Our mission
PetKcal exists because accurate pet nutrition information is often locked behind veterinary consultations, premium apps, or brand-sponsored tools with an obvious commercial bias. We believe every pet owner — regardless of income or location — deserves access to the same science used by veterinary nutritionists.
We built PetKcal to be the most comprehensive, most honest, and easiest-to-use pet feeding calculator available anywhere online. Free. Forever. No account. No ads.
What makes PetKcal different
- 15+ species covered — dogs, cats, rabbits, guinea pigs, hamsters, chinchillas, ferrets, pet rats, fish, birds, ball pythons, corn snakes, boa constrictors, bearded dragons, leopard geckos, crested geckos, blue-tongue skinks, and tortoises.
- Species-appropriate methods — we don't apply a single formula to every animal. Snakes get a prey-weight percentage model with specific rodent size recommendations. Fish get a body-weight percentage model. Insectivores get insect count estimates. Mammals get the RMR × lifestyle multiplier model used by veterinary nutritionists.
- Plain English throughout — no "intact adult" or "MER calculation" jargon. We explain every term and every choice in language anyone can understand.
- Comprehensive food databases — from raw BARF diets and whole prey to freeze-dried, wet pouches, and home-cooked meals. If you feed it, we have the calorie data for it.
- No commercial bias — we are not owned by or affiliated with any pet food brand. We will never adjust our recommendations to favour a paying advertiser.
Our science sources
Our formulas and multipliers are drawn from publicly available peer-reviewed veterinary nutrition science, including:
- AAFCO (Association of American Feed Control Officials) — the standard-setting body for pet food in the United States
- NRC (National Research Council) — Nutrient Requirements of Dogs and Cats (2006 edition)
- FEDIAF — European Pet Food Industry nutritional guidelines
- Waltham Petcare Science Institute — energy requirement research for dogs and cats
- Comparative metabolic scaling literature (Kleiber, 1961; McNab, 2002) for the 0.75 exponent
- Species-specific reptile and exotic pet husbandry literature from veterinary exotic specialists
Important limitations
PetKcal provides estimates, not prescriptions. All calculators — including ours — produce starting points. Individual animals vary by up to ±20% due to breed, individual metabolism, health conditions, and environmental factors. Always adjust based on your pet's actual body condition over time, and consult your veterinarian for medically complex animals.
Contact us
Questions, corrections, or suggestions? We genuinely want to hear from you — especially if you spot a species we're missing or a food we haven't included.
We read every email and typically respond within 2–3 business days.