Homemade Cat Food

Are you concerned about the ingredients in commercial cat foods? Are your cats such picky eaters that you throw away multiple cans of food each week? Does the idea of feeding your beloved feline fresh ingredients appeal to you? Good nutrition for our animals is the responsibility of every pet owner. Choosing to make homemade food for your cat is a step in the right direction for a healthy pet.

There are 6.4 million cats in the U.S. A good many of these animals are fed commercial diets. The 2007 pet-food recall caused many pets owners to frantically make homemade food in an attempt to protect their animals. This was an admirable endeavor but it’s important to note that homemade diets must be balanced carefully for optimum nutrition.

Commercial pet foods undergo years of testing while your batch of homemade food only gets tested on your own animal. The importance of including the correct ingredients, vitamins and minerals cannot be stressed enough. Cats require certain vitamins such as Taurine that, if not consumed, can cause blindness or heart disease.

Although you’ll be using the same kitchen, preparing homemade cat food isn’t the same as making your own meal. Beware of foods that are toxic to cats such as onions, garlic, root vegetables, green leaves from tomatoes and eggplants, chocolate, mushrooms, cherries, grapes, raisins and potatoes. Resist the urge to liven up the recipe with dashes of spices. It’s just not good for them.

A few cat pointers

• Cats are carnivores so their bodies require a meat-based diet for optimum nutrition. Leave the starchy veggies such as peas and corn for the humans.
• Cats require five times the protein in their diet as dogs. Never feed dog food to a cat.
• Taurine is a must as are vitamins and minerals. Many companies have pre-mixed vitamin and mineral powders that can be added to food, but only after cooking.
• Don’t add salt – cats don’t need it!
• Always serve homemade food at room temperature.
• Homemade foods are safe for two to three days with proper seals in the refrigerator and can be frozen for two weeks.

Please educate yourself completely before attempting to prepare food for your cat. There are many wonderful books available that include recipes and tips for preparing a nutritious meal for your cat. A word of caution; the Internet is a wonderful thing but you have no way of knowing if a recipe reflects the complete nutrition required for your cat’s ideal health. Check out the following books to more information:

“Dr. Pitcairn’s Guide to Natural Health for Dogs and Cats” by Richard Pitcairn, DVM, and Susan Pitcairn,
“Home-Prepared Dog and Cat Diets: the Healthful Alternative” by Donald R. Strombeck, DVM.

Basic cat food recipe

The following recipe is just an example of a culinary delight that can be concocted for your feline friend. Recognize that cats with specific medical concerns should have a diet based on the nutritional needs of their illness. This example simply provides a rough outline. Use a recipe from a trusted source or consult with a nutritionist.

Required utensils: food processor, pan, spoons, spatulas, and plastic storage containers. And your cat, of course, for proper supervision.

Choose one protein source of the following:

• ½ lb. minced boneless chicken breast or thigh
• 6 oz. ground or minced turkey
• ½ lb. ground beef
• ½ lb. beef, chicken, or turkey hearts

Cook thoroughly and grind it up in the food processor. Cutting the meat into smaller chunks speeds the process. You’re aiming for pate consistency in the meats.

Add a grain for bulk: Wheat germ, cooked oatmeal, whole wheat bread, white or brown rice.

Cook the grain as recommended. Use just a small portion of grains for bulk. Grains are usually used to reduce the protein content in the food based on nutritional needs.

For variety:

• Three-times a week, scramble or hard boil a few eggs, chop and stir into food.
• Once a week, substitute organic beef liver for ½ of the meat.
• Once every two weeks, substitute water-packed tuna, sardines or salmon with bones for the meat source.

Fat intake and nutrients must be carefully managed when preparing homemade cat foods. It’s recommended that you consult with a veterinarian nutritionist to find the best recipe for your animal. A number of Internet sites provide specific recipes for animals at a reasonable cost. Check out www.petdiets.com , www.healthypetrecipes.com , or www.balanceit.com for more information.