Daily calories and grams for a 16 lb (7.3 kg) cat
Resting energy for 7.3 kg is 310 kcal (70 × 7.30.75). 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 | 371 | 109 | 98 | 88 |
| Intact adult | 433 | 127 | 114 | 103 |
| Inactive or prone to weight gain | 310 | 91 | 81 | 74 |
| Kitten | 774 | 228 | 204 | 184 |
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) | 49 g each |
|---|---|
| Three meals a day | 33 g each |
| Treat allowance (10% of calories) | 37 kcal: 19 pieces of 2 kcal, or 4.6 of 8 kcal |
| Dry food as a share of body weight | 1.3% a day |
| Calories per kilogram of body weight | 51.2 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 | 11.73 | 17.59 | 23.46 |
| Wet food at 1,000 kcal/kg (price per kg: 3.00, 5.00, 7.00) | 33.43 / 55.71 / 78.00 | ||
How long a bag lasts
| Bag size | 2 kg | 4 kg | 8 kg |
|---|---|---|---|
| Days at 98 g a day | 20 | 41 | 82 |
On wet food only, a 16 lb (7.3 kg) cat needs about 4.4 cans of 85 kcal a day.
A sample day for a 16 lb (7.3 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 | 44 g |
| During the day | Treats and training rewards (counted) | 37 kcal |
| Evening | Meal | 44 g |
| All day | Fresh water | Always available |
Meals are smaller than the table above because the treat allowance of 37 kcal is taken out of the day's 371 kcal: 334 kcal of meals is 88 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 371 kcal.
| Share of calories from wet food | Wet food | Dry food |
|---|---|---|
| 25% | 93 g | 73 g |
| 50% | 186 g | 49 g |
| 75% | 279 g | 24 g |
Do not add wet food on top of the full dry amount: that doubles the calories it replaces.
How 16 lb compares with nearby weights
| Weight | kcal a day (neutered adult) | g of 3,800 kcal/kg food | kcal per kg of body weight |
|---|---|---|---|
| 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 |
| 16 lb (7.3 kg) | 371 | 98 | 51.2 |
| 18 lb (8.2 kg) | 406 | 107 | 49.7 |
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 16 lb to 18 lb is a 13% weight increase but only about 9% more calories. At 16 lb (7.3 kg), the neutered figure is 51.2 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 16 lb (7.3 kg) cat eat a day?
A neutered adult of 16 lb (7.3 kg) needs about 371 kcal a day. On a 3,800 kcal/kg dry food that is about 98 g. Intact and inactive cats need 433 and 310 kcal.
How many meals a day for a 16 lb cat?
Two meals of about 49 g, or three of about 33 g, using the same 3,800 kcal/kg food. Your vet may suggest a different pattern.
How many treats can a 16 lb cat have?
Treats should stay within about 10% of daily calories, which is 37 kcal: 19 pieces of 2 kcal or 4.6 pieces of 8 kcal. Subtract them from the meals.
Other weights
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.