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๐Ÿ– Daily food

Work out how much food your pet needs per day in cups and grams, and how long the bag will last.

For: Dog, Cat, Bird

๐Ÿ–

This tool is coming very soon.

How to use it

  1. Choose your pet's species and fill in the details it asks for.
  2. See the result and save or share the image with your family.
  3. Come back anytime: your data stays saved on your phone.

This tool is for guidance only. If you have any concern about your pet's health, ask your vet.

Guide: how much food your pet needs each day

What this calculator does

The daily food calculator tells you how much food your dog, cat or bird needs each day, in cups and grams, based on its weight, age and activity level. It also helps you work out how many days a bag of food will last, so you know when to buy the next one.

Feeding the right amount is one of the biggest factors in a pet's health. Excess weight shortens life and raises the risk of joint problems, diabetes and heart disease.

How it works

First choose the species and enter your pet's weight. Then select its life stage and how active it is. With that information the tool estimates the calories it needs per day and converts them into an amount of food.

The calculation starts from resting energy, which depends on weight, multiplied by a factor for its situation: a growing puppy needs more energy per pound than an adult, a working dog more than a couch potato, and a spayed or neutered pet a bit less than an intact one.

How to use the result well

Treat the number as a starting point, not a fixed rule. Every brand has a different number of calories per cup, so compare the result with the chart on the bag. Then watch your pet for two or three weeks: if it gains weight, cut the portion slightly; if it loses weight or is hungry all the time, increase it little by little.

  • Measure with a measuring cup or, better yet, a kitchen scale. A cup "by eye" can hold up to 20% more food.
  • Treats and scraps count. They shouldn't be more than 10% of what it eats in a day.
  • Split the portion into two or more meals, especially for puppies and large dogs.
  • For birds, a seed mix alone isn't enough: combine pellets, fresh vegetables and a little fruit.

For dogs there are more details in How much should my dog eat a day?, and to check if it's at a good weight use the ideal weight tool.

When to ask your vet

If your pet has a medical condition, is pregnant or nursing, or gains or loses weight for no reason, ask your vet for a personalized portion. Needs change a lot in those cases.

Frequently asked questions

How many times a day should my dog eat?

Adults, twice a day. Puppies, three to four times a day until six months old.

Can I leave food out all day for my cat?

It works for some cats, but many overeat. It's better to measure the daily portion and split it into several meals.

Does wet food count the same as dry?

No. Wet food is mostly water and has fewer calories per gram. If you mix both, reduce the dry food to compensate.

Why is my pet still hungry?

Many pets beg out of habit. If its weight is good, it doesn't need more. If it's losing weight, see your vet.

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