Daily calories and grams for a 12 lb (5.4 kg) cat
Resting energy for 5.4 kg is 249 kcal (70 × 5.40.75). Multiply by the factor for the life stage to get the day's energy, then divide by the food's kcal per gram.
| Life stage | kcal a day | g at 3,400 kcal/kg | g at 3,800 kcal/kg | g at 4,200 kcal/kg |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Neutered adult | 299 | 88 | 79 | 71 |
| Intact adult | 349 | 103 | 92 | 83 |
| Inactive or prone to weight gain | 249 | 73 | 66 | 59 |
| Kitten | 624 | 183 | 164 | 148 |
These are averages from the Merck/WSAVA energy factors. Your cat may need 10 to 20% more or less. Check the energy on your own food's label and use the calculator below.
Meals, treats and cost
| Two meals a day (neutered adult) | 39 g each |
|---|---|
| Three meals a day | 26 g each |
| Treat allowance (10% of calories) | 30 kcal: 15 pieces of 2 kcal, or 3.7 of 8 kcal |
| Dry food as a share of body weight | 1.4% a day |
| Calories per kilogram of body weight | 55.0 kcal per kg |
Monthly food cost at example prices
Cost = grams a day × 30 ÷ 1,000 × price per kg. The prices are examples; use your own.
| Price per kg | 4.00 | 6.00 | 8.00 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Dry food, 3,800 kcal/kg | 9.45 | 14.18 | 18.91 |
| Wet food at 1,000 kcal/kg (price per kg: 3.00, 5.00, 7.00) | 26.94 / 44.90 / 62.86 | ||
How long a bag lasts
| Bag size | 2 kg | 4 kg | 8 kg |
|---|---|---|---|
| Days at 79 g a day | 25 | 51 | 102 |
On wet food only, a 12 lb (5.4 kg) cat needs about 3.5 cans of 85 kcal a day.
A sample day for a 12 lb (5.4 kg) cat
One way to lay out a neutered adult's day on a 3,800 kcal/kg dry food, with treats counted inside the total.
| Time | What | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Morning | Meal | 35 g |
| During the day | Treats and training rewards (counted) | 30 kcal |
| Evening | Meal | 35 g |
| All day | Fresh water | Always available |
Meals are smaller than the table above because the treat allowance of 30 kcal is taken out of the day's 299 kcal: 269 kcal of meals is 71 g.
If you feed wet and dry together
Split the calories, not the grams. This uses a wet food of 1,000 kcal/kg and a dry food of 3,800 kcal/kg for a neutered adult needing 299 kcal.
| Share of calories from wet food | Wet food | Dry food |
|---|---|---|
| 25% | 75 g | 59 g |
| 50% | 150 g | 39 g |
| 75% | 225 g | 20 g |
Do not add wet food on top of the full dry amount: that doubles the calories it replaces.
How 12 lb compares with nearby weights
| Weight | kcal a day (neutered adult) | g of 3,800 kcal/kg food | kcal per kg of body weight |
|---|---|---|---|
| 9 lb (4.1 kg) | 241 | 63 | 59.1 |
| 10 lb (4.5 kg) | 261 | 69 | 57.6 |
| 11 lb (5.0 kg) | 280 | 74 | 56.2 |
| 12 lb (5.4 kg) | 299 | 79 | 55.0 |
| 13 lb (5.9 kg) | 318 | 84 | 53.9 |
| 14 lb (6.4 kg) | 336 | 88 | 52.9 |
| 15 lb (6.8 kg) | 354 | 93 | 52.0 |
Why a cat twice as heavy does not eat twice as much
Energy needs rise with body weight to the power 0.75, not in a straight line. Moving from 12 lb to 13 lb is a 8% weight increase but only about 6% more calories. At 12 lb (5.4 kg), the neutered figure is 55.0 kcal per kg of body weight.
What changes your cat's number
- Neutering and activity. The table shows a 10 to 30% spread between stages.
- The food. A richer food means fewer grams for the same calories.
- Treats. They count within the daily total.
- Weight trend. Weigh monthly, score body condition and adjust by about 10%.
- Health. A pet on a veterinary diet or with a health condition should follow the vet's plan.
Frequently asked questions
How much should a 12 lb (5.4 kg) cat eat a day?
A neutered adult of 12 lb (5.4 kg) needs about 299 kcal a day. On a 3,800 kcal/kg dry food that is about 79 g. Intact and inactive cats need 349 and 249 kcal.
How many meals a day for a 12 lb cat?
Two meals of about 39 g, or three of about 26 g, using the same 3,800 kcal/kg food. Your vet may suggest a different pattern.
How many treats can a 12 lb cat have?
Treats should stay within about 10% of daily calories, which is 30 kcal: 15 pieces of 2 kcal or 3.7 pieces of 8 kcal. Subtract them from the meals.
Other weights
- 9 lb cat9 lb (4.1 kg)
- 10 lb cat10 lb (4.5 kg)
- 11 lb cat11 lb (5.0 kg)
- 13 lb cat13 lb (5.9 kg)
- 14 lb cat14 lb (6.4 kg)
- 15 lb cat15 lb (6.8 kg)
Related guides
- How many calories does a cat need?
- How many grams of dry food does a cat need?
- Cat feeding chart by weight
- How much wet food should a cat eat?
How we calculate: RER = 70 × kg0.75, times the life-stage factor, as set out on Formulas & sources. This page is general information, not veterinary advice; ask your vet about your cat.