What is this?
The Pet Food Calculator uses the Resting Energy Requirement (RER) formula — the same method veterinarians use — to determine your pet's daily caloric needs based on weight, life stage, activity level, and body condition, then converts those calories into practical daily serving sizes by food type.How to use
Select your pet type and enter current weight, life stage (puppy/kitten/adult/senior), activity level, and body condition score. Choose your food type (dry kibble, wet, raw, or mixed) and the calculator provides a recommended daily amount with a suggested feeding schedule.Tips
- Weigh your pet monthly — consistent monitoring is the best way to confirm portion sizes are working over time.
- Use a measuring cup for dry kibble rather than estimating; even a 10% overserve adds up to significant excess calories over a year.
- Verify the calorie density on your specific food's packaging — kibble ranges from 280 to 500 kcal/cup depending on brand.
- Overweight pets should lose weight gradually (1–2% of body weight per week) to avoid nutritional deficiencies.
- Puppies and kittens need 2–3× more calories per pound of body weight than adult pets.
- Senior pets often need 10–20% fewer calories due to reduced metabolism and lower activity levels.
- Treats should not exceed 10% of daily caloric intake, or they will significantly disrupt the calculated portions.
- Raw diet caloric density varies widely — always confirm kcal/lb with your specific raw food supplier.
