“Kcal” stands for kilocalorie, which is a unit of energy, and it’s essentially the same as the “Calorie” you see listed on human food labels. This can be used to determine the amount of food needed to cater to your pet’s energy levels. You’ll typically see kcal listed as “kcal/kg ME” (meaning kilocalories per kilogram of metabolizable energy).
This indicates the energy content per unit of food, aka what the amount of energy in the can/bag would be. The amount of protein, fat, fiber, and nutrients also influences the serving size, so one size does NOT fit all for every brand or form of food. Depending on the quality of food the kcal amount will be effected.
Factors to Consider:
- Weight: Weight is a primary factor in determining their daily calorie needs; if they are overweight or underweight, they will need more/fewer calories.
- Age: Kittens/puppies and seniors have different calorie requirements than adults.
- Activity Level: Active cats/dogs need more calories than indoor cats or less active dogs.
- Spayed/Neutered Status: Neutered or spayed animals may need fewer calories.
- Health Conditions: Certain health conditions can affect the calorie needs.
You have to consider factors like age, activity level, and body condition, but generally, adult animals need around 20-30 calories per pound of body weight daily. This is a general guide but kcals/what you feed can be tailored to what fits your pet the best!
- Adults (1-7 years): Aim for 20-30 calories per pound.
- Kittens/Puppies (up to 12 months): Need 60-80 calories per pound.
- Seniors (7+ years): May need 15-25 calories per pound.
- Indoor Cats: Generally require fewer calories than outdoor cats.
- Neutered/Spayed: May be prone to weight gain so feed fewer calories than intact.
- Lean/Active Adult: May need more calories and higher protein
