We always want what’s best for our cats. We buy them the comfiest beds (or sacrifice part of ours), take them for regular checkups, make sure they have enough toys to play with and even buy them stockings to put out on Christmas Eve.
But many of us don’t give that much attention to what we’re feeding our cats. We’re happy to pick up the big brands of wet food or kibble in the supermarket, without really thinking about what ingredients go into them. When we, as humans, are constantly being told to eat healthy and prepare our own meals, should we be thinking more about homemade cat food too?
What is homemade cat food?
It does exactly what it says on the tin – unlike many shop-bought cat foods, which can claim to be ‘salmon’ but actually have fairly low percentages of any fish. The quality of ingredients in standard cat food is generally lower, it’s full of preservatives, extra added nasties and, let’s be honest, smells pretty terrible too.
Which is why many cat owners have decided to make their own cat food at home. It’s usually a mixture of protein (such as fish, rabbit, chicken or other poultry) and can contain some veggies, grains, eggs and added supplements.
Although many claim that homemade cat food is better for their pets, you should always check with your vet before changing their diet. It may also be worth consulting a veterinary nutritionist to make sure your cat is getting a balanced and nutritious meal.
What are the benefits of homemade cat food?
There are a lot of benefits for those who decide to change over from shop-bought to homemade. And not just for your cat, for you too!
Know the Exact Ingredients
For many cat owners, this is a crucial benefit. Cats can be naturally picky eaters but if you’re preparing their food you can use the ingredients you know they like and cater to any allergies. You’re also in control of the quality of the meat you use and can make sure that there are no preservatives or non-nutritious extras.
Easy to Batch Cook
No last-minute dash to the corner shop because there’s no cat food in the house. No hauling bagfuls of heavy tins back. With homemade cat food, you can prepare batches in advance and freeze them. You’ll just need to make sure you have enough freezer space!
Can be Healthier for Your Cat
By avoiding all the added extras of normal cat food, you can make sure your cat is getting all the nutrients and vitamins they need. Many notice an increase in their cat’s energy levels, shinier fur, better digestion and a happier cat.
Money Saving
Of course, if you’re buying farm shop, organic chicken breast rather than your average tin of cat food, it’s going to work out more expensive. But bulk buying and preparing batches can work out cheaper than you think. A healthier cat could also save you money on vet bills.
Better Smelling Cat Poop
Cats that eat homemade cat food have better-smelling poop. Which is a huge benefit if you have an indoor cat!
Raw vs Cooked Homemade Cat Food
There are positives and negatives to both raw and cooked homemade cat food. Both are arguably healthier than shop-bought, but you need to make sure your cat is getting all the proteins and nutrients they require.
If you give your cat a raw food diet, they get added vitamins and minerals which disappear in the cooking process. Raw food also retains a lot of moisture, making sure your cat stays well hydrated – which is important as they naturally have quite a low thirst drive.
As with anything raw, there’s an extra risk of bacteria and contamination. Healthy cats can naturally fight many (but not all) bacteria found on food, but old, young or ill cats may not be able to.
It’s a good idea to cook most poultry and extra care should be taken when preparing the food to ensure there’s no contamination.
Things to Consider Before Making Homemade Cat Food
Before you start making your own homemade cat food recipes you need to make sure you have enough time to do it. It’s more effort than slicing open a pouch and can take more time. But you can cook in large batches and freeze them (remembering to defrost the food before dinner time)!
Just like with any large change in your cat’s life, you should try to switch their diet gradually. Changing it quickly could upset their stomachs. Try mixing in small amounts with their usual food and slowly adding more until they’re eating an entirely homemade meal.
Understanding the Calcium to Phosphorus Ratio
Calcium is a critical supplement for cats. An easy way to add calcium to homemade cat food is to grind the bones of the animal into the meat as well. If a cat was fending for itself, it would likely catch a mouse, rat, or bird. It would eat most of that animal, including the bones.
The meat of the animal contains phosphorus. The bones of the animal contain calcium. Cats require both calcium and phosphorus for adequate nutrition.
If you are making cat food at home, the best option is to purchase a grinder to grind the meat and bones together. It will cost you a little upfront, but over the life of your cat, cost you much less. Purchasing pre-made bone meal is an option, however, won’t be as nutritionally complete as grinding fresh bone. Many of the nutrients will be lost during the bone meal making process.
Adding too much bone to your cats diet can cause constipation.
What Are the Best Ingredients for Homemade Cat Food?
Here are some excellent choices when it comes to making food for cats at home:
Proteins
Animal proteins should make up the basis of your cats diet. Cats are obligate carnivores, which means their bodies function best when eating meat and organs. Cats lack the ability to process plants proteins as effectively as meat proteins, and as such, plants and vegetables should only make up a small portion of their diet.
- Chicken
- Rabbit
- Turkey
- Duck
- Pork
- Beef
- Salmon
- Mackerel
- Sardines
- Tuna
- Other Fish
- Organs such as Liver (in small amounts)
Vitamins
- Vitamin B-Complex
- Vitamin E
- Fish Oil
- Taurine
- Iodized Salt
Optional
- Eggs
What Ingredients Shouldn’t Cats Eat?
You might be wondering why there’s no rice, potatoes, sweet potato, carrots, peas, fruits (the list could go on) listed above. After all, there’s plenty of homemade cat food recipes on the internet that are potato based, contain rice and other vegetables.
The reality is, cat’s don’t need carbohydrates. This includes fruits, vegetables, wheat, pasta, rice and grains. If you want to add vegetables to your cats diet it is up to you, however, we recommend no more than 5% of the homemade cat food be in the form of fruit, vegetables or carbohydrates.
There are lots of benefits to knowing exactly what’s going into your cat’s meals and preparing homemade cat food recipes. You can avoid additives and make sure they’re getting all the nutrients they need. It’s also tasty and they’re sure to love it!
Have you or would you consider changing your cat’s diet to a homemade one? Let me know in the comments below!
I’m an indoor cat convert and created My Indoor Cat to help other indoor cat owners make the best choices for their cats and kittens.