How Much to Feed a Domestic Shorthair Cat
The classic house cat: most indoor domestic shorthairs need fewer calories than the bag suggests. Using the veterinary RER/MER formula, an adult Domestic Shorthair Cat of about 10 lbs needs roughly 261 kcal per day — around 69 g (0.7 cups) of typical dry food. The calculator below is pre-set for the Domestic Shorthair Cat: adjust the weight, life stage and food type to match your cat.
Domestic Shorthair Cat portion calculator
Veterinary RER/MER formula — daily calories, grams and cups.
RER 218 kcal × 1.2 (adult, neutered/spayed) = 261 kcal, at 380 kcal/100g. Estimates for healthy pets — always confirm with your veterinarian.
Cats are obligate carnivores with a metabolism that differs sharply from dogs — their energy multipliers are lower, and an indoor Domestic Shorthair Cat often needs even less than the 261 kcal this calculator estimates. Many cat foods overstate portions on the label. Weigh the daily amount (about 69 g of the selected food) rather than free-pouring, and use a body-condition check monthly: you should feel ribs under a thin fat layer.
A healthy adult weight for the Domestic Shorthair Cat is around 10 lbs (4.5 kg), which yields a resting energy requirement (RER) of 218 kcal. Multiplied by the adult, neutered/spayed factor of 1.2, the daily target is 261 kcal — roughly 131 kcal per meal over 2 meals. Wet food changes the volume dramatically: at ~95 kcal/100g you would serve about 275 g of canned food instead.
These numbers are a starting point, not a prescription. The calculator supports every life stage (kitten, adult, neutered/spayed, adult, intact, senior, weight loss plan) — a kitten can need two to three times the adult allowance, while a senior or a cat on a weight-loss plan needs noticeably less. Recheck the numbers after any change in weight, activity, food brand or neutering status, and always transition between foods gradually over 7–10 days. For medical conditions, pregnancy or lactation, follow your veterinarian's feeding plan instead.
Frequently asked questions
How much food should a Domestic Shorthair Cat eat per day?
A typical adult Domestic Shorthair Cat weighing 10 lbs needs about 261 kcal per day (adult, neutered/spayed), which is roughly 69 grams — about 0.7 cups — of standard dry food, split into 2 meals.
How is the Domestic Shorthair Cat's daily portion calculated?
We use the standard veterinary formula: Resting Energy Requirement (RER) = 70 × (weight in kg)^0.75, then multiply by a life-stage factor. For a 4.5 kg Domestic Shorthair Cat, RER is 218 kcal, and the adult, neutered/spayed factor of 1.2 gives 261 kcal per day.
How many times a day should I feed my Domestic Shorthair Cat?
2 meals per day is the standard recommendation for a adult, neutered/spayed cat — about 131 kcal (34 g of dry food) per meal. Puppies and kittens need 3–4 smaller meals instead.
Should I feed my Domestic Shorthair Cat wet or dry food?
Both can be complete diets; what changes is volume and water intake. The same 261 kcal daily target is about 69 g of dry food but roughly 275 g of wet food. Many owners mix both — just keep the combined calories at the target.