Running out of pet food on a trip is a nuisance at best and a problem at worst. In an unfamiliar place you may not find the same brand, and a sudden change of food can upset a pet’s stomach just when you least want it to. The way to avoid it is to pack enough of the usual food, and the sum is easy: days away, plus a few spare, times the daily amount, times the number of pets. This guide gives the formula, tables for a dog and a cat, advice on spare days, how to pack wet and dry food and a checklist. The Pet Travel Food Calculator does it for any pet and trip length.
The formula
food to pack (g) = (trip days + spare days) × grams a day × number of pets
Divide by 1,000 for kilograms, or by 453.59 for pounds.
For a 20 kg neutered dog eating 294 g a day, on a 7-day trip with 2 spare days: 9 × 294 = 2,646 g, which is 2.65 kg or about 5.8 lb.
Start with the right daily amount. The Dog Food Calculator works it out from calories, and our guide to how much to feed a dog explains the factors. Use grams you have weighed, not the bag’s table.
Tables for a dog and a cat
For a neutered 20 kg dog on a food of 3,600 kcal/kg (294 g a day), with 2 spare days:
| Trip length | Days to pack | Grams | Kilograms | Pounds |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3 days | 5 | 1,470 | 1.47 | 3.2 |
| 7 days | 9 | 2,646 | 2.65 | 5.8 |
| 14 days | 16 | 4,704 | 4.70 | 10.4 |
| 21 days | 23 | 6,762 | 6.76 | 14.9 |
For a neutered 4 kg cat on a food of 3,800 kcal/kg (63 g a day), with 2 spare days:
| Trip length | Days to pack | Grams | Kilograms |
|---|---|---|---|
| 3 days | 5 | 315 | 0.32 |
| 7 days | 9 | 567 | 0.57 |
| 14 days | 16 | 1,008 | 1.01 |
| 21 days | 23 | 1,449 | 1.45 |
For several pets, add their amounts. A trip of 7 days with 2 spare days for the dog and the cat together is 2,646 + 567 = 3,213 g, about 3.2 kg.
How many spare days?
Spare days are your insurance against delay. Choose by the trip:
| Trip | Suggested spare days |
|---|---|
| A short drive to a place with shops | 1 to 2 |
| A longer holiday | 2 to 3 |
| Air travel, where delays are possible | 3 or more |
| A remote area with no pet shops | A week or more |
| A trip that might be extended | Add what you would need for the longest case |
The cost of a few extra days of food is small; the cost of running out is large. For the 20 kg dog, each spare day is 294 g, about 1.00 at 3.50 per kg.
Pack the usual food
Keep to the food your pet normally eats. A change of food, especially a sudden one, can cause loose stools, vomiting or a pet that refuses to eat. If you must change, follow the gradual steps in how to switch dog food, and do not start on a trip. If your pet is on a prescription diet, bring enough for the trip, plus a margin, and a note from your vet. Check the rules of the country or region you travel to if you cross a border, since some places limit the import of pet food.
Dry food: how to pack it
- Use an airtight container or the original bag in a sealed container, and label it with the brand, batch and best-before date.
- Weigh the amount, or pre-portion the days into bags.
- Keep it cool and dry in the car or luggage.
- Carry a measuring scoop and note its weight in grams, or a small scale.
- Bring a few days’ worth in your hand luggage if you fly, in case luggage is delayed.
Wet food: how to pack it
Wet food is heavy and needs storage once opened. Work out the cans or pouches a day: the Dog Food Cans per Day Calculator and Cat Food Cans per Day Calculator convert calories to cans. Multiply by the days. A 4 kg cat eating 2.8 cans of 85 kcal a day for 9 days needs about 25 cans. Take a can opener if needed, a lid or cling film for opened cans and a cool bag or access to a fridge. Pouches and trays are lighter and easier to carry. Some owners swap part of the diet for dry on the road, but only with a gradual change started before the trip.
Mixed diets
For a pet on wet and dry, pack each by its share of calories. If 25% of the 294 g dog’s calories come from a 1,000 kcal/kg wet food, that is 265 kcal, 265 g of wet and 794 kcal, 209 g of dry. For 9 days: 2,385 g of wet food (about 6 cans of 400 g) and 1,881 g of dry. See feeding wet and dry together for the split.
Treats, chews and medicines
Pack treats within the usual allowance, and count them in the total. If your pet takes medicine, pack enough for the trip plus spare days, in the original packaging with the vet’s instructions. Bring your vet’s phone number and the name of a vet at your destination. Ask your vet about any travel-related health needs, such as parasite control, vaccinations or documents.
Water
Pets need water too. Carry a bottle and a bowl, and offer water at stops. For hot weather, see dog hydration in hot weather. If your pet is sensitive to changes in tap water, consider bringing some from home for the first days.
Cost of buying at the destination
If you decide to buy food there, plan ahead: find a shop near where you will stay, check that it stocks your brand and price it. The cost per day is the grams times the price: for 294 g at 4.20 per kg, it is 1.23 a day. A 14-day trip at that price is about 17. If your brand is not available, you will have to change food, which brings the digestion risk. For most owners, packing is cheaper and safer.
A packing checklist
- Daily grams worked out and weighed.
- Days + spare days × grams × pets calculated.
- Food packed in sealed containers, labelled.
- Scoop or scale, bowls and a mat.
- Treats and chews within the allowance.
- Medicines and vet details.
- Water bottle and bowl.
- Documents for the pet, if needed.
- A plan for storing opened wet food.
- A few days’ food in hand luggage if flying.
A worked example
Maria is taking her 20 kg dog and her 4 kg cat on a 10-day trip by car, with 3 spare days. Dog: 294 g a day. Cat: 63 g a day. Total per day: 357 g. Days to pack: 13. Total: 13 × 357 = 4,641 g, about 4.6 kg (10.2 lb). She weighs the food into two labelled containers: 3,822 g for the dog and 819 g for the cat, with a 100 g scoop for the dog and a 20 g scoop for the cat. She also packs 20 treats’ worth for each pet and the medicine the cat takes daily, with three spare days.
Scaling the buffer to the length of the trip
A flat two spare days suits a short trip. On a longer trip a percentage buffer is easier to defend, because delays, lost luggage and extra exercise all grow with the days away.
| Trip | Buffer | Days to pack | Grams at 294 g a day |
|---|---|---|---|
| 3 days | 2 spare days | 5 | 1,470 |
| 7 days | 2 spare days | 9 | 2,646 |
| 14 days | 20% | 17 | 4,998 |
| 28 days | 15% | 33 | 9,702 |
(14 × 1.2 = 16.8, rounded up to 17; 28 × 1.15 = 32.2, rounded up to 33.) Round up, never down. If the destination sells the same food, you can pack less and buy there, but check the stock before you rely on it.
Common mistakes
- Guessing the daily amount.
- Forgetting the spare days.
- Changing food just before or during the trip.
- Packing one container for several pets without portions.
- Leaving the scoop or scale behind.
- Forgetting to count treats.
- Storing opened wet food badly.
Quick summary
- Food to pack = (days + spare days) × grams a day × pets.
- A 20 kg dog on 294 g a day needs 2.65 kg (5.8 lb) for 7 days plus 2 spare.
- Add spare days for delays, more for remote trips and air travel.
- Pack the usual food in sealed, labelled containers; do not change diet on the road.
- Remember treats, medicine, water and your vet’s details.
- Use the Pet Travel Food Calculator.
Frequently asked questions
How much pet food should I pack for a trip?
Multiply the days away plus a few spare days by the daily grams and by the number of pets.
How many spare days should I add?
Enough to cover delays. Many owners add two or three days; add more for remote trips or travel with limited shops.
Should I pack the same food or buy there?
Pack the usual food. A sudden change can upset the stomach, and the same brand may not be available.
How do I convert kilograms to pounds?
Multiply kilograms by 2.2046, or divide grams by 453.59.
What about wet food?
Work out the grams or cans per day in the same way, and check how you will store opened cans.
Do I pack treats?
Yes, within the usual 10% of daily calories, and count them in the total.
Sources
- Pure arithmetic: food to pack (g) = (days + spare days) × grams a day × pets; 1 lb = 453.59237 g
- WSAVA Global Nutrition Guidelines: avoid sudden diet changes
Related calculators
- Pet Travel Food CalculatorWork out how much pet food to pack for a trip, with spare days.
- Dog Food CalculatorTurn your dog's daily calorie need into grams and cups of the food you actually feed, using the energy value printed on the bag.
- Pet Food Bag Duration CalculatorFind out how many days a bag of pet food will last at the amount you feed.
Keep reading
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- How to Switch Dog Food Gradually: A 7-Day PlanHow to switch dog food without an upset stomach: a 7-day and a 14-day mixing plan, how to match calories between foods, signs to slow down and when to call the vet.
- Pet Sitter vs Boarding: Cost ComparisonHow to compare boarding, drop-in visits and an overnight sitter: rate × nights, a 3 to 14 night table, extras, break-even rates and what price cannot tell you.