Cat Raw Food Calculator
Created by: Olivia Harper
Last updated:
Compute daily raw feeding grams and practical muscle-organ-bone ratios from calorie targets and recipe density assumptions.
Cat Raw Food Calculator
CatEstimate daily raw grams and ratio breakdown
Related Calculators
What is a Cat Raw Food Calculator?
A Cat Raw Food Calculator estimates daily raw feeding grams from calorie targets and breaks the total into muscle, organ, and bone portions.
Formula
RER = 70 × (Body Weight in kg ^ 0.75) Target Calories = RER × Life-Stage Factor × Goal Factor Daily Raw Grams = Target Calories ÷ (kcal per 100 g ÷ 100) Component Grams = Daily Raw Grams × Component Ratio
Example
An 11 lb adult cat targeting 230 kcal/day with a 200 kcal/100 g recipe may need about 115 g/day, often split around 92 g muscle, 12 g organ, and 12 g bone.
Common Applications
- Daily raw prep planning
- Batch meal portioning
- Cost and inventory forecasting
- Transition monitoring for intake consistency
Tips
- Use kitchen scales for consistent gram measurements.
- Adjust gradually based on body-condition trends.
- Validate nutrient completeness with professional guidance.
Frequently Asked Questions
What does this raw food calculator estimate?
It estimates daily raw grams from energy target and food density, then breaks totals into muscle, organ, and bone portions using your ratio inputs.
What raw ratio should I use?
A common starting point is about 80% muscle meat, 10% organ, and 10% bone, but ratios may vary by recipe and veterinary nutrition guidance.
Why is taurine adequacy critical for cats?
Cats cannot synthesize adequate taurine and depend on dietary sources. Taurine deficiency causes dilated cardiomyopathy (heart failure) and retinal degeneration (blindness). Muscle meat alone may not provide sufficient taurine. All raw recipes must be validated by a veterinary nutritionist.
How does neuter status affect raw feeding portions?
Neutered or spayed cats typically require about 25% fewer calories than intact cats due to metabolic changes. This calculator automatically reduces portions for neutered cats to help prevent weight gain.
How does body condition score affect portions?
Body condition score adjusts portions based on your cat's current weight status. Underweight cats receive 15% more, overweight cats get 10% less, and obese cats get 20% less to achieve ideal body condition.
Why does lifestyle (indoor/outdoor) matter?
Indoor-only cats typically need 10-15% fewer calories than outdoor cats due to lower activity levels. Outdoor cats burn more energy through exploration, hunting behaviors, and environmental exposure.
Can kittens use the same ratio as adults?
Growth diets often need stricter nutrient balancing. Kittens and cats with medical conditions should use professionally balanced recipes.
Should I feed by grams or volume?
For raw diets, gram-based feeding is usually more accurate and repeatable than volume-based feeding.
Does this replace veterinary nutrition advice?
No. Homemade raw feeding should be reviewed with a veterinarian or board-certified veterinary nutritionist for nutrient completeness and safety.
Sources and References
- NRC nutrient requirement references for cats.
- WSAVA global nutrition guidelines.
- AAFP feline nutrition and body-condition recommendations.