Dog/Cat Body Condition Calculator
Enter a dog's or cat's weight and body condition score (1 to 9) for an ideal weight estimate and a daily calorie range from the AAHA 2021 guidelines. How it works
Use the Dog/Cat Body Condition Calculator
About the Dog/Cat Body Condition Calculator
A dog's or cat's resting energy requirement is RER = 70 x kg^0.75 kcal a day, and the AAHA 2021 guidelines multiply it by a life-stage factor: 1.4-1.6 for a neutered adult dog, 1.2-1.4 for a neutered adult cat. A 25 lb (11.3 kg) neutered adult dog at BCS 5 gets 606-692 kcal a day to hold its weight. At BCS 6 to 9, which AAHA Table 2 puts at 10% to 40% overweight, the tool also estimates an ideal weight and a calorie figure to start weight loss from.
Daily calories by weight (AAHA 2021 factors)
| Weight | RER (kcal/day) | Dog, neutered adult | Dog, intact adult | Dog, inactive | Cat, neutered adult | Cat, intact adult | Cat, inactive |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2 kg | 118 | 165-188 | 188-212 | 118-141 | 141-165 | 165-188 | 118 |
| 4 kg | 198 | 277-317 | 317-356 | 198-238 | 238-277 | 277-317 | 198 |
| 5 kg | 234 | 328-374 | 374-421 | 234-281 | 281-328 | 328-374 | 234 |
| 10 kg | 394 | 551-630 | 630-709 | 394-472 | 472-551 | 551-630 | 394 |
| 15 kg | 534 | 747-854 | 854-960 | 534-640 | 640-747 | 747-854 | 534 |
| 20 kg | 662 | 927-1,059 | 1,059-1,192 | 662-794 | over the 15 kg cat limit | over the 15 kg cat limit | over the 15 kg cat limit |
| 30 kg | 897 | 1,256-1,436 | 1,436-1,615 | 897-1,077 | over the 15 kg cat limit | over the 15 kg cat limit | over the 15 kg cat limit |
| 40 kg | 1,113 | 1,559-1,781 | 1,781-2,004 | 1,113-1,336 | over the 15 kg cat limit | over the 15 kg cat limit | over the 15 kg cat limit |
kcal a day for an adult at the weight it should hold. Factors (AAHA 2021, Box 1): dogs 1.4-1.6 neutered, 1.6-1.8 intact, 1.0-1.2 inactive or prone to weight gain; cats 1.2-1.4, 1.4-1.6 and 1.0. AAHA calls them general guidelines for estimating calories.
Body condition score, ideal weight and calories (22 kg dog, 6 kg cat)
| BCS | AAHA 2021 Table 2 | Dog: ideal weight | Dog: weight-loss start | Dog: maintenance | Cat: ideal weight | Cat: weight-loss start | Cat: maintenance |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | below 4 (not in Table 2) | not calculated | none | 996-1,138 kcal | not calculated | none | 322-376 kcal |
| 2 | below 4 (not in Table 2) | not calculated | none | 996-1,138 kcal | not calculated | none | 322-376 kcal |
| 3 | below 4 (not in Table 2) | not calculated | none | 996-1,138 kcal | not calculated | none | 322-376 kcal |
| 4 | Ideal | 22 kg (current) | none | 996-1,138 kcal | 6 kg (current) | none | 322-376 kcal |
| 5 | no percentage | not calculated | none | 996-1,138 kcal | not calculated | none | 322-376 kcal |
| 6 | 10% overweight | 20.0 kg | 662 kcal | 927-1,059 kcal | 5.5 kg | 200 kcal | 300-350 kcal |
| 7 | 20% overweight | 18.3 kg | 620 kcal | 868-992 kcal | 5.0 kg | 187 kcal | 281-328 kcal |
| 8 | 30% overweight | 16.9 kg | 584 kcal | 818-934 kcal | 4.6 kg | 176 kcal | 265-309 kcal |
| 9 | 40% overweight | 15.7 kg | 552 kcal | 773-884 kcal | 4.3 kg | 167 kcal | 250-292 kcal |
Neutered adults, kcal a day. Ideal weight = current weight / (1 + percent overweight / 100). Weight-loss start = RER of the ideal weight x 1.0 (dog) or x 0.8 (cat). Maintenance is at the ideal weight for BCS 6 to 9 and at the current weight for 1 to 5, where it holds today's weight and is not a plan for gaining weight. Every figure is an estimate for the vet to check.
Frequently asked questions
- How many calories should my dog eat a day?
- The tool gives an estimate, not a feeding instruction: RER = 70 x kg^0.75, times 1.4-1.6 for a neutered adult, 1.6-1.8 for an intact adult or 1.0-1.2 for an inactive dog. A 20 kg neutered adult dog at BCS 4 has an RER of 662 kcal and a maintenance range of 927-1,059 kcal a day. Dogs differ, and your vet adjusts the amount by checking weight and body condition over time.
- How many calories does a cat need a day?
- For a neutered adult cat, RER x 1.2-1.4. AAHA's own example, a 10 lb neutered cat counted as 4.5 kg, has an RER of 216 kcal and a maintenance of 259 kcal at 1.2; the tool gives 260-303 kcal a day for 4.5 kg at BCS 4, because it does not round the RER first. An intact adult cat is 1.4-1.6 and an inactive one 1.0.
- What is the ideal body condition score for a dog or cat?
- It depends on the chart. The WSAVA dog chart puts both 4 and 5 in its ideal band, while its cat chart puts only 5 there and a cat at 4 just under ideal. AAHA 2021 Table 2 marks only BCS 4 as ideal and gives no overweight percentage for 5, though AAHA asks for an extended assessment only below 4 or above 5. So at BCS 5 the tool calls the score ideal on the WSAVA chart, works out no ideal weight and gives the calories that hold the current weight.
- How do I find my dog's body condition score?
- Feel the ribs and look at the waist from above and the belly from the side. On the WSAVA dog chart, a 5 has ribs you can feel without excess fat, a waist behind the ribs and a belly that tucks up. A 7 has ribs you feel only with difficulty under heavy fat and little or no waist. A 3 has ribs that are easy to feel and may be visible, with no fat over them. If you are unsure, open Not sure of the score? and answer three questions on ribs, waist and belly worded from the WSAVA chart: ribs felt only with difficulty, barely any waist and a slight tuck fit a 7. Answers that fit no single score get their middle and a prompt to check them. Your vet can score your pet at a check-up.
- How do I work out my dog's ideal weight from its body condition score?
- For BCS 6 to 9 the tool divides the current weight by 1 plus the Table 2 percentage: a 22 kg dog at BCS 7 (20% over) is 22 / 1.2 = 18.3 kg, and at BCS 9 (40% over) 15.7 kg. It is an estimate, and your vet sets the real target. Below BCS 4 no target is calculated, because a low score can have medical causes.
- How many calories should a dog eat to lose weight?
- The tool's weight-loss starting figure is the RER of the estimated ideal weight times AAHA's weight-loss factor, 1.0 for dogs and 0.8 for cats: about 620 kcal a day for a 22 kg dog at BCS 7 and about 187 kcal for a 6 kg cat at BCS 7. AAHA recommends therapeutic weight-loss diets for calorie restriction at or below RER, so plan weight loss with your veterinarian.
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