Your cat needs
4,6 kg, adult, neutered, normally active, ideal
Energy a day
264kcal
Dry food a day
≈ 69g
Of a typical dry food (3 844 kcal/kg). The grams for each food are in the list below.
Resting need 70 × 4,60.75 = 220 kcal, multiplied by 1,2, is 264 kcal a day.
Cheapest dry foods a month for this cat
Sorted by what the food would cost a month for this pet (the cheapest price per kg × the amount needed), not by quality. Dry food only, where the shop states the energy content in the description, at most 2 per brand.
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My Love
My Love visavertis sausas pašaras suaugusioms katėms su vištiena,jautiena ir daržovėmis 11kg11 kg bag for 19,99 €, zoosalis.lt
3,94 € a month
- Energy
- 3 710 kcal/kg
- Price per kg
- 1,82 €/kg
- A day
- 71 g
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4,13 € a month
- Energy
- 3 540 kcal/kg
- Price per kg
- 1,82 €/kg
- A day
- 75 g
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Club 4 Paws
CLUB 4 PAWS PREMIUM „JAUTRUS VIRŠKINIMAS”. PILNAVERTIS SAUSAS MAISTAS SUAUGUSIOMS KATĖMS 2kg. – 14kg.14 kg bag for 37,99 €, zoosalis.lt
5,32 € a month
- Energy
- 4 087 kcal/kg
- Price per kg
- 2,71 €/kg
- A day
- 65 g
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Gemon
Gemon Sterilised light visavertis pašaras sterilizuotoms suaugusioms katėms su kalakutiena 20kg20 kg bag for 48,30 €, akvanamai.lt
5,41 € a month
- Energy
- 3 590 kcal/kg
- Price per kg
- 2,42 €/kg
- A day
- 74 g
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Whiskas
Whiskas Sterile ėdalas suagusioms sterilioms katėms su vištiena 14 kg14 kg bag for 34,89 €, fera.lt
5,43 € a month
- Energy
- 3 680 kcal/kg
- Price per kg
- 2,49 €/kg
- A day
- 72 g
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Josera JosiCat Classic Sterilised, 18 kg
18 kg bag for 43,66 €, petplius.lt
5,45 € a month
- Energy
- 3 578 kcal/kg
- Price per kg
- 2,43 €/kg
- A day
- 74 g
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Club 4 Paws
CLUB 4 PAWS PREMIUM „SU VILNOS PAŠALINIMU IŠ VIRŠKINAMOJO TRAKTO EFEKTO.” PILNAVERTIS SAUSAS MAISTAS SUAUGUSIOMS KATĖMS 300g. – 14kg.14 kg bag for 37,99 €, zoosalis.lt
5,45 € a month
- Energy
- 3 989 kcal/kg
- Price per kg
- 2,71 €/kg
- A day
- 66 g
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Gemon Adult visavertis pašaras suaugusioms katėms su vištiena ir kalakutiena 20kg
20 kg bag for 54,39 €, grandwoof.lt
5,56 € a month
- Energy
- 3 925 kcal/kg
- Price per kg
- 2,72 €/kg
- A day
- 67 g
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Whiskas
WHISKAS Adult 14kg su vištiena ir daržovėmis + WHISKAS Adult 14kg su tunu ir daržovėmis28 kg bag for 76,30 €, fera.lt
5,80 € a month
- Energy
- 3 780 kcal/kg
- Price per kg
- 2,73 €/kg
- A day
- 70 g
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Gemon
Gemon Adult visavertis pašaras suaugusioms katėms su lašiša ir tunu 20kg20 kg bag for 57,19 €, akvanamai.lt
5,95 € a month
- Energy
- 3 860 kcal/kg
- Price per kg
- 2,86 €/kg
- A day
- 68 g
A month is 30.4 days. Prices are updated daily; check the final price and delivery at the shop.
How much dry food a cat needs by weight
An adult, neutered, normally active cat in ideal condition; a typical dry food has 3 844 kcal/kg (the median of the dry cat foods we track).
| Weight | kcal a day | Food a day | From, a month |
|---|---|---|---|
| 3 kg | 191 | 50 g | 2,85 € |
| 4 kg | 238 | 62 g | 3,55 € |
| 5 kg | 281 | 73 g | 4,19 € |
| 6 kg | 322 | 84 g | 4,80 € |
Select a weight to see the cheapest foods for that amount.
This is an estimate, not a prescription: every cat's need can differ considerably. The feeding table on the bag and your vet's advice come first. Weigh your cat regularly and adjust the amount.
How to judge your cat's body condition
A five-point scale: look at your cat from above and from the side, and run your hands along its sides and belly. If the body is not ideal, the calculator uses the target weight, not the current one.
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Very thin
Ribs, spine and hip bones visible, no fat to feel, belly tucked up.
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Thin
Ribs easy to feel, very little fat; a clear waist from above.
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Ideal
Ribs can be felt under a thin layer of fat; a visible waist, a small belly fat pad.
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Overweight
Ribs hard to feel; waist barely visible, belly rounding, the fat pad sags.
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Obese
Ribs cannot be felt; no waist, a round sagging belly, fat on the back, neck and legs.
How we calculate
Formula, factors and sources
Resting energy requirement (RER) = 70 × weight in kg0.75 kcal a day. Daily need = RER × a factor for age, neutering and activity.
Cats: neutered adult 1.2, intact 1.4, not very active 1.0, very active 0.2 more than usual, weight loss 0.8 (at the target weight), kitten 2.5. Older cats use the adult factors.
If the body condition is not ideal, the target weight is used: an amount based on the current weight would keep the extra weight on.
Grams are worked out from the food's energy content (kcal/kg), which we read from the shop's description; kcal/100 g, kJ and MJ are converted. Dry cat foods in the list: 585; a typical dry food has 3 844 kcal/kg (the median). Veterinary diets are left out: their amount is the vet's call.
Monthly cost = grams a day × 30.4 ÷ 1000 × the food's cheapest price per kg. Prices are updated daily.
Sources
- 2021 AAHA Nutrition and Weight Management Guidelines for Dogs and Cats (J Am Anim Hosp Assoc 2021;57:153–178)
- National Research Council. Nutrient Requirements of Dogs and Cats, 2006
- Ohio State University Veterinary Medical Center: Basic Calorie Calculator (factor table)
Common questions
- How much food should I give my cat a day?
- It depends on weight, age, activity and the food's energy content. For example, a 4 kg neutered adult cat needs about 238 kcal a day, which is roughly 62 g of a typical dry food (3 844 kcal/kg). Calculate it for your own cat above; the feeding table on the bag and your vet come first.
- Why is the amount on the bag different?
- Manufacturers' feeding tables are written for an average, often intact and active animal, and foods differ in energy: one dry food may have 3,400 kcal/kg, another 4,200 kcal/kg. A neutered or less active pet usually needs less. Start from the calculated amount, weigh your pet regularly and adjust.
- How much does it cost to feed a cat a month?
- The cheapest dry food we track costs from €3,55 a month for a 4 kg neutered adult cat today. A more energy-dense food is needed in smaller amounts, which is why the calculator compares the monthly cost, not the price per kilo.
- Does the calculator work for wet (canned) food?
- The daily calorie need applies to any food, but we calculate grams and prices for dry food only: many wet foods are complementary (soups, sauces, treats) and are not a complete diet. Work out the amount of a wet food from the energy content on its label.