Every day you make food for yourself and your family, so why not make your own cat food as well? With the cost of buying food and everything else going up, the option to create your own cat food is looking like a better idea every day. After all preparation and tasks are completed, you will also find that it may be a healthier solution for your cat, as well as your wallet! We also want to make clear that making your own cat food isn’t as easy as throwing some food together, mixing it up and heating it in the microwave. If you are truly interested in the process of making your own cat food, please read on.
Depending on the current diet of your cat, you should keep your new recipe similar with the same ingredients, as you don’t want to mess around with your cat’s appetite or how their stomach will digest the new food. It’s best to come up with your own recipe (or find one), then bring it over to your veterinarian to make sure all of the ingredients and change in diet is alright for your cat.
Homemade Cat Food Ingredients You Should Stay Away From
As mentioned earlier, you will want to make sure your vet has a look at your recipe before serving your cat any new dishes. Just like people can be allergic to some foods, there may be a risk of illness or chronic health problems to your cat if their food contains an ingredient that you weren’t aware could hurt them.
- Grapes and Raisins
- Chocolate and Milk
- Onions, Tomatoes and Raw Eggs
- Garlic and similar rooted Vegetables
Homemade Cat Food Ingredients That Must Be Included
Just as important as it is for you to not include any harmful ingredients, there are also plenty of vitamins and supplements that cats need to have. The following should be included in all of your homemade cat recipes.
- Fiber: The use of fiber is not one of the most important concerns for cats, but with more fiber in a recipe, it also means you can have a smaller portion size. The purpose of fiber is to leave you feeling more full, after eating less food. There is no need to add extra fiber to your cats diet, but including foods that contain fiber is fine.
- Water: The majority of foods out there already have water in the recipe. This can be seen when the food is wet, or may have been saturated into the dry food at the time of creation. The total weight of food that contains water can be anywhere from 10-30%.
- Low Carb: Having a low carb cat food doesn’t mean that your cat needs to lose weight, but the measure of carbs in your recipe may vary depending on the age of your cat. Kittens will need to have a lower dosage of carbs in their food; usually below 10%.
- Protein (Animal Sourced): The majority of food that a cat will eat, is mostly protein. Cats need anywhere from 60-85% meat protien in their diet to get the essential amino acids, taurine (the most important), arginine, lysine, cysteine, methionine, and tyrosine for their bodies to work and digest effectively. Liver is one solution that includes a great amount of vitamin A. Taurin is used in many of today’s cat foods to avoid deficiency of these proteins. It’s important to create a structured and balanced nutrition for your cat, so make sure to provide a variety of protein rich foods such as fish and liver, and not just on or the other.
- Animal Fats: Healthy skin and hair are the result of animal fats and omega fatty acids. A healthy circulatory and urinary system also rely on these nutrients in fats to stay healthy and productive. Adult cats will need around 30% fat in their diet, while kittens need a little more at 35%.
- Calcium to Phosphorus Ratio (Ca:P): The amount of calcium in your cats diet is also important. Instead of having to be a physic major to figure out the right amount for your cat, the ratio should be 1.0 to 1.3 parts calcium for every 1 part phosphorus. The addition of calcium is likely required in all homemade cat recipes. Bone meal is usually used in packaged cat foods as a calcium supplement.
Including all of these ingredients in your homemade cat food, will not only provide the best nutrients and vitamins for your cat, but it will also provide a fresh taste that many cats will love.
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