How much wet and dry food together?

Feeding a mix? Choose how much of the day's calories come from wet food, and you'll get the cans of wet and cups of dry that add up to the right total.

50% wet · 50% dry
?cans of wet a day
?cups of dry a day

Mixed feeding analysis

Daily calories
?
From wet food
?
From dry food
?

Move the slider to change the split. The daily total stays the same.

How the split works

The calculator works out your pet's daily calories from weight and life stage, sets aside treats, then divides the rest by your slider. Wet calories are divided by kcal per can, and dry calories by kcal per cup.

Why mixed feeding goes wrong

The most common mistake is following the full feeding chart on both packages, which doubles the food. Each label assumes it's the only food in the bowl. Always start from one daily calorie total.

Finding the calories

The label shows "Calorie Content" as kcal/kg plus kcal per cup or per can. If a can only lists kcal/kg, multiply by the can weight in kg: a 3 oz (85 g) can at 1,000 kcal/kg is 85 kcal.

Questions

Is it OK to mix wet and dry food?

Yes, many vets suggest it. Wet food adds water, which helps cats in particular, and dry food is cheaper per calorie. What matters is the total calories.

How long can wet food sit out?

A common guideline is no more than about 2 hours at room temperature. Cover and refrigerate leftovers and use them within a few days.

Sources
  1. Hill's Pet Nutrition, Estimated Energy Requirements (canine and feline)
  2. Pet Nutrition Alliance, Calculating Calories Based on Pet Needs

Last reviewed October 20, 2026. Estimates for healthy pets only, not veterinary advice.