Purina MER Calculator for Cats
Calculate your cat’s Maintenance Energy Requirement
Weight (lbs)
Life Stage
What Is Purina’s MER Calculator?
Purina and other leading pet nutrition companies use the MER (Maintenance Energy Requirement) system to recommend daily feeding amounts. MER is calculated by multiplying the RER (Resting Energy Requirement) by a life stage factor. The formula: MER = 70 x (kg)^0.75 x life stage factor.
Purina’s online tools use this same formula combined with their specific food calorie data. Our calculator above gives you the MER value so you can apply it to any food brand.
Purina MER Factors by Life Stage
| Life Stage | MER Factor |
|---|---|
| Kitten (growth) | x 2.5 |
| Neutered adult | x 1.0 |
| Intact adult | x 1.2 |
| Active/outdoor | x 1.4 |
| Weight loss | x 0.8 |
| Senior 7+ | x 0.9 |
FAQs
What is MER for cats?
MER stands for Maintenance Energy Requirement — the total daily calories a cat needs to maintain their current body weight at their activity level. It is the practical daily feeding target, as opposed to RER which is the baseline at rest.
How does Purina calculate cat food portions?
Purina calculates MER using the standard veterinary RER formula, then divides by the calorie density of their specific food to arrive at a daily cup or gram recommendation. Our cat food calorie calculator does the same for any brand.
Conclusion
Our Purina MER calculator for cats gives you the same energy figure used by leading pet nutrition brands. Pair it with our cat RER calculator and feeding schedule calculator for a complete nutrition system.