FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
Everything pet owners ask about feeding, portions, and using our calculator.
How much should I feed my dog per day?
It depends on your dog's weight, breed, age, and activity level. A general starting point: an active 15kg adult dog needs around 250–300g of dry kibble daily. But this varies widely. Use our
free portion calculator to get an exact number based on your dog's unique profile — it uses the same RER formula that veterinary nutritionists use.
How much should I feed my cat per day?
Most adult cats need around 55–85g of dry food daily, or 150–200g of wet food, but this varies considerably by size, age, and whether they're spayed or neutered. Spayed/neutered cats have roughly 20% lower calorie needs. Use our calculator for a personalized number — cat portions are especially important to get right because feline obesity is a major cause of kidney disease and diabetes.
How to measure dog food portions ?
Measure your dog’s food using the feeding guide on the package or Use our calculator, then adjust based on weight, age, and activity level. Use a standard measuring cup (level) or a kitchen scale for better accuracy, and divide the total into 2–3 meals daily.
How many times a day should I feed my dog?
Most adult dogs do well with 2 meals per day — morning and evening. Puppies under 6 months need 3–4 meals daily because of their small stomachs and risk of low blood sugar. Senior dogs can stay on 2 meals. Our calculator specifies meal frequency based on your dog's life stage.
What is RER (Resting Energy Requirement)?
RER is the number of calories your pet needs to maintain basic bodily functions at rest — breathing, circulation, digestion. The formula is: RER = 70 × (body weight in kg) ^ 0.75. From this, we apply a multiplier based on activity level and life stage to get the actual daily calorie target (called DER — Daily Energy Requirement). Our calculator handles all this automatically.
Should I feed cups or grams?
Grams are significantly more accurate. Cup measurements vary by as much as 20–30% depending on kibble size and how loosely or tightly packed the cup is. A kitchen scale is the best investment you can make for your pet's health — they cost as little as $10 and take the guesswork out of every meal. Our calculator gives you both grams and cups, but we always recommend weighing.
My pet seems hungry — should I feed them more?
Not necessarily. Many pets are highly food-motivated and will act hungry even after eating an appropriate portion. The real guide is body condition — not behaviour. Feel your pet's ribs: you should be able to feel them with gentle pressure without them sticking out visibly. If ribs are hard to feel, they likely need less food; if they're easily visible, they may need more. Our
Pet BMI Calculator helps assess this.
Can I use the calculator for puppies and senior pets?
Yes — our main calculator handles puppies, adults, and seniors for both dogs and cats. For puppies specifically, we also have a dedicated
Puppy Feeding Calculator that gives age-specific portions broken down by growth stage and meal frequency.
Does the calculator work for raw feeding?
We have a separate
Raw Dog Food Calculator specifically for raw feeding (both BARF and Prey Model). It breaks down your dog's daily raw food into muscle meat, bone, organ, and vegetable components and adjusts for age and activity level.