Considering making your own cat food? Whether your feline friend has specific dietary needs or you’re simply seeking more control over their nutrition, homemade cat food can seem like an appealing option. However, preparing a nutritionally complete and balanced diet from scratch requires significant time, research, and financial investment. Without expert guidance, the risks of nutritional deficiencies can outweigh the potential benefits. This guide will explore how to choose and prepare homemade cat food recipes, focusing on achieving balanced nutrition and providing you with five sample recipes to consider.
Assessing Homemade Cat Food Recipes
Before embarking on the journey of homemade cat food, it’s crucial to consult your veterinarian. They can help ensure your cat doesn’t develop any nutritional deficiencies and remain involved throughout the process. Many online recipes fall short, lacking essential nutrients or providing them in the wrong balance.
When evaluating homemade cat food recipes, look for the following signs of a potentially unbalanced or inappropriate diet:
- Recipe Origin: Was the recipe developed by a board-certified veterinary nutritionist or a recognized expert in veterinary nutrition?
- Nutritional Information: Does the recipe provide nutrient values and appear to be formulated according to AAFCO (Association of American Feed Control Officials) minimums?
- Complexity and Supplements: Is the recipe overly simplistic? If it doesn’t include supplements, variety in ingredients is crucial for meeting minimum nutrient requirements.
- Portioning and Calorie Estimates: Does the recipe offer guidance on portioning based on your cat’s needs or provide calorie content estimates?
- Supplemental Feeding: Does the recipe explicitly state it’s intended for supplemental feeding only?
Creating homemade cat food without a pre-formulated recipe is not recommended, as achieving the necessary trace nutrients can be challenging without careful ingredient selection.
The Role of Premix Supplements
Replicating a wild feline diet involves a precise balance of muscle meat, organs, and bone, which can be intricate to achieve. Different animal organs, for instance, vary in their vitamin A content; using only one source might lead to deficiencies in other essential nutrients like copper.
To bridge these nutritional gaps, many cat owners incorporate premix supplements, also known as meal completers, into their homemade cat food. These are formulated to complement fresh meat. However, careful research and veterinary consultation are still necessary to select the right premix for your cat’s specific needs and your chosen diet plan.
When selecting a premix supplement, consider these factors:
Formulated by a Veterinary Nutritionist
While all veterinarians are trained in animal health, only a board-certified veterinary nutritionist possesses specialized expertise in animal nutrition. Recipes developed by such experts offer a higher assurance of nutritional completeness.
Complete and Balanced Nutrition
Always check the product labeling to ensure the premix is formulated according to AAFCO or FEDIAF (European Pet Food Industry Federation) nutrient requirements. Some premixes are designed for supplemental use only, while others may require the addition of specific ingredients like eggs or liver.
Specialized Formulas
Some companies offer specialized premixes catering to different life stages or specific health concerns. For example, formulas for senior cats might have reduced phosphorus levels to support kidney health.
Diet Type Compatibility
Ensure the premix is designed for the type of diet you intend to feed. Many are intended for ground or chopped meat, while others are formulated for recipes including both meat and bone.
Sample Homemade Cat Food Recipes
The following recipes offer a glimpse into preparing homemade cat food. Some utilize premix supplements for balanced nutrition, while others rely on ingredient variety and individual supplements. It’s essential to remember that these are sample recipes, and consulting with a veterinary nutritionist to tailor them to your cat’s unique needs is highly recommended.
1. Raw Ground Rabbit Recipe (using Alnutrin for Meat & Bone)
This recipe utilizes Alnutrin’s Meat & Bone premix, designed for use with whole rabbit or chicken, including bone and organs.
Ingredients:
- 1 pack (4g) Alnutrin for Meat & Bone
- ¼ cup (60g) water
- 1 lb (454g) ground raw rabbit meat & bones
Instructions:
- Cut meat from the rabbit carcass and chop into 1-inch pieces.
- Chop or crush bones to a size suitable for grinding.
- Grind the meat, bones, and organs together.
- Whisk Alnutrin and water in a small bowl.
- Stir the mixture into the ground rabbit, portion, and freeze.
2. Turkey Breast and Sweet Potato Recipe (using Balance It® Carnivore Blend® premix)
This recipe, created using the Balance.it recipe builder, is a high-protein, low-carb option for a 10-pound adult cat.
Ingredients:
- 3 ⅜ oz. (96g) Turkey breast, meat only, cooked
- 1 ⅝ tsp (7g) Canola oil
- ⅖ ml (0.37g) Nordic Naturals Omega-3 Pet Liquid
- ⅖ cup (63g) Sweet potato, baked
- ⅛ tsp (0.75g) Morton Iodized Salt
- ¾ tsp (3.07g) Balance IT Carnivore Blend
Instructions:
- Roast turkey breast to an internal temperature of 165℉.
- Bake sweet potato until tender.
- Weigh out the required portions of sweet potato and turkey.
- Finely chop the turkey breast.
- Combine sweet potato and turkey in a mixing bowl.
- Add supplements and mix thoroughly.
- Divide into desired meal portions. Refrigerate leftovers.
3. Cooked Meat Recipe (using EZComplete Fur Cats)
EZComplete Fur Cats premix allows for either raw or cooked meat preparations. This recipe uses ground beef.
Ingredients:
- 2 lbs. (907g) ground meat, cooked
- ½ cup (53.3g) EZComplete Fur Cats
- 1 ½ cups (12 oz.) water
Instructions:
- Place ground meat in a slow cooker.
- Add ¼ cup of water per pound of meat and cook on low for 4-6 hours.
- Cool the meat, then shred or finely chop it.
- Stir in the EZComplete until well mixed.
- Divide into portions, distributing cooking juices evenly.
- Refrigerate or freeze in airtight containers.
4. Ground Chicken Thigh with Bone and Organs Recipe (from Feline Nutrition Foundation)
This recipe from the Feline Nutrition Foundation requires a more hands-on approach, using raw meat, bone, organs, and individual 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:
- Remove skin from half the thighs and bone from 20-25%.
- Weigh out 4.5 pounds of the remaining chicken and rinse.
- Cut meat and organs into 1-inch pieces; crush bones.
- Grind these ingredients with salmon oil capsules.
- Whisk egg yolk with other supplements.
- Pour slurry over ground ingredients and mix well.
- Portion and freeze in containers.
5. Prey Model Raw Diet Recipe (from Little Carnivore)
The Prey Model Raw (PMR) diet follows an 80% meat, 10% bone, and 10% organ ratio, often supplemented further (PMR+). This recipe uses a variety of meats and organs.
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:
- Chop ingredients into 1-inch pieces; crush bones if necessary for grinding.
- Grind all ingredients together in the specified ratio, or grind separately and weigh.
- Use The Little Carnivore calculator for feeding amounts and supplement dosages based on your cat’s weight.
- Portion and freeze in airtight containers.
- Thaw and measure supplements, mixing them with the food just before serving.
Essential Supplies for Homemade Cat Food
To successfully prepare homemade cat food, especially raw diets, consider investing in quality equipment:
- Meat Grinder: A powerful electric meat grinder is essential for processing meat, bone, and organs. The Weston Butcher Series Electric Meat Grinder is a robust option.
- Premix Supplements: Reputable brands like Balance It, EZComplete, Alnutrin, TCfeline, Raw Meow Mix, and Purrform offer premixes formulated to meet AAFCO guidelines. Always choose one formulated by veterinary nutritionists.
- Storage Containers: Airtight containers are necessary for storing pre-portioned meals in the refrigerator or freezer.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is homemade cat food safe?
When prepared and stored correctly, homemade cat food is safe. For raw diets, rigorous hygiene practices are paramount to prevent foodborne illnesses. This includes thorough cleaning of surfaces and utensils, and frequent handwashing. Commercial cat food undergoes processing to eliminate pathogens, a step often omitted in homemade preparation.
How much does homemade cat food cost?
The cost of homemade cat food varies significantly based on ingredient choices, the amount fed, and whether the diet is cooked or raw. Premix supplements can add to the overall expense but help ensure nutritional balance.
Is raw cat food better than cooked?
Many animal nutritionists consider raw food the most biologically appropriate diet for cats. However, it requires strict safety protocols due to the potential presence of bacteria like E. coli. Cooked homemade diets offer an alternative that mitigates some of these risks.
How much should I feed my cat?
An average adult cat requires approximately 200 calories per day, translating to about 6 ounces of homemade food. This amount can vary based on the calorie density of the ingredients used. Consult your veterinarian and utilize online calorie calculators to determine your cat’s specific needs.
