Vet-grounded feeding plans for dogs and cats. Calculate exact daily portions by breed, weight, and life stage — then compare foods and feed smarter.
Free forever · NRC & AAFCO formulas · No signup to calculate
NRC + AAFCO
calorie formulas we use
18
breed profiles, growing weekly
0
pet-food brands that own us
30-day
money-back on Meal Plan Pro
2-minute match quiz
Not sure where to start? Answer six honest questions about your home, your time, and your energy. We'll match you to the pet that actually fits your life — with a starter shopping list to set them up well.
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Active dog
Independent cat
Quiet small pet
Social bird
Daily Plan
A starting point grounded in resting energy requirement (RER) — the formula vets use.
Per day
1363kcal
≈ 379 g kibble
22%
12%
2
1400 ml
Weight is in the healthy range.
Estimates only. Always confirm with your veterinarian, especially for puppies, seniors, or medical diets.
Why trust Bowlful
We're a small, independent project — not a big brand with a PR team. Here's exactly what's behind the numbers, and what isn't.
Calorie math uses the standard Resting and Maintenance Energy Requirement (RER / MER) formulas from the National Research Council (NRC) Nutrient Requirements of Dogs and Cats, with feeding stages aligned to AAFCO life-stage definitions and WSAVA Global Nutrition Guidelines.
Bowlful is a nutrition tool, not a food brand. No private-label kibble, no recalls to hide, no incentive to push one diet over another. Product picks are editorial and clearly marked when a link is an affiliate.
Operated by R R Hertel Enterprises (ABN 14 406 236 920), based in Australia. We're independent of every pet-food brand on the site. Payments are processed by Paddle.com as Merchant of Record.
Every page that gives nutrition guidance says so plainly: this is education, not veterinary advice. For puppies, kittens, seniors, pregnant or nursing pets, or any medical condition, your licensed vet has the final word.
References we lean on
National Research Council (NRC) Nutrient Requirements of Dogs and Cats; Association of American Feed Control Officials (AAFCO) Dog & Cat Food Nutrient Profiles; World Small Animal Veterinary Association (WSAVA) Global Nutrition Guidelines; FEDIAF Nutritional Guidelines for Complete and Complementary Pet Food; and the 14-year Purina Lifespan Study (Kealy et al., JAVMA 2002) on lean feeding and longevity.
Did you know
No. 01
Cats are the only mammals known to lack a functioning sweet-taste receptor. Skip the fruit treats for your cat.
No. 02
Descended from desert wildcats, cats evolved to get water from prey. Dry-food-only diets stress the kidneys over time.
No. 03
The 14-year Purina Lifespan Study (Kealy et al., JAVMA 2002) followed 48 Labrador Retrievers and found the lean-fed group lived a median of ~1.8 years longer than their well-fed siblings.
No. 04
Per kilogram of body weight. Growth plates close around 12–18 months depending on breed size.
No. 05
Dogs metabolize theobromine far more slowly than humans, and dark/baking chocolate contains many times more of it than milk chocolate. If a dog eats any chocolate, call your vet or an animal poison hotline.
No. 06
Cats can't make enough taurine on their own. Long-term deficiency is linked to dilated cardiomyopathy and retinal damage, which is why all AAFCO-complete cat foods supplement it.
Meet Cooper · No meal prep required
Approx. monthly cost
$130/mo
Real bowls, real prices. Built for an adult ~70 lb Golden eating ~1,400 kcal/day. Everything ships from Amazon — open the bag, scoop, done. Prices are approximate and shift with Amazon's pricing.
Daily kibble
≈3½ cups/day for a 65–75 lb Golden — one bag lasts ~5 weeks.
Omega-3 topper
1 tsp on dinner. Coat, joints, skin — Golden essentials.
Joint support
2 chews/day. Standard vet pick for large-breed hips.
Healthy treats
Stay under 10% of daily calories (~140 kcal for a Golden).
Amazon links are affiliate links — Bowlful may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you. Picks are editorially chosen. Always check portions for your pet with the calculator.
Free · 2-minute match quiz
Answer 5 questions about your home, your pet, and your routine. Get a personalized shortlist of foods, portion sizes, and supplements matched to your dog or cat — not a generic top-10 list.
Our picks
We only list products we'd put in our own bowls. Affiliate links help keep the calculator free.
Dog · Dry
Traceable, ocean-caught salmon with sweet potato. Omega-3s for coat and joints.
Cat · Topper
98% meat, organ, and bone. Add to wet food to boost protein and moisture.
Supplement
Third-party tested fish oil. The single most impactful supplement for most pets.
Tool
Portion-controlled meals on a schedule — the cheapest weight-management tool.
Dog · Dry
Human-grade, just add water. Great for picky eaters and sensitive stomachs.
Cat · Wet
Shredded chicken or tuna in gravy. High moisture for urinary health, zero junk.
Dog · Dry
85% fish, sustainably sourced. Biologically appropriate for active breeds.
Supplement
Glucosamine + chondroitin. Vet-recommended starting at age 5 for large breeds.
Cat · Dry
Reduces Fel d 1 allergen in cat saliva by 47%. Game changer for allergic households.
Tool
Slows fast eaters and turns dinner into a hunt. Cuts vomiting and boredom.
Tool
Maze bowl that stretches a 90-second meal into 10 minutes. Helps prevent bloat.
Supplement
Six strains + prebiotics. The fix for soft stools, gas, and post-antibiotic recovery.
Tool
Cats drink 60% more from flowing water. Stainless steel = no plastic-chin acne.
Treat
VOHC-accepted for tartar control. The one 'treat' your vet will actually approve.
Cat · Fresh
Human-grade, gently cooked, delivered frozen. The wet-food upgrade for serious cats.
