinary sources, but the ranges used here reflect commonly cited figures.

Should I use this for a puppy or kitten?

This calculator includes a growth-stage option with a higher multiplier, but growing animals have needs that change rapidly with age and can vary by breed size - your vet's specific growth feeding guidance is more precise than a general calculator for young, growing pets.

How do I convert this into cups or grams of food?

Check your specific pet food's calorie content, usually listed as kcal per cup or per kg on the packaging or manufacturer's website, then divide your daily calorie target by that figure to find the amount to feed.

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