"Cats self-regulate" is one of the most harmful myths in feline nutrition. The reality: 40% of cats in Italy are overweight, and obesity shortens their life by 2–3 years. Here are the precise portions for your cat.

Calculating Caloric Needs

RER Formula (Resting Energy Requirement)

RER (kcal/day) = 70 × weight(kg)^0.75

  • 3 kg cat: ~160 kcal RER
  • 4 kg cat: ~198 kcal RER
  • 5 kg cat: ~234 kcal RER
  • 6 kg cat: ~268 kcal RER

Lifestyle Multiplier

  • Neutered indoor cat: × 1.2
  • Intact cat: × 1.4
  • Active cat with outdoor access: × 1.6
  • Overweight cat (weight loss): × 0.8
  • Kitten 4–12 months: × 2.5

Portion Guide in Grams

Neutered Adult Cat (~4 kg)

  • Daily requirement: ~238 kcal/day
  • Dry food only (~370 kcal/100g): 64 g/day
  • Wet food only (~85 kcal/100g): 280 g/day (2 pouches of 100g + 1 of 80g)
  • 50%–50% mix: 32 g dry food + 140 g wet food

Kitten (~2 kg, 6 months)

  • Daily requirement: ~295 kcal/day
  • Kitten-specific dry food (~400 kcal/100g): 74 g/day
  • Meals: 4 per day up to 4 months, 3 until 6 months, then 2

Dry Food or Wet Food?

Benefits of Wet Food

  • 75–80% water content: helps prevent kidney disease and idiopathic cystitis (the #1 health problem in cats)
  • More filling with fewer calories
  • More palatable

Benefits of Dry Food

  • Lower cost per kcal
  • Partial dental cleaning effect
  • Easy to store

Recommended mix: 70% wet food + 30% dry food is the ideal compromise for most cats.

Mistakes to Avoid

1. Always Leaving the Bowl Full

Free-feeding dry food is the number one cause of obesity. Weigh the portion and divide it into 2–3 meals.

2. Treats Without Counting

Boiled chicken pieces (50 kcal/30g), treat tubes, and milk can easily add up to 30–50 kcal/day — that's 15% of the total daily requirement.

3. Human Food

Even a small piece of ham or cheese equals a third of the daily caloric requirement.

How to Tell If Your Cat's Weight Is Right

Body Condition Score for cats (1–9, ideal 4–5):

  • Ribs palpable but not visible
  • Waist visible from above
  • Abdomen tucked, not sagging
  • Thin layer of fat beneath the skin

If you have to press to feel the ribs, your cat is overweight.

Safe Weight Loss

Never more than 1% of body weight per week. A 6 kg cat that needs to reach 4.5 kg → weight loss over 25–30 weeks (6–7 months).

Faster weight loss causes hepatic lipidosis: a potentially fatal condition.

For a natural and balanced diet, read the guide on BARF for cats.