Making your own cat food might seem like a loving way to cater to your feline’s specific dietary needs or simply provide a fresher, more natural meal. However, it’s essential to approach this task with careful research and a commitment to nutritional balance. Crafting a complete and balanced diet requires time, effort, and a deep understanding of feline nutritional requirements. Consulting with a veterinary nutritionist is highly recommended to ensure your homemade cat food meets all the necessary standards for your cat’s health.
Assessing Homemade Cat Food Recipes: What to Look For
Before diving into DIY cat food, it’s crucial to understand what constitutes a good recipe. Not all recipes found online are created equal, and many may lack essential nutrients or contain them in incorrect proportions. Always consult your veterinarian before changing your cat’s diet. Here are some key indicators of a well-formulated recipe:
- Expert Formulation: The recipe should ideally be developed or approved by a board-certified veterinary nutritionist or a recognized expert in veterinary nutrition.
- Nutrient Values: Look for recipes that clearly state nutrient values and adhere to the AAFCO (Association of American Feed Control Officials) minimum requirements.
- Comprehensive Ingredients: Simple recipes without supplements might fall short. A balanced diet requires a variety of ingredients to meet all nutrient requirements.
- Portioning Guidance: The recipe should provide instructions for portioning the food according to your cat’s specific needs and estimate calorie content.
- Complete and Balanced Labeling: Be wary of recipes labeled for supplemental feeding only, as these are not designed to be the sole source of nutrition.
Unless you’re an expert in feline nutrition, it’s generally best to avoid creating homemade cat food without a reliable recipe. Nutritional balance is critical, and achieving the right balance of trace nutrients requires careful selection of ingredients. Consider using a premix supplement to simplify the process and ensure your cat receives a complete and balanced diet.
The Benefits of Using a Premix Supplement for Homemade Cat Food
Replicating a wild feline diet using precise ratios of muscle meat, organs, and bone can be difficult. These diets often require multiple animal sources to prevent deficiencies or excesses of essential nutrients. For example, liver from duck and ruminants is richer in vitamin A than liver from chicken and pork.
To overcome these nutritional challenges, many cat owners choose to add supplements to their homemade cat food. Homemade cat food premix supplements, also known as meal completers, are specifically formulated to fill nutritional gaps when mixed with fresh meat. However, they are not a perfect solution. You’ll still need to research and consult with your veterinarian to find the product that best fits your cat’s individual needs and your homemade diet plan. When selecting a premix, consider the following factors:
- Veterinary Nutritionist Formulation: Look for premixes formulated by a board-certified veterinary nutritionist. While a recipe developed by a general veterinarian is a good starting point, a nutritionist’s expertise provides a higher level of assurance.
- Complete and Balanced Nutrition: Ensure the premix is formulated according to AAFCO or FEDIAF (European Pet Food Industry Federation) nutrient requirements. Some products are intended for supplemental feeding only, while others may require additional ingredients like eggs or liver to fill nutritional gaps.
- Specialized Formulas: Some companies offer specialized formulas for cats in different life stages or with specific dietary needs. For example, a formula for senior cats might have lower phosphorus levels to support kidney health.
- Diet Type Compatibility: Choose a premix formulated for the type of diet you plan to feed. Some are designed for ground meat, while others are intended for use with ground meat and bone mixtures.
Five Recipes for Homemade Cat Food
Here are five sample recipes for homemade cat food. Some utilize premix supplements, while others rely on ingredient variety and individual supplements. Remember to consult with a veterinary nutritionist to tailor any recipe to your cat’s specific needs.
- Turkey Breast and Sweet Potato Recipe (using Balance It® Carnivore Blend® premix)
Balance It is a company that provides homemade pet food solutions. Their online service allows you to create custom pet food recipes using their premix powders. This recipe is designed for a 10-pound adult cat and provides approximately 265 calories.
* **Ingredients:**
* 3 ⅜ oz. (96g) Cooked turkey breast
* 1 ⅝ tsp (7g) Canola oil
* ⅖ ml (0.37g) Nordic Naturals Omega-3 Pet Liquid
* 5/16 cup (63g) Baked sweet potato
* ⅛ tsp (0.75g) Morton Iodized Salt
* ¾ tsp (3.07g) Balance IT Carnivore Blend
* **Instructions:**
1. Roast the turkey breast at 350℉ until it reaches an internal temperature of 165℉.
2. Bake the sweet potato until tender.
3. Scoop the flesh from the sweet potato and weigh the required amount.
4. Finely chop the turkey breast and weigh the required amount.
5. Combine the sweet potato and turkey in a mixing bowl.
6. Add the supplements and mix well.
7. Divide into meals, feeding one immediately and storing the rest in an airtight container in the refrigerator.- Raw Ground Rabbit Recipe (using Alnutrin for Meat & Bone)
Alnutrin premix supplements are designed to be used with whole rabbit or chicken (with bone and organs).
* **Ingredients:**
* 1 pack (4g) Alnutrin for Meat & Bone
* ¼ cup (60g) water
* 1 lbs (454g) ground raw rabbit meat & bones
* **Instructions:**
1. Cut the meat off the rabbit carcass and chop it into 1-inch pieces.
2. Chop or crush the bones into pieces small enough to feed through your meat grinder.
3. Grind the meat, bones, and organs into a bowl.
4. In a small bowl, whisk together the Alnutrin and water.
5. Stir the mixture into the ground rabbit, divide into portions, and freeze.- Cooked Meat Recipe (using EZComplete Fur Cats)
EZComplete Fur Cats requires only boneless meat and water. You can serve the food raw or cook the meat before adding the premix.
* **Ingredients:**
* 2 lbs. (907g) ground meat, cooked
* ½ cup (53.3g) EZComplete Fur Cats
* 1 ½ cups (12 oz.) water
* **Instructions:**
1. Place the ground meat in a slow cooker.
2. Add ¼ cup of water per pound of meat, then cover the cooker.
3. Cook on low heat for 4-6 hours until the meat is cooked through.
4. Let the meat cool, then shred or finely chop it into bite-sized pieces.
5. Stir in the EZComplete until it is thoroughly mixed in.
6. Divide the mixture into individual portions, trying to distribute the cooking juices evenly.
7. Refrigerate or freeze the portions in airtight containers.- Prey Model Raw Diet Recipe (from Little Carnivore)
The Prey Model Raw (PMR) diet follows a ratio of 80% meat, 10% bones, and 10% organs. This recipe includes supplements to fill in any remaining nutritional gaps.
* **Ingredients:**
* 220g white meat (e.g. chicken, turkey, rabbit)
* 220g red meat (e.g. beef, lamb, duck, veal)
* 100g chicken hearts (or other heart)
* 100g gizzards, tongue, or lung
* 100g chicken, duck, or turkey neck
* 100g chicken wings or quail bones
* 15g chicken livers
* 15g beef livers
* 70g other organs (e.g. kidney, spleen, brain)
* 30g whole sardines in water
* 30g anchovies
* **Supplements:**
* Chelated manganese
* Kelp powder (iodine)
* Psyllium husk (fiber)
* Vitamin E
* B-complex vitamins
* Calcium (optional)
* Zinc (optional)
* Taurine (optional)
* Iron (optional)
* **Instructions:**
1. Chop the ingredients into 1-inch pieces and crush the bones if needed.
2. Grind the ingredients together in the appropriate ratio OR grind all ingredients separately and weigh out the appropriate amount.
3. Use The Little Carnivore calculator to determine feeding amount and supplement dosages based on your cat’s body weight.
4. Divide the ground mixture into appropriate portions and freeze.
5. At mealtime, measure out the recommended supplements and mix with the thawed food just before serving.- Ground Chicken Thigh with Bone and Organs Recipe (from Feline Nutrition Foundation)
This recipe, created by the Feline Nutrition Foundation, uses raw meat with bone, organs, and supplements.
* **Ingredients:**
* 5 lbs. (2.27kg) chicken thighs with skin and bone
* 7 oz (200g) raw chicken liver
* 14 oz (400g) raw chicken heart
* 8 oz. water
* 4 raw egg yolks
* 2000 mg taurine
* 4000 mg wild salmon oil capsules
* 200 mg Vitamin B Complex
* 200 IU Vitamin E
* 1 ½ tsp (8.4g) Lite Iodized Salt
* 4 tsp (8g) psyllium husk powder
* **Instructions:**
1. Remove the skin from half the chicken thighs and the bone from 20-25% of them.
2. Weigh out 4.5 pounds from the remaining chicken and rinse it well.
3. Cut the chicken meat and organs into 1-inch pieces and crush the bones as much as you can.
4. Feed these ingredients through your meat grinder along with the salmon oil capsules.
5. In a small bowl, whisk the egg yolk together with the other supplements.
6. Pour the slurry over the ground ingredients and mix well.
7. Portion the mixture into smaller containers and freeze.Essential Supplies for Making Homemade Cat Food
Investing in the right equipment can significantly simplify the process of making homemade cat food. A meat grinder is essential for grinding meat and bones, while premix supplements ensure your cat receives a balanced diet. Here are some top recommendations:
#1
Weston Butcher Series Electric Meat Grinder Commercial Grade 1HP Motor – Perfect for grinding meat and soft bones.
#2
Balance It Feline – Formulated by a board-certified veterinary nutritionist with multiple formulas for different life stages.
#3
EZComplete fur Cats – Made in the USA with human-grade ingredients. Just add boneless meat and water.
#4
Alnutrin for Meat & Bone – Formulated to meet AAFCO guidelines, including one for diets containing meat, bone, and liver.
Frequently Asked Questions About Homemade Cat Food
Is homemade cat food safe?
Yes, homemade cat food can be safe when prepared and stored properly. However, commercial cat food undergoes processing to eliminate foodborne pathogens. When making homemade cat food, especially raw food, take precautions to prevent contamination. Clean and disinfect all surfaces and tools, wash your hands thoroughly, and avoid letting your cat lick your face after eating.
How much does homemade cat food cost?
The cost of homemade cat food varies based on ingredients and the amount you feed your cat. Raw diets may have different costs than cooked diets depending on your protein selections.
Is raw cat food better than cooked?
Raw cat food is considered biologically appropriate by many nutritionists, but it’s not for everyone. Raw meat can contain bacteria like E. coli. Research the options to decide what’s best for your cat.
How much should I feed my cat?
An adult cat needs about 200 calories per day, or approximately 6 ounces of homemade food. Calorie content varies with proteins and fats. Consult your vet and online calorie calculators to determine your cat’s specific needs.
