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.

Some homemade foods that are suitable for cats include cooked chicken, mutton, fish (like basa or tilapia), eggs, and low-fat dairy products like paneer or curd. You can also incorporate cooked vegetables like carrots, peas, and spinach in moderation, as well as small portions of whole grains like brown rice or oats.

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.

Cats are obligate carnivores, which means they thrive on diets that are rich in animal protein, making homemade raw diets especially beneficial. Raw diets: Contain low carbohydrate levels, which can help prevent obesity and diabetes.

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.

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%.

In general, for healthy adult cats, the best option is a canned food with a protein content of 40% or higher (greater than 10% if the can is greater than 78% water) and a carbohydrate content of 10% or less.

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.

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.

Cats are most attracted to smelly foods rich in proteins and fats, like oily fish and poultry.

How can I feed my cat a lot for cheap? ›

Buy in bulk

Buying cat food in bulk can help you save money! This is because most goods have a lower price when bought in larger quantities. So, when you are going to stock up on cat food, try and get the most amount of tins or the biggest bag that you can find (and afford in one go) to save you some time and money.

Enhancing the smell and flavor of the food can entice cats to eat. This can be done by warming the food, adding water or low-sodium chicken broth (no onions or garlic), tuna juice (water), etc. There are pet-specific food toppers that work well too. If your cat likes catnip, you can try sprinkling some on their food.

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.

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.