Our Mission
PetFeedCalculator.com exists because overfeeding is the number one preventable health problem in domestic pets — yet most pet owners have no idea how many calories their dog or cat actually needs. The back-of-the-bag feeding guides on pet food packaging are notoriously imprecise, typically overestimating needs by 20–30% (which, not coincidentally, sells more food).
We wanted to put the same formula veterinarians and veterinary nutritionists use — the NRC Resting Energy Requirement (RER) method — into a free, easy-to-use tool that any pet owner can access in under a minute.
The Science Behind the Calculator
Our calculator is built on the RER/MER methodology published by the National Research Council in Nutrient Requirements of Dogs and Cats (2006), the definitive reference text used in veterinary schools worldwide. Life-stage multipliers are aligned with WSAVA (World Small Animal Veterinary Association) Global Nutrition Guidelines and AAHA (American Animal Hospital Association) Weight Management Guidelines (2014).
The core formula: RER = 70 × (body weight in kg)^0.75. This is then multiplied by a life-stage factor (ranging from ~0.8 for a weight-loss cat to 4.0 for a lactating dog) to produce the Maintenance Energy Requirement (MER), your pet's actual daily caloric need.
Who We Are
We're a small team of animal lovers and web developers. Between us we've owned dogs, cats, rabbits, and one deeply misunderstood ferret. We work with veterinary nutrition references — not pet food brands — to ensure our tool is as accurate and unbiased as possible.
We do display advertising on this site to cover hosting and development costs. We do not accept payment from pet food companies to recommend specific brands, and our calculator results are never influenced by commercial relationships.
Important Disclaimer
PetFeedCalculator.com provides general nutrition estimates for educational purposes only. The results are not a substitute for advice from a licensed veterinarian or veterinary nutritionist. Individual pets vary significantly in metabolism, health status, and nutritional needs. Always consult your veterinarian before making substantial changes to your pet's diet, especially if your pet has a medical condition, is pregnant or lactating, or is a very young or very old animal.
Sources & References
- National Research Council. Nutrient Requirements of Dogs and Cats. Washington, DC: National Academies Press, 2006.
- WSAVA Global Nutrition Committee. Global Nutrition Guidelines. 2011 (updated 2013).
- Brooks D, Churchill J, et al. "2014 AAHA Weight Management Guidelines for Dogs and Cats." Journal of the American Animal Hospital Association, 2014.
- Gross KL, Wedekind KJ, et al. "Nutrients." In: Hand MS, et al., eds. Small Animal Clinical Nutrition, 5th ed. Mark Morris Institute, 2010.
Contact
Questions, corrections, or feedback? We take scientific accuracy seriously. If you believe any calculation or referenced value is incorrect, please reach out via our email. We'll review and update promptly.