A raw feeding calculator determines how much raw food your dog or cat needs daily using either the BARF (Biologically Appropriate Raw Food) or Prey Model Raw (PMR) approach. By factoring in your pet's weight, age, activity level, and body condition, you get precise daily amounts broken down by component — muscle meat, raw meaty bones, organs, and more — so every meal is properly balanced.
Calculate Raw Feeding Amounts
BARF: 80% meat/bone/organ, 10% veg, 10% fruit/seeds
How to Use the Raw Feeding Calculator
Switching your dog or cat to a raw diet can feel overwhelming when you are trying to figure out exactly how much to feed and what components to include. Our raw feeding calculator simplifies this process by using established BARF and Prey Model Raw ratios to generate a complete daily feeding plan based on your pet's individual characteristics, including weight, age, activity level, and body condition.
Step 1: Enter Your Pet's Details
Select whether you have a dog or cat, then enter their body weight in pounds or kilograms. Choose the appropriate age category — puppies need significantly more food relative to body weight because they are growing rapidly, with young puppies under 4 months eating up to 8% of their body weight daily compared to 2-3% for adults. Select the activity level that best describes your pet's daily routine and their current body condition. Underweight pets receive a higher feeding percentage to help them gain, while overweight pets receive a lower percentage to support gradual weight loss.
Step 2: Choose Your Diet Model
The calculator supports two popular raw feeding approaches. BARF (Biologically Appropriate Raw Food) includes 80% animal products — muscle meat, raw meaty bones, and organs — plus 10% vegetables and 10% fruit, seeds, or other supplements. Prey Model Raw (PMR) eliminates plant matter entirely, aiming to replicate whole prey with 80% muscle meat, 10% raw meaty bones, 5% liver, and 5% other secreting organs. Both models are widely used and each has dedicated communities of raw feeders who report excellent results.
Step 3: Review Your Feeding Plan
After clicking "Calculate Raw Feeding Plan," you will see the total daily amount in both ounces and grams, broken down by each component of your chosen diet model. The meal plan section shows exactly how to split the daily amount across 2 meals for adults or 3-4 meals for puppies. Each component is listed with its weight per meal, making it easy to portion and prep.
Rotating Protein Sources
A key principle of raw feeding is variety. No single protein source provides all the nutrients your pet needs, so rotating between chicken, beef, turkey, pork, fish, and lamb over the course of a week ensures a complete nutritional profile. The protein rotation guide shows what each source is best for and its key nutrients. Most experienced raw feeders aim for at least 3-4 different proteins per week.
Understanding Bone Content
Getting the right bone ratio is critical for digestive health and calcium balance. The bone content guide shows the actual bone percentage in common raw meaty bone cuts — for example, chicken backs are 44% bone while chicken quarters are only 27%. Since your target bone content is typically 10% of the total diet, you need to balance bony cuts with boneless muscle meat. Too much bone causes constipation, while too little leads to loose stools. Use the raw feeding calculator component breakdown to guide your bone portions and check stool quality as the most reliable indicator of correct bone levels.
FAQ
Is this raw feeding calculator free to use?
Yes, this raw feeding calculator is completely free with no signup required. All calculations run locally in your browser, so you can use it anytime without creating an account or sharing any information.
Is my pet's data private?
Absolutely. Everything runs entirely in your web browser using client-side JavaScript. No data about your pet is ever sent to a server or stored anywhere. Your information stays completely on your device.
What is the difference between BARF and Prey Model Raw?
BARF (Biologically Appropriate Raw Food) includes 80% meat, bone, and organs plus 10% fruits and vegetables and 10% other supplements. Prey Model Raw (PMR) aims to replicate a whole prey animal with 80% muscle meat, 10% raw meaty bones, 5% liver, and 5% other secreting organs, with no plant matter.
How much raw food should I feed my dog per day?
Most adult dogs eat 2-3% of their ideal body weight in raw food daily. Dogs needing weight loss eat closer to 2%, maintenance dogs eat 2.5%, and active or underweight dogs eat 3%. Puppies need 5-8% of their body weight because they are growing rapidly.
Can I feed my cat a raw diet?
Yes, cats can thrive on a properly balanced raw diet. Cats are obligate carnivores and naturally eat whole prey. The Prey Model Raw approach works well for cats. Always include taurine-rich organ meats like heart, and consult your veterinarian before switching your cat to raw.
How do I transition my pet from kibble to raw food?
Transition gradually over 7-10 days. Start by replacing 25% of kibble with raw food on days 1-2, increase to 50% on days 3-4, then 75% on days 5-6, and finally feed 100% raw from day 7 onward. Some pets transition faster, but a gradual switch reduces digestive upset.
Do I need to add supplements to a raw diet?
A properly balanced raw diet with variety may not need many supplements, but most raw feeders add fish oil for omega-3 fatty acids, vitamin E as an antioxidant, and kelp for trace minerals. If you do not feed whole fish regularly, fish oil is especially important for skin and coat health.
How much bone should be in a raw diet?
Raw diets typically include 10-15% raw meaty bones. Too little bone can cause loose stools, while too much causes constipation. Chicken backs are about 44% bone, chicken necks 36%, and turkey necks 42%, so you need to balance these with boneless meat to reach the right ratio.