Is there a rule of thumb based upon the mammal’s weight? Is it a linear or square law relationship?
I am trying to determine how much food an outdoor animal like a fox, coyote, cat, squirrel, etc. needs in winter.
I can easily figure out the caloric value of a dead animal by cutting it’s weight in half and assuming the remainder is half protein and half fat: nominally 7 calories per gram. According to that rule a 500 gram, ~1pound, squirrel would be worth about 1,750 calories. How many calories would a 10 pound outdoor cat need per day?
It seems to take about 3 days for a cat to completely finish off a squirrel. That is 600 calories per day. Is it possible to tell if the cat is being fed elsewhere or is it entirely dependent upon this source?

Can the rule of thumb be applied to coyote, skunks, opossum, even deer? Surely there are studies on this subject. I’m just not finding them.

Topics: food, animals, wildlife, zoology, animal husbandry, calories