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.

The European Pet Food Industry Federation (FEDIAF) set out recommended guidelines for pet food to ensure a balanced diet. A 'complete diet' can only be classed as a complete diet if it meets the requirements for vitamins, minerals and nutrients within it's food.

Our top picks include Purina One +Plus Indoor Advantage, a wet food for adult cats that includes extra fiber for healthy digestion, and Royal Canin Indoor Adult dry food, which contains fish oil to support skin and coat health.

“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- ...

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.

You have complete control over the ingredients in your cat's food. Some commercially available cat food brands include ingredients that aren't necessary for your cat, such as vegetables, fruits or added grains. By making your own cat food, you can prioritize the meat, vitamins and minerals that your cat needs.

According to specialists, at least three types of meat provide optimal nutrition for your cat: chicken, fish and lamb. These three meats serve as high-quality protein sources when they are blended into well-balanced commercial cat foods, and they can satisfy your kitty on several counts.

Cooked meat such as boiled chicken may also be offered occasionally, but please ensure there are no cooked bones, onions/onion sauces or other toxic substances present (see below). As mentioned above, raw meat and bones carry bacteria that can make both animals and humans ill and so are not recommended.

Is it cheaper to make your own cat food? ›

The cost of homemade cat food ranges between $0.90–1.52 per day depending on the recipe. I compared the cost of the best in each category of commercial cat food. And you could save thousands per year making cat food at home. It will take more time to make your cat's food at home.

Whitefish, chicken and turkey are all common protein sources in cat food. If your kitty has developed a reaction to one of these, you can substitute some less-common meat such as venison, sardines, salmon and trout.

Whether you're feeding a cat or a kitten, “Cats need animal-based protein as part of their main diet,” explains Purina Nutritionist Karina Carbo-Johnson, MS. Some protein-rich foods cats like to eat include: A variety of fish, such as salmon, trout, tuna and whitefish. Poultry like chicken, turkey and pheasant.

Look for foods in which meat, meat byproducts, or seafood are listed among the first few ingredients, as this indicates the food probably contains enough animal-source ingredients to supply essential amino acids and fatty acids.

Wheat, soy and corn can be allergens and have a high chance of being genetically modified (GMO). They have not been studied for their affects on cats and should be avoided. Avoid gluten as an ingredient as it's not digestible and has been known to be a serious contaminant.

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%.