Homemade Cat Food - How To Make Your Own Cat Food Recipes (2024)

FAQs

What should the first 3 ingredients in cat food be? ›

#1 Scan the First 3 Ingredients

To ensure that your cat gets enough good sources of protein – think chicken, beef, fish and lamb -- check the first three ingredients on the label. Pet food labels list ingredients in order of the weight of the ingredient, starting with the heaviest.

Yes! Making homemade cat food is cheaper. You have complete control over the ingredients and therefore more control over the cost.

“If done correctly by a board-certified veterinary nutritionist, a homemade diet is good for cats – or better said, a cat can do just as well on a homemade diet (some would argue better) as a commercial diet,” says Joe Bartges, DVM, PhD, professor at the University of Georgia College of Veterinary Medicine and a board- ...

Cooking with heat can cause the meat to lose nutrients, which is why raw feeding is considered to be very beneficial. However, if you are concerned about feeding your cat uncooked meat because of the potential for bacteria, Lisa A. Pierson, DVM and owner of CatInfo.org advises that you can also partially cook the meat.

Rice is okay to give in small doses, but other whole grains, like oats, barley, and whole-wheat breadcrumbs might be better. These smaller pieces are easier for a cat to digest and hold more nutritional benefits, according to PetMD.

Dinner means a minimum of 25% of the named ingredient must be in the diet (not including water). This is the “Dinner” or “25% rule.” Chicken can be anywhere between 25% & 94%. Simply by changing the phrase Chicken Cat Food to Chicken Cat Dinner, you may decrease the amount of chicken in the diet by as much as 70%.

To be honest, most veterinarians would likely tell you that making your own cat food is not the best idea, as it's nearly impossible to get your feline companions the nutrients they need. That's why the best pet food companies have veterinary nutritionists on staff.

Meats. Cooked, lean meats such as beef, chicken, turkey, liver and lamb are all ok for you cat to eat. However, it's important that you take great care when serving to make sure the meat's cooked through – never give cats raw meat – and remove all skin and bones before feeding your cat.

What food can cats not resist? ›

Many cats deem cooked corn, rice, oatmeal, and couscous delicious. "Cooked grains are easily digestible to your cat and are found in many of the most popular dry cat foods available on the market," Dr. Kirk said.

Unless you're a veterinary nutritionist yourself, we don't recommend creating homemade cat food without a recipe. Nutritional balance is extremely important, and it may be difficult to achieve the necessary amounts of trace nutrients unless you choose your ingredients intentionally.

"You could add in plain white fish, safe fruit and veg, eggs, and plain chicken or turkey breast," said James. "Making sure to avoid any foods on the dangerous list." If you're all out of cat food you can use any of those ingredients to create a one-off meal for your cat.

Yes, cats can eat eggs. Fully cooked eggs are a great nutritional treat for cats. Eggs are packed with nutrients, like amino acids, which are the building blocks to protein, and they're also highly digestible. Scrambled, boiled, however you choose to prepare them is fine.

Cats can only eat tuna in spring water safely. Your cat can't eat tuna in oil or brine, as these can cause health problems. Choose a high-quality canned tuna product, and ensure there is no salt, seasonings or additives. Canned tuna is only safe for cats in small amounts, occasionally.