Energy Requirements for Cats
Just as people vary, different cats have different nutritional requirements. Estimated energy requirements are based on the weight of each animal as well as the average amount of energy various tasks require. The chart below illustrates the recommended caloric intake each day for felines of different weights. However the suggested amount of calories consumed daily will vary dependent on the age of the cat and physical stature.
Related Article: Kittens Thrive on Energy Packed Diets >>
For maintenance of adult cats alter the RER as follows:
- Normal neutered adult: multiply RER x 1.2
- Intact adult: multiply RER x 1.4
- Obese-prone: RER remains as listed
- Weight loss: multiply RER x 0.8
| Weight in Pounds: | Weight in Kilograms: | Resting Energy Requirements/day: |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | .5 | 69 |
| 2 | .9 | 65 |
| 3 | 1.4 | 88 |
| 4 | 1.8 | 110 |
| 5 | 2.5 | 130 |
| 6 | 2.7 | 149 |
| 7 | 3.2 | 167 |
| 8 | 3.6 | 184 |
| 9 | 4.1 | 201 |
| 10 | 4.5 | 218 |
| 11 | 5.0 | 234 |
| 12 | 5.5 | 250 |
| 13 | 5.9 | 265 |
| 14 | 6.4 | 280 |
| 15 | 6.8 | 295 |
| 16 | 7.3 | 310 |
| 17 | 7.7 | 324 |
| 18 | 8.2 | 339 |
| 19 | 8.6 | 353 |
| 20 | 9.1 | 366 |
| 25 | 11.4 | 493 |
| 30 | 13.6 | 497 |
Example cat is a spayed female 4 years old weighing 18.2 pounds. We are looking for her to lose weight.
339 calories (RER) X .8 (Weight loss) = 271.2 calories. This will allow for safe weight loss.