1. What is the Daily Food Calculation?

The daily food calculation determines how much food your cat should eat each day based on their energy requirements and the calorie content of their food. It helps prevent underfeeding or overfeeding.

2. How Does the Calculator Work?

The calculator uses the following equation:

Where:

• MER — Maintenance Energy Requirement (daily calorie needs)
• Food kcal per gram — Energy density of the cat food

Explanation: The calculation converts your cat's daily calorie needs into grams of food based on how many calories are in each gram of their specific food.

3. Importance of Proper Feeding

Details: Proper portion control helps maintain healthy weight, prevents obesity-related diseases, and ensures your cat gets adequate nutrition without excess calories.

4. Using the Calculator

Tips: Enter your cat's MER (from your vet or a calorie calculator) and the kcal/gram value from your cat food packaging. Both values must be greater than zero.

5. Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Q1: How do I find my cat's MER?
A: Your veterinarian can calculate this based on your cat's weight, age, and activity level. There are also online calculators that estimate MER.

Q2: Where do I find the kcal/gram information?
A: Check the nutritional information on your cat food packaging, usually listed as "kcal/kg" or "kcal/cup" which can be converted to kcal/gram.

Q3: Should I feed this amount all at once?
A: Most cats do better with multiple small meals throughout the day rather than one large meal.

Q4: Does this account for treats?
A: No, this is just for main meals. You should account for treats separately and reduce main meal amounts accordingly.

Q5: How often should I recalculate?
A: Recalculate whenever your cat's weight changes significantly or if you switch to a different food with a new calorie content.