The invention discloses a closed backflow type respiratory metabolism heat measuring system and method for small animals, the system comprises a breathing cabin, a temperature and humidity control device, an oxygen supply device and a carbon dioxide absorption and harmful gas removal device, and the precise measurement of the daily unit metabolism weight heat production of the small animals is realized. The air pressure difference inside and outside the cabin body is accurately calculated and controlled by adopting an iterative algorithm, the amount of oxygen entering the cabin body is controlled by combining the oxygen concentration in the cabin body, the oxygen consumption is measured in real time, the volume of carbon dioxide generated by digestion and metabolism of test animals is collected and measured, and the average weight of the test animals is obtained in real time. According to the average daily oxygen consumption, the average daily carbon dioxide output and the average weight in the official determination stage, calculating the heat production per unit metabolism weight per day.