Editorial Standards & Source Transparency

Who Reviews Our Content

Every calculator, guide, and database on CatFeedingCalc.com is produced and reviewed by the CatFeedingCalc Editorial Team — an internal group of writers and editors who specialize in translating veterinary nutrition guidelines into practical, plain-language tools for cat owners. We do not publish individual author bylines or invent professional credentials; our accountability rests with the organization as a whole and the primary sources we cite.

How Our Calculator Formulas Work

All of our calorie calculators are built on the internationally recognized resting energy requirement (RER) and maintenance energy requirement (MER) framework published by the WSAVA Global Nutrition Committee:

• RER = 70 × (body weight in kg)^0.75
• MER = RER × life-stage factor × activity multiplier

Life-stage factors follow WSAVA guidance: neutered adult cats ≈ 1.2× RER; intact adults ≈ 1.4× RER; weight-loss targets ≈ 0.8× RER; pregnant queens ≈ 1.6–2.0× RER; lactating queens scale with litter size; growing kittens up to ≈ 2.5× RER. Activity multipliers (0.9–1.2) adjust for indoor versus outdoor and lean versus prone-to-weight-gain cats. We display the exact formula on every calculator so the math is fully verifiable.

The 50-State Cat Food Tax Database

Our state tax figures are compiled into a single transparent original dataset. For each of the 50 U.S. states we record: the statewide sales tax rate, the maximum local (county/city) tax, whether prepared or sealed cat food is subject to sales tax, the effective cat-food tax rate we apply, and a representative average annual cat-food cost. Methodology:

• Statewide and local rates are drawn from each state’s Department of Revenue and cross-checked against the Tax Foundation’s annual state tax rankings.
• Whether cat food is taxable follows each state’s prepared-food and grocery exemptions; where cat food is taxed as a prepared good, the effective rate equals state + local max, otherwise the lower grocery rate applies.
• Average annual cost is modeled from a 10 lb neutered indoor cat on a standard commercial diet (≈ 6 oz of food per day) at national average price points; it is an estimate, not a quote.

The dataset was last updated 2026-06-01 and is published as a downloadable CSV so owners and researchers can audit our numbers directly: Download cat-food-tax-by-state.csv.

Primary Sources We Cite

Our Review & Update Process

• Creation: Content starts from the primary sources above, not from other websites.
• Review: Each calculator and guide is checked by a second editorial-team member against the cited guideline before publication.
• Updates: We monitor AAFCO, WSAVA, AAFP, and FDA publications and the Tax Foundation’s annual rankings; when a source changes, the affected tool or figure is revised.
• Corrections: If you find an error, use our contact page; verified corrections are applied and, where material, noted on the page.

Editorial Independence & Advertising

CatFeedingCalc.com does not sell cat food and does not earn commissions or referral fees from pet-food manufacturers. Our recommendations are not influenced by commercial relationships. The site is supported by clearly separated, non-personalized contextual advertising (Google AdSense) that never alters a calculation or a recommendation.

Not a Substitute for Veterinary Advice

Feline nutrition is individual. Cats with diabetes, kidney disease, food allergies, or other conditions need a veterinarian’s plan. Use our calculators as a science-based starting point, monitor body condition, and consult your veterinarian for health-specific feeding.