Around half of cats are overweight, and excess weight raises the risk of diabetes, arthritis, and other problems. Enter your cat's current and target weight for a safe daily calorie target and a realistic timeline — but read the feline safety guidance first, because cats must lose weight slowly and under veterinary care.
Editorially ReviewedThis is the approximate calories per day to feed for gradual loss, based on the resting needs of your cat's target weight. Cats must lose weight slowly and under veterinary supervision — see the safety note below.
Feed for the ideal weight, conservatively.
0.5–1% per week — fasting is dangerous.
Stop free-feeding; weigh portions.
Always — and never let a cat stop eating.
As with dogs, the principle is to feed for the weight you want, not the weight you have. We base the target on your cat's ideal weight:
For the timeline, we use a safe feline loss rate of just 0.5–1% of body weight per week — deliberately slow. That's why even a couple of pounds can take many months: with cats, slow is safe.
"With cats, patience isn't just a virtue — it's a medical necessity. Lose the weight too fast and you risk the very disease you're trying to prevent."
An overweight cat that suddenly eats far too little mobilizes body fat faster than its liver can handle. That fat builds up in the liver, causing hepatic lipidosis — fatty liver disease — which can be life-threatening and sometimes develops within days of inadequate intake. This is the single most important reason to keep weight loss slow, steady, and supervised. It's also why "just stop feeding so much" is the wrong approach for a cat.
Most cats have an ideal weight between about 8 and 12 pounds, but the right target depends on frame and breed (a petite Siamese and a large Maine Coon differ a lot). Your vet can assess body condition score and set a realistic goal. As a rough guide, at a healthy weight you can feel the ribs with light pressure, see a slight waist from above, and see a small belly tuck — without a sagging fat pad swinging beneath the belly.
| Do this | Instead of this |
|---|---|
| Vet-supervised, gradual plan | DIY crash diet |
| Measured meals, several times a day | Free-feeding a full bowl |
| Higher-protein / therapeutic diet | Just less of a high-carb food |
| 0.5–1% loss per week | Rapid weight loss |
| Calling the vet if eating stops | Waiting it out |
| Play and food puzzles for activity | Food restriction alone |
A conservative starting point is about 0.7 to 0.8 × the RER of the target weight per day. This calculator does that math and gives a daily range.
It's an estimate to discuss with your vet, who should confirm the target and supervise the plan.
Only about 0.5–1% of body weight per week — slower than dogs. A pound or two can take many months.
Rapid loss risks hepatic lipidosis, so slow and steady is essential.
If a cat eats too little, fat floods the liver faster than it can process — causing hepatic lipidosis (fatty liver disease), which can be fatal and can start within days.
Never let an overweight cat stop eating; call your vet if it refuses food.
Often a higher-protein, lower-calorie diet (frequently wet food), or a prescription weight-management food for larger losses.
Just as important: stop free-feeding, measure meals, and confirm the diet with your vet.
Once your cat reaches a healthy weight, switch to the Cat Calorie Calculator for maintenance →