Daily Calorie Calculator

Estimate the ideal daily calorie intake for your dog, cat, or bird.

Pet Species*

What You'll Get

Daily calorie target for weight maintenance
Estimated needs for weight loss
Estimated needs for weight gain
A summary based on your inputs

Disclaimer: This tool provides an estimate and is not a substitute for professional veterinary advice. Consult your vet to create a personalized nutrition plan for your pet.

Please always double check with your vet before making any changes to your pet's diet.

Calculations based on WSAVA and AAHA veterinary nutrition guidelines.

Pet Calorie Calculator: Evidence-Based Daily Calories for Dogs, Cats & Birds

Feeding the right amount isn’t guesswork—it’s math plus monitoring. Our pet calorie calculator estimates daily energy needs (kcal/day) for dogs, cats, and birds using veterinary-accepted formulas. It starts with your pet’s Resting Energy Requirement (RER) and applies a life-stage or lifestyle multiplier to estimate the Maintenance Energy Requirement (MER). From there, you can convert calories into cups, cans, or grams of your chosen food and fine-tune based on your pet’s Body Condition Score (BCS) and weight trends.

How the Pet Calorie Calculator Works (RER → MER)

We estimate a baseline daily energy need and then apply life‑stage and lifestyle factors to personalize your pet’s calories. No equations needed—just enter weight and select the options that fit.

Typical starting factors (individuals vary; adjust with monitoring):

Dogs

  • Neutered adult: ~1.6 × RER
  • Intact adult: ~1.8 × RER
  • Puppy < 4 months: ~3.0 × RER
  • Puppy ≥ 4 months (growth): ~2.0 × RER
  • Weight loss (with vet guidance): often near 1.0 × RER of ideal weight

Cats

  • Neutered adult: ~1.2 × RER
  • Intact adult: ~1.4 × RER
  • Kittens (growth): ~2.5 × RER
  • Weight loss (vet-guided diet): often near 0.8 × RER of ideal weight

Birds

Highly species- and activity-dependent. Flight opportunity, molting, egg-laying, and species group (e.g., parrots vs. passerines) shift needs. Use the calculator’s species/activity prompts as a starting estimate and confirm with an avian veterinarian.

Important: These are starting points. Real pets can vary by 20–30% or more. Always track body weight/BCS and adjust.

Step-by-Step: Using the Calculator Like a Pro

  1. Select Species – Dog, cat, or bird.
  2. Enter Weight – Dogs/cats in kg (or lbs with conversion); birds in grams for accuracy.
  3. Choose Life Stage – Puppy/kitten growth, adult, senior; for dogs/cats also pregnancy or lactation where applicable; for birds consider juvenile vs. adult.
  4. Pick Lifestyle/Modifiers
    • Dogs: activity level; note spayed/neutered status.
    • Cats: mark if obesity-prone/sedentary.
    • Birds: species group, flight opportunity (limited vs. regular free flight), and flags such as molting or egg-laying.
  5. Review Results – You’ll see maintenance kcal/day and, when appropriate, safe ranges for weight loss/gain.
  6. Convert to Food – Use your food’s calorie density (kcal per gram/cup/can) to portion accurately.
  7. Monitor & Adjust – Re-weigh every 2–4 weeks and tweak by ~5–10% based on BCS and weight trend.

Species-Specific Guidance

Dogs

Puppies
< 4 months: ~3.0 × RER; ≥ 4 months: ~2.0 × RER.
Feed 3–4 meals/day; ensure DHA and appropriate calcium/phosphorus.

Adults & Seniors
Neutered adult often starts near 1.6 × RER; intact near 1.8 × RER.
Seniors may need slightly fewer calories but more protein to maintain lean mass; monitor BCS and muscle condition.

Working/Athletic Dogs
Field, sled, or agility dogs can exceed 2–5× RER depending on workload, climate, and coat. Increase gradually and monitor stool quality and body condition.

Pregnancy & Lactation
Energy needs rise, especially in late gestation and peak lactation. Transition to a growth/lactation diet as advised by your veterinarian.

Weight Loss (with veterinary supervision)
Many dogs respond to ~1.0 × RER of ideal weight, often on a high-protein, high-fiber diet. Target ~1–2% body weight loss per week; adjust if the rate is too fast/slow.

Cats

Kittens
Start near 2.5 × RER; 3–4 meals/day support steady growth.

Adults
Neutered adults commonly maintain near 1.2 × RER; intact near 1.4 × RER. Indoor cats are often less active than expected—measure portions and limit free feeding.

Weight Loss
Many cats start around 0.8 × RER of ideal weight using a vet-recommended weight-management diet to prevent nutrient gaps. Aim for ~0.5–1% body weight loss per week. Faster loss can risk hepatic lipidosis (a serious liver condition). If intake drops sharply or the cat refuses food, contact your veterinarian immediately.

Special Notes
Cats thrive on routine. Use puzzle feeders, play sessions, and vertical space to boost activity without excess calories.

Birds

Why Birds Are Different
Metabolism varies dramatically by species and flight activity. Passerines (songbirds) often have higher mass-specific needs than many similarly sized parrots. Energy requirements rise with molting, egg-laying, and free flight.

Practical Bird Feeding
Use a digital gram scale to track both body weight and daily food intake. Prioritize balanced pellets (per your avian vet) with appropriate amounts of species-safe vegetables and limited seeds for most parrots; species exceptions apply.

Vet Partnership
Treat the calculator’s number as a starting estimate. Your avian veterinarian will tailor targets, micronutrients (e.g., calcium for layers), and feeding methods to the species.

Converting kcal/day to Cups, Cans, or Grams

Find the food’s energy density. Examples:

  • Dry dog food: ~3,400–4,200 kcal/kg (≈ 3.4–4.2 kcal/g)
  • Canned cat food: often ~70–120 kcal/100 g (varies widely)
  • Seed mixes/pellets for birds: highly variable by brand and type

Do the math.

If target is 250 kcal/day and food is 3,600 kcal/kg (= 3.6 kcal/g)
250 ÷ 3.6 ≈ 69.5 g/day (round to 70 g/day)

Split into meals and include treats in the daily total.

Accuracy tip: Cups differ in shape and kibble size. Grams are consistent across brands.

Monitoring, BCS, and Safe Adjustments

Track: body weight every 2–4 weeks + BCS using a 1–9 or 1–5 chart.

Targets:
Dogs: waist visible from above; ribs palpable with slight fat cover.
Cats: abdominal tuck; ribs palpable with minimal fat.
Birds: use keel palpation and species-specific BCS guidance; trends matter.

Adjust: change daily calories by ~5–10% if weight/BCS drifts the wrong way, then recheck in 2–4 weeks.

Treats: keep to ≤ 10% of daily calories (including dental chews, table scraps, and training rewards).

Common Mistakes to Avoid

  • Free feeding without measuring—leads to slow, steady weight gain.
  • Ignoring treats—a few extras can equal an extra meal.
  • Using cups instead of grams—inconsistent portions day to day.
  • Cutting calories too fast in cats—risk of hepatic lipidosis.
  • Not weighing birds or their food—tiny changes can be clinically important.
  • Skipping vet checks—medical conditions (e.g., thyroid disease, arthritis, diabetes, GI issues) alter needs.
Q1: How accurate is the calculator?

It uses widely accepted equations to provide a starting estimate. Because individual metabolism varies, confirm by tracking weight/BCS and adjusting every 2–4 weeks.

Q2: Can I use this for weight loss?

Yes—with your veterinarian’s guidance. Start with the provided weight-loss target (e.g., dogs around 1.0 × RER of ideal weight, cats around 0.8 × RER of ideal weight on a vet-recommended diet) and aim for safe weekly loss rates (dogs ~1–2%, cats ~0.5–1% of body weight).

Q3: How do I count treats?

Keep all treats and extras to ≤ 10% of daily calories and subtract them from meal portions so the total stays on target.

Q4: What if my pet seems hungry on fewer calories?

First, confirm portions in grams and check treat leakage. Ask your vet about higher-protein, higher-fiber diets that can improve satiety without adding calories.

Q5: Does wet vs. dry food matter for calories?

Calories depend on energy density, not moisture. Canned foods tend to have fewer kcal per gram than dry, which can help some pets feel fuller for the same calories. Always read the label and do the conversion.

Q6: Are birds covered accurately by a generic formula?

Birds vary too much for a one-size-fits-all number. The calculator blends species/activity inputs to give a reasonable starting range, but an avian veterinarian should tailor the plan—especially for breeders, juveniles, or birds with medical conditions.

Q7: How often should I recheck and adjust?

Every 2–4 weeks for most dogs and cats; weekly weight checks are ideal for birds. Adjust daily calories by ~5–10% based on trends.

Q8: What if my pet has a medical condition?

Medical issues can change energy needs and nutrient targets. Work directly with your veterinarian for a prescription diet and individualized plan.

Further Reading

For an accessible deep-dive on pet nutrition and weight control, see the AAHA Nutrition & Weight Management Guidelines (PDF): AAHA 2021 Guidelines.

(Your veterinarian may also recommend WSAVA Global Nutrition resources and species-specific avian guidelines.)

Important Disclaimer: This article and the calculator provide general estimates only and are not a substitute for professional veterinary advice. Always consult your veterinarian before changing your pet’s diet—especially for puppies/kittens, pregnant or lactating animals, seniors, birds, and pets with medical conditions.