The Blog
Science-backed feline nutrition from a veterinary nutritionist who has actually been in the trenches. No corporate pet food marketing. Just data, empathy, and the occasional story about Milo.
Indoor Cat Exercise Calories Burned 2026
I put a pedometer on my cat last Tuesday. Not a Fitbit. A tiny accelerometer designed for pets. I wanted to know how much my indoor cat actually moves...
Indoor Cat Obese Vet Said Free Feeding
My cat, Luna, was not a chonker. She was a cat who had discovered the infinite buffet. I had left a bowl of dry food out since the day I adopted her, ...
Portland Wildfire Smoke Cat Heat Stress
My Cat Stopped Eating During Portland's Smoke Season—And the Vet Bill Taught Me a Hard Lesson Olivia Brennan On the third day of the wildfire smoke, I...
The Vet Visit That Made Me Rewrite Milos Diet
The Vet Visit That Made Me Rewrite Milo's Diet I sat in the exam room at the veterinary clinic on Hawthorne, holding Milo's carrier on my lap like it ...
The Night I Realized Milo Was Eating
The Night I Realized Milo Was Eating Milo's Portions Plus Luna's Leftovers It was 10:30 PM on a Tuesday. I was standing in the kitchen in my pajamas, ...
Vet Visit Prep: What to Weigh and Track Before You Go
Bring a weight log. Bring a food diary. Bring the bag of food. Your vet will thank you. Your cat will hate you. Worth it.
When Your Cat Stops Losing Weight: The Plateau
Month 1: lost 1 pound. Month 2: lost 0.8. Month 3: nothing. Month 4: gained 0.2. The plateau is real. Here is what actually works.
The Hidden Calorie Bomb in Your Cat's Treat Jar — Cat Calorie Tool
That innocent treat jar on your counter might be adding 30% more calories than you think. Learn the math behind treat calories and how to budget them ...
How to Score Your Cat's Body Condition at Home — Cat Calorie Tool
The WSAVA 1-9 scale explained for home use. No scale needed.
Multi-Cat Household Feeding: The Separation Problem
One cat is 8 pounds. The other is 14. They share a bowl. The 14-pounder eats everything. The 8-pounder waits. This is a problem.
Is Your Cat Drinking Enough? The Water Math Nobody Talks About — Cat Calorie Tool
Most cats are chronically dehydrated. Here's how to calculate exactly how much water your cat needs.
Raw Diet Calories: Why the Numbers Never Add Up
The raw feeding community loves percentages. 80% meat, 10% bone, 10% organ. But calories? Nobody talks about calories.
Why Taurine Isn't Optional — And What Happens Without It — Cat Calorie Tool
The amino acid that keeps your cat's heart beating and eyes seeing. A deep dive into taurine deficiency.
How to Read a Cat Food Label Without a PhD — Cat Calorie Tool
Ingredient lists, guaranteed analysis, and the marketing tricks that make 'chicken meal' sound scary.
Indoor vs Outdoor Cat Calories: The 20% Gap
Indoor cats need 20% fewer calories than outdoor cats. But they beg 40% more. The math does not work unless you know the numbers.
Free Feeding vs. Scheduled Meals: What the Data Actually Says — Cat Calorie Tool
The great feeding debate, settled with actual research. Spoiler: it depends on your cat.
How Many Calories Does a Cat Actually Burn Playing? — Cat Calorie Tool
The surprising math behind your cat's play sessions. That 10-minute chase burns more than you think.
The Treat Math Nobody Does
Two Temptations = 4 kcal. Ten Temptations = 20 kcal. Twenty Temptations = 40 kcal. That is 20% of a small cat's daily need.
How Much Should I Feed My Cat? A No-Guilt Guide to Portion Sizes — Cat Calorie Tool
Stop guessing and start feeding with confidence. The portion size guide every cat parent needs.
Why Your Cat Gains Weight in Winter (And It's Not Just the Food) — Cat Calorie Tool
Seasonal metabolic shifts, reduced daylight, and the biological reason your cat gets chubby in December.
Senior Cat Diet: When Calories Don't Mean Less Food
At 15, my clinic cat Oliver slowed down but his appetite did not. Older cats need fewer calories but more protein.
A Realistic Diet Plan for Overweight Cats (That Doesn't Make Them Hate You) — Cat Calorie Tool
The 14-month plan that helped Milo lose 3.2 pounds. Slow, steady, and sustainable.
Wet Food vs. Dry Food: The Calorie Density Gap Nobody Explains — Cat Calorie Tool
Why a cup of dry food and a can of wet food are not even close to the same thing. The density math matters.
Why Free-Feeding Dry Food Is a Trap
Leave a bowl out, they said. Cats self-regulate, they said. Whoever said that never met a domestic shorthair with ambition.
Luna's Weight Loss: 12.4 to 9.2 Pounds in 8 Months
I am a vet tech with an overweight cat. The irony is not lost on me. Here is how we did it, week by week.
What Senior Cats Really Need on Their Plate (It's Not Just 'Less Food') — Cat Calorie Tool
Higher protein, more moisture, and the nutrients that fight aging. The senior cat nutrition deep dive.
Kitten Feeding Schedule: Week by Week (Revised)
Kittens eat like tiny monsters. Here is exactly how much to feed from week 4 to month 12.
Indoor Cats Need HOW Many Calories? The Sedentary Cat Math — Cat Calorie Tool
The number that shocks most indoor cat owners. Your couch potato needs less than you think.
The Wet Food Lie: What the Can Actually Says
"Complete and balanced." That phrase is on every can. It means almost nothing. Here is what I learned comparing 20 brands.
Raw Diets for Cats: Protein, Calories, and the Risks No One Mentions — Cat Calorie Tool
The raw truth about raw feeding. Nutritional benefits, bacterial risks, and the calcium-phosphorus balance.
Do Prescription Diets Actually Help Cats Lose Weight? — Cat Calorie Tool
The science behind therapeutic weight-loss diets. When they work, when they don't, and the cost-benefit analysis.
Why My Clinic's Fattest Cat Wasn't the Owner's Fault
Mr. Whiskers weighed 22 pounds. Not a Maine Coon. A regular orange tabby with a thyroid problem and an owner who cried.
Portion Control for Cats: Tools, Tricks, and Why Your Measuring Cup Lies — Cat Calorie Tool
The kitchen scale is your best friend. Here's why volume measurements are sabotaging your cat's diet.
Why Neutered Cats Get Fat (And the Exact Calorie Fix) — Cat Calorie Tool
The hormonal shift that drops metabolic rate by 20-30%. Here's the exact calorie reduction you need post-neuter.
Do Different Cat Breeds Really Need Different Diets? — Cat Calorie Tool
Precision nutrition and metabolic differences between breeds. The science behind breed-specific formulas.
Homemade Cat Food: Calculating Calories So You Don't Accidentally Starve Them — Cat Calorie Tool
Cooking for your cat? Here's the calorie math, nutrient balance, and safety rules you need to follow.
Feeding a Diabetic Cat: Calories, Carbs, and Consistency — Cat Calorie Tool
Managing diabetes through diet. Low-carb strategies, insulin timing, and weight control for diabetic cats.
High-Protein Diets for Cats: Hype or Help? — Cat Calorie Tool
The science behind protein-rich diets. When they help, when they don't, and how much is too much.
How to Switch Your Cat's Food for Weight Loss Without the Drama — Cat Calorie Tool
Gradual transition strategies that prevent digestive upset and food refusal.
Feeding Multiple Cats When One Needs to Lose Weight — Cat Calorie Tool
Managing different nutritional needs in multi-cat homes. Separation strategies and portion control.
The Real Cost of Cat Obesity: What 61% of Cat Parents Don't Know — Cat Calorie Tool
The hidden health risks of feline obesity. Diabetes, arthritis, and shortened lifespan.
How Cat Metabolism Changes From Kitten to Senior (And What to Feed at Every Stage) — Cat Calorie Tool
Life-stage nutrition guide. From rapid kitten growth to slowing senior metabolism.
Food Allergies in Cats: The Elimination Diet That Actually Works — Cat Calorie Tool
Identifying food allergies through systematic elimination. The 8-week protocol that gets results.
The Grain-Free Cat Food Debate: What the Science Says in 2026 — Cat Calorie Tool
Grain-free vs grain-inclusive: the evidence, the marketing, and what actually matters for your cat.
Real Cat Weight Loss Journeys: What Worked, What Didn't, and the Numbers Behind Them — Cat Calorie Tool
Inspiring weight loss transformations. Real cats, real results, and the strategies that made them happen.
Feeding Your Cat Well on a Budget: A Nutritionist's Grocery List — Cat Calorie Tool
Quality nutrition doesn't have to break the bank. Budget-friendly foods that meet all nutritional needs.
Nutrition for Sick Cats: When Appetite Disappears and Weight Drops — Cat Calorie Tool
Critical care nutrition. Appetite stimulants, feeding tubes, and recovery diets for ill cats.
How to Use a Cat Calorie Calculator (And Why Vet Formulas Beat Generic Charts) — Cat Calorie Tool
Mastering calorie calculators. RER, MER, and why veterinary formulas give better results than online tools.
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