Meanwhile, making cat food at home can be more expensive than buying canned food or dry kibble. Risk of accidental food poisoning: There are several human foods cats can eat. However, cats are obligate carnivores, so if you choose to make homemade cat food, you'll have to prepare meat.
According to the World Small Animal Veterinary Association (WSAVA), there's no evidence that raw diets are healthier than commercial or homemade diets created by board-certified veterinary nutritionists. “It depends on how the food is prepared and who formulated the diet,” says Bartges.
Chicken/turkey wings, carcasses, necks, organs – all are typically thrown away or sold for about a dollar or so per pound, and all can be used to form an incredibly healthy, affordable raw food plan for your cat.
Ensuring Your Homemade Cat Food is Healthy Enough
Homemade food isn't necessarily healthier than commercial food since the latter is carefully crafted with your cat's long-term health in mind, so it's essential that you at least match the nutritional value of over-the-counter options.
While cats can thrive on a strict homemade diet, it's important to meet their specific health requirements to avoid nutritional deficiencies and other issues. You must work with a nutritionist who can help you determine whether the ingredients you use are safe and healthy for your cat.
Meat-based diets provide animal fat and supply many essential nutrients specific to the nutritional and health needs of our feline friends. A diet made to fit the unique nutritional needs of the cat is one higher in animal-based proteins, low in carbohydrates, and moderate in fat.
Many cats like corn, and polenta, a coarsely ground cornmeal, has a good texture for them. You can try brown rice, barley, and wheat berries, but you may need to mash them first. Cats tend to like smaller grains like millet and couscous. Just make sure any grains you give are cooked so your kitty can digest them fully.
Iron, thiamine, calcium, riboflavin, folate, and niacin are all in grain. Grain free diets may result in a deficiency of these essential nutrients. Plus, these carbohydrate sources cost more. Depending on your cat's health status and specific nutritional needs, a diet with grain may be better than one without.
Free feeding is when you fill a cat bowl and leave it out for your pet, allowing him to eat as much as he chooses when he chooses to. This method works best with dry foods, since they do not spoil as quickly as wet foods.
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.
Sprinkle some grated parmesan cheese on their food.
Sprinkle some Purina FortiFlora probiotic on their food. Mix a little bit in, and then sprinkle a bit on top. Not only does FortiFlora often work great as an appetite enhancer for cats, but you're also getting the additional benefit of a proven probiotic!
Cats can be addicted to tuna, whether it's packed for cats or for humans. Some tuna now and then probably won't hurt. But a steady diet of tuna prepared for humans can lead to malnutrition because it won't have all the nutrients a cat needs. And, too much tuna can cause mercury poisoning.
So, can cats eat tuna? Tuna is not nutritionally balanced and should not be fed as a large part of your cat's meal plan. Even giving canned tuna as a treat can lead to health issues, especially if it is given in large amounts or frequently.
An average-sized cat (9 – 12 lbs) will eat around four-to-five ounces of homemade food per day (two meals per day is recommended, three for some cats). That is much less than the recommended amount of canned food. Homemade food is nutritionally dense; therefore less food is needed to meet nutritional needs.
Safely Feeding Eggs to Your Cat
You can feed your cat hard boiled, scrambled, poached or even microwaved eggs as long as they're fully cooked (reaching an internal temperature of 160°F). Just let the egg cool down a bit before serving. Don't add any seasonings to the egg that you feed your cat – not even salt.
Remember to include chicken as part of your cat's daily treat allowance, fed with a balanced diet. Feeding only cooked chicken long term can lead to nutritional deficiencies.
As a general average, if you are feeding a commercially produced high-quality dry food with a good quality protein source, then an indoor cat would be fed about 1/3 to 1/2 cup of food per day. This amount of quality food is approximately between 167–250 calories.
While Mr Whiskers may like consistency in most areas of life, it is possible for your cat to feel bored of the same food. Part of this has to do with the innate nature of cats as apex predators.
"Dry food is fine as long as it is complete and balanced," says Dr. Kallfelz. Dry food may be less expensive than canned cat food and may stay fresher longer. Cats that eat only dry food need to be provided with lots of fresh water, especially if they are prone to developing urinary tract blockages.