Feeding
Cat Feeding Chart by Weight (With Calories, Portions & Real Examples)
If you just want a simple answer to how much to feed your cat, you are probably looking for a chart.
Something clear. Something practical. Something you can actually use without second-guessing.
I wanted exactly the same thing when I first started trying to get feeding right.
Instead, I found vague ranges, conflicting advice, and food packaging that somehow made things more confusing.
So this guide does something different.
It gives you a clear feeding chart by weight, explains how it actually works, and shows you how to adjust it based on your real cat — not some theoretical average.
The Problem With Most Cat Feeding Charts
Most feeding charts fail for one simple reason: they ignore context.
They assume all cats of the same weight need the same amount of food.
That is not how it works in reality.
Two cats at 4kg can have completely different calorie needs depending on activity, age, and metabolism.
This is why blindly following charts often leads to slow weight gain over time.
Cat Feeding Chart by Weight (Daily Calories)
This is a realistic baseline based on widely accepted calorie ranges used in veterinary nutrition.
Use this as your starting point, not your final answer.
| Weight | Low Activity | Moderate Activity | High Activity |
|---|---|---|---|
| 3kg | 180 kcal | 210 kcal | 240 kcal |
| 4kg | 240 kcal | 280 kcal | 320 kcal |
| 5kg | 300 kcal | 350 kcal | 400 kcal |
| 6kg | 360 kcal | 420 kcal | 480 kcal |
What This Chart Actually Means (And Where People Go Wrong)
This chart gives you calories, not food amounts.
That distinction matters more than most people realise.
Food is just a delivery method for calories.
Different foods contain very different calorie densities.
If you ignore that, you will overfeed or underfeed without realising it.
Converting Calories Into Real Food Portions
This is where feeding becomes practical.
You need to translate calories into grams or cups depending on what you feed.
- Wet food: typically 70–100 kcal per 100g
- Dry food: typically 300–400 kcal per cup
- Mixed feeding: requires splitting calories across both
If you want to skip this manual calculation entirely, use the cat food portion calculator to convert calories into exact portions instantly.
Real Example: Why Charts Alone Don’t Work
I had two cats at almost identical weights — both around 4.5kg.
One barely moved all day.
The other treated the house like a climbing gym.
If I fed them the same amount, one gained weight quickly while the other stayed lean.
That was the moment I stopped treating feeding charts as rules and started using them as baselines.
How Activity Level Changes Feeding (Massively)
Activity level is the single biggest variable after weight.
Indoor cats typically need significantly fewer calories than outdoor or highly active cats.
- Indoor / low activity → lower end of chart
- Average household cat → middle range
- Outdoor / highly active → upper range
How Age Changes Feeding Requirements
Feeding is not static across your cat’s life.
Age dramatically changes calorie requirements.
- Kittens → significantly higher calorie needs
- Adults → stable maintenance phase
- Seniors → often reduced calorie needs
For younger cats, use the kitten feeding schedule calculator to adjust feeding frequency and portions properly.
Wet vs Dry Food: Why Portions Look So Different
This is where many people get confused.
Dry food looks like a small portion but contains a lot of calories.
Wet food looks like a large portion but contains fewer calories.
- Dry food = easy to overfeed
- Wet food = easier to control volume
- Mixed feeding = most realistic setup
If you combine both, use the mixed feeding calculator to balance calories correctly.
How to Tell If Your Feeding Is Actually Correct
Charts and calculators give you a starting point.
Your cat’s body tells you if you got it right.
- Ribs should be easy to feel (but not visible)
- Visible waist from above
- Stable weight over time
- Consistent energy levels
Signs You Are Overfeeding
- Gradual weight gain
- Ribs difficult to feel
- Low activity
- Constant grazing behaviour
If unsure, read this detailed guide on overfeeding signs.
The Simple System That Actually Works
After testing different approaches, I settled on a simple system that removes guesswork entirely.
- Start with weight-based calorie estimate
- Convert into food portions
- Split into consistent meals
- Monitor weight weekly
- Adjust slowly if needed
Why This Matters More Than You Think
Most feeding mistakes are not obvious in the moment.
They are small daily inaccuracies that compound over time.
A slight overfeed each day turns into noticeable weight gain over months.
Getting feeding right is one of the highest leverage things you can do for your cat’s long-term health.
The Bottom Line
Use charts as a starting point, not a final answer.
Adjust based on your specific cat.
Track results over time instead of guessing.
Once you get this dialled in, feeding becomes simple, consistent, and predictable.