Making homemade cat food may seem both expensive and difficult to do, but once you understand how to do it properly, you’ll see that it’s actually quite easy! More cat owners are turning to making cat food at home, so it’s important to know how to do it and how to do it right.
WHAT IS NEEDED FOR A BALANCED DIET
Building a balanced diet is crucial when making homemade cat food. There are multiple needs for a balanced diet to ensure that a cat’s pH balance remains intact and as healthy as possible.
Water and protein are two of the most important ingredients and aspects of homemade cat food that are needed.
In fact, processed cat food has very little of both protein and water, so cats become weaker and dehydrated on a processed diet. Water from a well or water that has been filtered are going to be your best bet.
Protein, as previously stated, is also very important. You can protein sources virtually anywhere, including beef and lamb, to help both growth and development. Cats are carnivorous by nature and need protein to thrive and survive.
Essential amino and fatty acids are next on the big list. A lot of these acids come from various protein sources directly, so it’s like killing two birds with one stone. One prime example of this is Taurine, which is vital to a cat’s health.
EPA, CLA, GLA, LA, AA, DHA, and Omega-3s are all essential amino and fatty acids that a cat must have in their diet. They are all extremely beneficial to them and keep cats in great health.
Vitamins and minerals are needed for physiological reactions, a balanced diet, the formation of their enzymes, for transportation of oxygen, and much more. Chloride, phosphorous and vitamins K and D are only a few of vitamins and minerals that cats must have in their diet.
TYPES OF MEATS CATS CAN HAVE
Though cats are carnivores by nature, that certainly does not mean they can have any type of meat. Pork, lamb, mutton, veal, and beef are all great protein sources and meat types that are perfect for a homemade diet.
FOOD TYPES TO LEAVE OUT ENTIRELY
Listed below are some foods that must be left out of homemade cat food:
- Frozen, spoiled, or“not fresh” cuts of meat
- Too much rice, corn, or any sort of carbohydrate
- Raisins
- Garlic
- Grapes
- Onions
- Tomatoes
Going back to carbohydrates, make sure you don’t use too much. You should only have about 10% of them in the mix of homemade cat food and do not use them as over filling.
USING OILS AND SUPPLEMENTS FOR ADDED NUTRIENTS
This is where making homemade cat food can get a little tricky. Using oils and supplements is a must when making homemade cat food, but you have to be very careful as to what you’re using because there are only a few that are okay.
Fish, safflower, sunflower, flax, canola, and corn oil are great to add into homemade cat food. Calcium supplements are also a great option, as well. However, you will need to ensure that they are mixed equally with other ingredients and don’t off the balance.
A SIMPLE HOMEMADE CAT FOOD RECIPE
Homemade cat food does not have to a complicated, extensive process. In fact, there are many quick dishes you can whip up in minutes that are both balanced and healthy for your feline friend!
This is the Chicken Dinner Recipe, which takes just minutes to make. You will need a single cup of cooked chicken, 1/4 of a cup of mashed, steamed carrots, 1/4 of a cup of mashed, steamed broccoli, and chicken broth, which you can use as much as you’d like.
With the cooked chicken, you can choose to bake or broil it. Mix everything up and you’re good to go!
MAKING HOMEMADE CAT FOOD
To learn more about making homemade cat food, feel free to check out the ultimate guide for yourself by clicking here!
Be sure to check with your veterinarian before making any changes to your cat's diet.
This article was written by Diana Hutchinson, the founder of Tinpaw.com.
