How To Make Your Own Cat Food
A Comprehensive Guide to Making Homemade Cat Food for Healthy Adult Cats and Those with Kidney or Heart Disease, Including Essential Elements and Common Mistakes to Avoid
As pet food costs continue rising, many pet owners seek cheaper alternatives to commercially prepared pet foods. A growing trend among pet owners is to prepare their own homemade meals for their pets. This article will explore how to make your own cat food, including essential elements for a balanced daily formulation for healthy adult cats, cats with kidney problems, and cats with heart disease. Additionally, we will discuss common mistakes to avoid when preparing homemade pet food and provide a checklist for ensuring the nutritional adequacy of homemade pet foods. It's always best to consult with a veterinarian or veterinary nutritionist before preparing homemade meals for your pet to ensure they meet their nutritional needs.
Rising Pet Food Costs
According to a recent survey of 1,000 U.S. pet owners conducted by Veterinarians.org, rising pet food costs have led 50 percent of respondents to search for cheaper alternatives to pet food. The survey also found that pet owners were shopping for cheaper alternatives to pet treats (41 percent), pet toys (34 percent), and pet health supplements (28 percent), and over half of the respondents (55 percent) had to cancel their pet food subscriptions. Veterinarians.org, led by CEO Erik Rivera, analyzed price history data for the top 100 Amazon bestsellers in the dry and wet dog food categories. The analysis revealed that the average price of dog food has increased by 45.5 percent compared to 2020, with wet dog food prices showing the biggest hike at 50 percent versus 41 percent for dry dog food.
The growing trend of homemade cat food
This research which our article relies on discusses the growing trend of pet owners preferring to prepare homemade foods for their pets, despite the advantages of feeding commercially prepared pet foods. The study suggests that veterinarians and their healthcare teams should be able to provide sound and practical advice about home-cooked pet foods to meet the increasing demand of pet owners for such diets. The occasional feeding of table food is not a concern for healthy pets. Still, some clients prefer to feed their pets with homemade food exclusively. We will summarize this study and list the recommended healthy homemade recipes from it more simply.
Homemade Cat Food Recipe
Here is a balanced generic homemade daily formulation for a healthy 4.5-kg (10-lb) adult cat that meets AAFCO allowances.
Ingredients:
Carbohydrate, cooked - 60 g
Meat, cooked - 40 g
Fat - 10 g
Bone meal - 1.2 g
Salts (NaCl/KCl) - 1.0 g
Taurine - 0.5 g
Suggested Components:
Meat component (e.g., chicken, beef, turkey, fish, liver) - amount as desired
Starch component (e.g., rice, potato, pasta) - amount as desired
Fat component (e.g., chicken fat, beef fat, vegetable oil, fish oil) - amount as desired
Bone meal or dicalcium phosphate - 1.2 grams
Salts (NaCl/KCl) - 1.0 grams
Taurine - 0.5 grams
Human adult vitamin-mineral supplement - 0.5 tablet per day
Directions:
Bake or microwave the meat component and cook the starch component separately.
Grind or finely chop the meat component if necessary.
Pulverize the bone meal or dicalcium phosphate.
Mix the meat component, starch component, fat component, pulverized bone meal or dicalcium phosphate, salts, and taurine in a bowl.
Mix well and serve immediately or cover and refrigerate.
Feed the vitamin-mineral supplement with the meal; give it as a pill or pulverize and thoroughly mix it in food before feeding.
Please note that it's important to consult with a veterinarian or a veterinary nutritionist before preparing homemade meals for your pet.
Balanced low-sodium and low-mineral homemade Recipe for adult dogs and cats with heart disease
Here's a list of the ingredients and their respective weights in grams based on the given content:
Beef, lean, cooked - 67 g
Rice, white, cooked - 67 g
Calcium carbonate - 0.7 g
Salt, iodized - 0.1 g
Salt, substitute (KCI) - 0.1 g
Human adult vitamin-mineral tablet - 0.5 g (to be given once daily)
Taurine tablet - 500 mg (to be given half to one tablet daily)
Please note that this Recipe is not a complete diet and may not meet your cat's nutritional needs. It's important to consult with a veterinarian or a veterinary nutritionist before preparing homemade meals for your pet.
A balanced, low-fat homemade recipe for overweight adult dogs and cats
Here's a list of the ingredients and their respective weights in grams based on the given content:
Liver, chicken, cooked - 125 g
Rice, white, cooked† - 46 g
Cereal, All Bran - 8 g
Calcium carbonate - 1.2 g
Salt, iodized - 0.3 g
Salt, substitute (KCI) - 0.3 g
Human adult vitamin-mineral tablet - 0.5 g (to be given once daily)
Taurine tablet - 500 mg (to be given half to one tablet daily)
Please note that this Recipe is not a complete diet and may not meet your cat's nutritional needs. It's important to consult with a veterinarian or a veterinary nutritionist before preparing homemade meals for your pet.
Common Mistakes in Homemade Foods:
1. Inappropriate Substitutions
Many pet owners must fully understand the nutritional implications before substituting ingredients in homemade pet foods. This can lead to imbalanced nutrient profiles and harm your pet's health.
2. Using Table Leftovers
Feeding your pet with table scraps and leftovers is not a good idea because it needs to have the necessary balance of nutrients to keep it healthy. Additionally, some foods safe for human consumption are toxic to pets.
3. Following Human Nutritional Guidelines
Some pet owners must follow human nutritional guidelines when preparing homemade pet foods, which can lead to an imbalanced nutrient profile. For example, avoiding fat, cholesterol, and sodium may not be appropriate for pets.
4. Making Ingredient Choices Based on Personal Preferences
Owners sometimes choose ingredients based on their preferences, product availability, or affordability without considering the nutritional requirements of their pets. This can lead to an imbalanced nutrient profile or even toxicity.
5. Inconsistent Ingredient Composition
Homemade pet foods are often made from various table foods, leading to an inconsistent ingredient composition. This makes it challenging to ensure a balanced nutrient profile, which is essential for your pet's health.
6. Eliminating Vitamin-Mineral Supplements
Some pet owners eliminate vitamin-mineral supplements from their homemade pet food recipes, which can lead to an imbalanced nutrient profile. Regular veterinary checkups are necessary to monitor your pet's progress and ensure your compliance with a balanced diet.
7. Using Uncooked Animal Ingredients
Some pet owners and breeders encourage using uncooked meat, liver, and eggs in homemade pet food recipes. This can be dangerous because uncooked animal ingredients can harbor pathogenic bacteria that could harm your pet's health.
Checklist for Nutritional Adequacy of Homemade Pet Foods
1. Do Five Food Groups Appear in the Recipe?
Ensure that the homemade pet food recipe contains the following:
A carbohydrate/fiber source.
A protein source (preferably of animal origin).
A fat source.
A source of minerals (particularly calcium).
A multivitamin and trace mineral source.
2. Is the Carbohydrate Source a Cooked Cereal and Present in a Higher or Equal Quantity than the Meat Source?
The ratio of carbohydrate source to protein source should be at least 1:1 to 2:1 for cat foods and 2:1 to 3:1 for dog foods. Carbohydrate sources should be cooked cereal grains such as corn, rice, wheat, potato, or barley.
3. What is the Type and Quantity of the Primary Protein Source?
Substituting an animal-source protein for a vegetable-source protein improves the overall protein quality in homemade pet foods. The Recipe should contain 25-30% cooked meat for dogs and 35-50% for cats. The liver should be included regularly once a week or at least half of the meat.
4. Is the Primary Protein Source Lean or Fatty?
When the specified protein source is "lean," an additional animal, vegetable, or fish fat source should compose at least 2% of the formula weight for dogs and 5% for cats to ensure adequate energy density and essential fatty acids.
5. Is a Source of Calcium and Other Minerals Provided?
Homemade pet food is rarely spontaneously balanced in minerals, and an absolute calcium deficiency is common. Most recipes require a specific calcium supplement, and the addition of calcium and phosphorus supplements may be necessary.
6. Is a Source of Vitamins and Other Nutrients Provided?
Supplements providing vitamins, microminerals, fatty acids, and specific nutrients of concern for cats and dogs can be obtained. Adult over-the-counter vitamin-mineral tablets can be used for both dogs and cats, and specific nutrients of concern for cats can be purchased as individual nutrient products.
Human food that is safe for cats
The article suggests that some human foods can be safe and beneficial for cats. For example, oily fish like tuna or mackerel can help a cat's eyesight, joints, and brain. Cooked poultry, beef, and cheese are safe options, but meats high in sodium should be avoided. Fruits like bananas, berries, and melon, as well as vegetables like carrots and spinach, can also be given to cats in moderation. Additionally, pureed pumpkin and white rice can help with digestive issues, and oatmeal can benefit a cat's overall health.
Tools you need to make homemade cat food
To make homemade cat food, you'll need a few tools:
Blender: A blender can be used to puree certain ingredients, such as cooked vegetables or meat, to make them easier for your cat to digest.
Measuring cups and spoons: You'll need measuring cups and spoons to ensure you add the right ingredients to your cat's food.
Mixing bowls: You must combine the various ingredients for your cat's food.
Storage containers: You'll need airtight containers to store the homemade cat food in the fridge or freezer.
What are pet food pantries and supplies?
Pet food pantries and supplies are resources that provide free or low-cost pet food and supplies to pet owners in need. Nonprofit organizations, animal shelters, or other community groups typically run these resources. Donations from individuals and businesses often support them.
Pet food pantries typically provide pet owners with a limited supply of pet food, such as cat litter and toys, which can help them maintain their pets' health and well-being. These resources can be particularly helpful for low-income households or individuals facing financial difficulties.
In addition to providing pet food and supplies, some pet food pantries offer pet care advice, information on low-cost spay and neuter services, and other resources to help pet owners care for their pets.
Can you provide me with a list of pet food pantries in my area?
I'm sorry, but I cannot access your location information as an AI language model. However, I can suggest some ways to find pet food pantries in your area:
Search online:
You can search for "pet food pantries" or "pet food banks" in your city or state. This can help you to find local organizations that provide pet food and supplies to those in need.
Contact animal shelters:
Local animal shelters can provide you with information on pet food pantries in your area or may have their pet food assistance programs.
Check with food banks:
Some food banks also offer pet food assistance programs or can refer you to pet food pantries.
Reach out to local pet stores:
Local pet stores can provide information on pet food pantries or other resources for needy pet owners.
Ask your veterinarian:
Your veterinarian can provide information on pet food pantries in your area or may know other resources for needy pet owners.
Conclusion
In conclusion, making your own cat food can be a practical solution for pet owners facing rising pet food costs or wanting to provide a more personalized and balanced diet for their cats. However, ensuring that the homemade food meets your cat's nutritional needs and is free of harmful ingredients is essential. Consulting with a veterinarian or veterinary nutritionist and following a checklist for the nutritional adequacy of homemade pet foods can help pet owners avoid common mistakes and ensure their cat's health and well-being. Additionally, pet food pantries and supplies can provide a valuable resource for those needing assistance in providing for their pets. By taking these steps, pet owners can provide their cats with healthy, balanced homemade meals that meet their nutritional needs.