We feed the cat correctly with natural food: what to feed at home, advice from veterinarians and menus. How to make dry cat food at home? DIY wet food for cats

A relative of the king of beasts should not eat sausages

Cats are close relatives of lions. The basis of the king's diet
animals - animal protein of the caught prey and all the components of its stomach. Cats' prey is much more modest, but they are still a small predator. In the wild, cats feed on small mammals (catching mice), attack birds, lizards and frogs, and feast on fish.

By eating whole prey, cats receive all the necessary nutritional elements, including vitamins and minerals. The diet of domestic cats should not differ from the diet of cats living in the wild. Therefore, food from the master's table, such as fried fish, potatoes or sausages, is not suitable for a domestic carnivore.

In order to create a diet for an animal that will not cause health problems, you need to have knowledge of the basic physiology of nutrition. It is this knowledge that we will share with you in our article.

Natural nutrition: pros and cons

Every cat needs a balanced diet consisting of foods rich in proteins, carbohydrates, fats, vitamins and minerals. The pet can get them from natural products prepared by the owner himself.

The advantage of feeding your cat natural food is that you will know what products are included in your pet’s diet. And definitely don’t allow any “chemistry” in there. In addition, industrial food looks unnatural and unusual for humans. Therefore, owners often have doubts about the benefits and safety of this type of feeding.

The disadvantage of using natural products to feed a cat is that ready-made meals quickly spoil and require knowledge, skills and time to prepare.

If you decide to become a nutritionist for your cat and learn the basics of cooking for animals, read our article further.

Treasured BZHU: feeding cats with natural food

There are no uniform rules for creating a cat’s diet. It all depends on the individual characteristics of the animal. Some cats like variety in their food, others prefer one or two types of food. If the pet doesn’t like the food, he will starve until the owner takes into account his preferences.

When preparing a natural diet, some owners include exclusively meat foods. Remember that tailed predators need nutrients, vitamins, micro- and macroelements found in plant foods. The lack of these substances is reflected in the appearance of the pet: the cat’s fur begins to fall out, become tangled, and dandruff appears.

In order for a cat’s diet to be balanced, it must include high-quality foods containing proteins, fats, carbohydrates, vitamins and minerals. We’ll talk about the main sources of nutrients in a cat’s diet separately.

Protein sources

The bulk of your cat's diet should be protein. They are necessary for the growth and normal functioning of the body. Proteins consist of amino acids, some of which are not produced in the pet’s body and must be supplied in sufficient quantities with food.

Protein sources for cats:

Meat and meat products;
Fish;
Dairy products;
Eggs.

Feed your pet lean beef. You can also give your animal lamb, rabbit, chicken and turkey.

By-products are an integral part of any cat’s diet, as they have high biological value. For example, the liver contains a lot of vitamin A, fatty acids and microelements.

Of the by-products, the cat is given beef or chicken:

Liver;
Kidneys;
Heart frozen, raw or boiled.

Include fish in your cat's diet: river or sea. It should be given no more than 1-2 times a week. Fish is in no way inferior to meat in terms of biological value, but it contains a large amount of mineral salts, which settle in the form of crystals in the kidneys and ureters. Also, too frequent consumption of raw sea fish leads to a lack of B vitamins in the cat’s body.

Sea fish is given to your pet boiled, and large bones are removed from it. River fish is also fed boiled, since it is often infected with helminth larvae.

Eggs contain all the necessary microelements, but do not give them to your cat more than once a week. Raw egg whites are completely excluded from the pet’s diet, as they negatively affect the normal molting process and cause dermatitis. You can give boiled egg white to your cat occasionally by chopping it with a knife. Many pets like omelettes prepared with milk or water. The yolk is given to the cat both boiled and raw. It is added to porridges or offered separately.

Dairy products are an important component of a cat's diet. We recommend giving milk in its pure form only to kittens, since most adult cats do not digest it and cause digestive problems. You can give fermented milk products with reduced fat content:

Kefir;
Ryazhenka;
Yogurt;
Cottage cheese;

Include these products in the diet of an adult cat 1-2 times a week.

Sources of fats

A cat's diet must contain vegetable and animal fats. A lack of fat can lead to skin diseases, slow growth and development in kittens, and reproductive dysfunction in adult pets. However, excess fat is also harmful, leading to obesity.

The sources of healthy animal fats for cats are:

Butter;
Egg yolks;
Fish oil;
Offal.

Butter contains polyunsaturated fatty acids and vitamin E. They help increase immunity, strengthen the walls of blood vessels, and accelerate metabolism. Of the vegetable oils, the most beneficial for cats are sunflower, corn, olive and flaxseed. It is recommended to add ½ teaspoon to the food daily.

Sources of carbohydrates

Carbohydrates are a source of energy that cats need, but in small quantities. Include cereal dishes in your pet's diet. Cook them in broth or milk diluted with water. You can add butter or sunflower oil, pieces of vegetables, meat or fish to the porridge.

Offer your pet porridge - an excellent source of complex carbohydrates and fiber. They are high in calories but low in fat. Cats can be given:

Buckwheat;
Oatmeal;
Rice;
Corn;
Wheat porridge.

An excellent source of carbohydrates are raw or cooked vegetables. They are pureed, given in small pieces or grated.

From vegetables, cats are given:

Green beans;
Carrot;
Cauliflower;
Zucchini;
Pumpkin.

It is useful to introduce greens into your pet’s diet: parsley, dill, lettuce, spinach. Most cats happily eat grass grown at home. Vegetables and herbs are mixed with meat or fish, and also given separately.

Add bran to your cat's diet, which is a valuable source of fiber. Dietary fiber fiber enhances intestinal motility and improves the condition of microflora. Bran is added to both meat and fermented milk feeding.

Natural food for cats: 3 simple recipes for the lazy owner

We told you about the main components of the diet of domestic cats - proteins, fats and carbohydrates. They are the ones who ensure the supply of energy to the pet’s body. Let's talk about how to prepare delicious and healthy food for your tailed friend from available products.

For each animal, the composition of the diet is selected individually, based on its needs, period of life and health status.

As we have already written, your pet’s menu should include four food groups:

Meat;
Dairy products and eggs;
Fats and oils;
Cereals, vegetables.

Here are three universal recipes that every owner can use.

Beef meatballs “Nedelka”

Ingredients:

Beef – 2 kg;
Rice – 200 g;
Frozen vegetables (carrots, broccoli, corn, bell pepper) – 400 g;
Beef broth – 100 ml;
Olive oil – 2 tablespoons.

Preparation

Cut the beef into small pieces. Boil frozen or fresh vegetables and cool them. Boil and cool the rice. Grind all the ingredients in a meat grinder, adding beef broth and olive oil. Form portioned balls from the resulting minced meat. Place the finished meatballs in the freezer. Thaw as needed and give to your cat.

The resulting quantity of meatballs is enough for an adult animal to feed for 7 days.

Ice cream for cats “Fluffy”

This ice cream can be used as a summer treat and differs from regular “human” ice cream in the absence of ingredients harmful to cats (sugar, fat, dyes).

Ingredients

Low-fat cottage cheese – 200 g;
Kefir or fermented baked milk – 100 ml;
Vanillin – 0.5 teaspoon.

Preparation

Using a blender, mix all ingredients and pack into plastic cups. Insert a popsicle stick or plastic spoon into each cup. Place the ice cream in the refrigerator for 6 hours.

Warm the finished portion a little in your palm so that the ice cream can easily separate from the walls. On a hot day, offer your pet a treat.

Chicken pate for cats “Lakomka”

You can give this pate to your cat as a treat as an addition to the main menu. Its use will help diversify your pet's diet.

Ingredients:

Chicken kidneys/liver/hearts – 1 kg;
Carrots – 1 piece;
Walnuts – 100 g;
Butter – 50 g;
Chicken broth – 200 ml.

Preparation

Boil the selected chicken by-products and carrots, cool. Grind all the ingredients into a paste, mix, add chicken broth. After 1-2 hours of cooking, the pate will become thicker.

Store the treat in the refrigerator and offer it to your cat as needed.

Remember: for a pet to be healthy, its diet should not contain herbs and spices. Human food is not suitable for animals. The food you offer your pet should be varied and balanced. However, creating a perfectly balanced diet for a cat is difficult. Therefore, veterinarians recommend giving them special vitamins. Read on to find out what vitamins your pet needs.

Does a cat need vitamins on a natural diet?

At certain stages of life, every cat’s body needs vitamins and minerals. The body of a pregnant cat, kitten or elderly animal needs to be supported additionally by including vitamins in the pet’s daily diet. Cats that eat natural food should be given special attention and additional vitamins, micro- and macroelements should be given to them constantly.

In addition to wool vitamins, which are most often used by owners, the pet requires multivitamins, as well as dietary supplements containing calcium, phosphorus and other trace elements.

Pet stores offer a large number of vitamins and fortified treats that you can purchase for your pet. The information on the packaging or a store consultant will help you choose the right complex.

Poorly cooked fish or meat can become a source of infection. And the result is a disease not only of the animal, but also of its owner. Cats share helminth infections with humans, so the owner can easily pick up worms from a pet by stroking and kissing it. Especially often children who spend a lot of time with their four-legged friends become infected with worms from cats.

The surest way to solve the problem of cat infestation with worms

In order to prevent a cat from becoming infected with parasitic worms, special anthelmintic drugs are used. When choosing a product for prevention or treatment, pay attention to its spectrum of action. A modern drug should solve the problem of infection with the most common parasitic worms: round and tapeworms at all stages of their development.

The shelves of pet stores are replete with many types of industrial ready-made professional food for cats. Many of them, especially the line of economy and super-economy class products, can cause irreparable harm to the health of your furry pet.

Owners who sincerely want to see their animal happy for many years often think about preparing food for cats at home. Sometimes this is prompted by an animal’s illness, in which feeding with dry food is prohibited. Not every owner can afford to purchase expensive high-quality dry or wet premium canned professional food for a cat based on the latest technologies. Cheap food, richly flavored with artificial flavors and dyes that enhance the smell and attract the animal, can cause food addiction, similar to a drug addiction. In this article we will look at what you can prepare for your cat from homemade food.

Some owners immediately feed their pets natural food, while others come to this later, having appreciated the benefits of this type of food. Products for this are almost always available in the refrigerator; they are much cheaper than ready-made commercial feed.

Many owners want to independently create a healthy home menu, preferable for the cat’s sensitive stomach, without preservatives, sugar, chemicals, bones, reducing the risk of food poisoning and allergies, while you can always control the menu and pet’s diet.

Requirements for natural food

Dishes prepared by the owners of their furry beauties themselves will be healthy and suitable for pets if certain rules are followed. You need to understand that a careless attitude to the issue of feeding can cause harm, lead to illness, and the death of a family friend. It is necessary to observe the nutritional standards that a given individual is capable of eating in nature. It is important to adhere to the following requirements:

the cat’s daily diet should contain a sufficient amount of animal components, Omega 3 and 6 fatty amino acids;
Home-cooked food must be complete, balanced, taking into account the physiological natural needs, age, characteristics of the breed, activity, sensitivity of the digestive organs, health status, gender, providing the animal with the necessary amount of energy. All this requires some experience and analysis. It is worth developing a natural menu under the guidance of a veterinarian to carefully calculate the nutrients the cat needs and obtain all the necessary elements in the diet;
It is necessary to weigh products and strictly record the volume of food. The pet itself does not know how much food it needs. The result of this approach is often obesity, digestive, cardiac, and respiratory problems. The danger comes from both excess and deficiency of nutrients;
cat food must contain the necessary microelements (necessarily phosphorus, calcium), including vitamins;
The portion of food must be completely eaten.

Nutritional needs of cats

In nature, cats lead a predatory lifestyle, feeding on birds and small rodents. Their jaws are capable of tearing off and gnawing off pieces of meat, but they swallow them completely, entirely, because... do not have chewing teeth. Animals can eat food in pieces, eat chopped food, dishes in the form of pates, and porridges.

Carbohydrate products are not recommended for the cat family, like all other predatory animals, as they are not broken down in the stomach and are harmful. The preferences of humans and cats are different, although pets can happily enjoy their owner’s favorite dish. There are capricious individuals who are content with a certain type of food and are indifferent to the rest.

Cats need food high in fat and protein, which they need twice as much as dogs. The pet's diet is carefully planned taking into account the feeding received. The nutrition formula for a cat is simple: half of the diet should be protein (meat), 1/4 fiber should be vegetables, 1/4 carbohydrates should be cereals.

Features of permitted natural food:

The main portion of the diet (more than 85%) should be meat: lean chicken, beef, rabbit, approximately 8% of body weight - up to 6 months of age, after a year - approximately 4%. Chicken requires careful introduction into the diet, as it has recently caused severe allergic reactions. The meat is given scalded with boiling water or boiled with the addition of vegetables and a few drops of vegetable oil. Pork is strictly prohibited;
fish: sea fish, low-fat varieties - once a week, to avoid urolithiasis, instead of raw meat, uncut or only boiled (hake, pollock, blue whiting, tuna) to prevent severe anemia, without bones. Mackerel, haddock, flounder, salmon, and cod are allowed. Freshwater fish must be boiled to eliminate problems associated with helminths infesting cats and to destroy the harmful enzyme thiaminase. It is not permissible to feed castrated cats and sterilized females with fish products;
fermented milk products: kefir, cottage cheese, medium fat content, less than 5%. Milk cannot be added to the menu. Lactose is poorly absorbed by adult cats due to the lack of the enzyme lactase, but pets who tolerate the product can be given boiled as a source of calcium into the body. Cheese, cream, sour cream are heavy products for the pancreas;
offal: liver (in its raw form it relaxes the intestines, in boiled form it has a binding effect), kidneys, lungs, heart (contains a lot of taurine, which cats need) - served raw a couple of times a week. Not all cats are able to digest them. Loose stools and vomiting are a reason to refuse this food;
eggs - quail and chicken are allowed, as an independent dish and when added to fermented milk products. Contains a lot of biotin, which strengthens the coat;
vegetables - almost everything is allowed, except potatoes, cabbage, beets, fruits - except citrus fruits, bananas. You can combine several types or settle on one product that your animal prefers. They are given raw, crushed, as a separate dish or mixed with meat. Not digestible, needed for good digestion;
cereals and bran - useful for peristalsis, help maintain beneficial intestinal microflora. You can give porridge: rice, buckwheat, rolled oats;
oils: olive, pumpkin, flaxseed - envelop the mucous membrane of the digestive organs, normalize their functioning;
greens collected far from the city limits, sprouted rice or oats are given periodically.

A vegetarian diet, useful for humans and carnivores, is contraindicated; it negatively affects well-being, causing blindness, cardiac arrest, and death, regardless of the addition of the necessary vitamins to food.

Feeding frequency

Kittens up to 2 weeks are fed every 2 hours, a kitten aged 1-2 months - 5-6 feedings, a 3-month-old kitten - three to four times a day, six months - twice. For adult cats, food is left untidy; they can be allowed to eat as much as they want or be fed 2-3 times a day. If there are several animals in the same house, you need to make sure that they do not eat other people's food. Spayed and neutered animals are fed once a day.

It is important to feed your cat food at the same time each day to establish a proper feeding routine. Meat food, which takes a long time to digest, is left for evening feeding. Constant access to food is not necessary to avoid overeating and obesity.

After eating, cats usually rest in secluded places; they should not be disturbed. If you refuse to feed, vomiting, diarrhea, lethargy, or fever, you should immediately seek help from a veterinarian.

Remains of food are not left in the bowl for a long time - souring and spoilage of food can cause poisoning of the animal. Product not eaten within an hour is thrown away.

How to accustom a cat to new food

Cats quickly get used to a certain type of food, so they may initially refuse innovations. Continue to offer a new diet to your pet, sometimes replacing it with completely familiar food; over time, the animal will become interested in the product.

You can begin to introduce the ingredient, gradually adding it to the usual feeding, replacing it completely after 1-2 weeks.

Self-composition of a menu for cats begins if you are ready to correctly calculate the amount of necessary components and nutrients. If you are a busy person, travel or work a lot, who can provide proper care and nutrition for your little friend?

The animal needs not only boiled, but also raw or prepared food, which supplies the body with important substances, amino acids, which are destroyed during heat treatment. In this case, the best solution would be to feed with industrial feed that can provide all the vital components.

How to cook food

After studying the cat's needs, you can begin to create a menu for cats. At the same time, it is important to maintain a balance, because if nutrients are used in excess, your pet may develop serious health problems. This will require a lot of time and financial resources. Feeding natural food requires a competent approach. With such a vital issue, it is better to seek help from a veterinarian.

Homemade cat food should be at room temperature or slightly warmed. Give small pieces: the cat eats quickly, large pieces may not be digested and cause vomiting.

Feeding utensils

Special bowls intended for cats that widen towards the bottom are better suited - they turn over and slide less. Their size accommodates a single portion of food, the food does not crumble or smear on the walls or bottom. It is not recommended to use double containers with water and food at the same time: food often gets into the liquid, and the animal refuses to drink.

Power calculation

Natural food is convenient and allows you to control your pet’s weight, the amount of nutrients, mineral and vitamin supplements. But it requires the correct calculation of the daily norm, otherwise the animal will not avoid health problems in the future. For different ages, the amount of food is individual.

How much food is needed

From ten weeks the baby can be separated from its mother. Until he reaches the age of 9 months, he needs no more than 10% of his total body weight. For example, with a weight of 1.5 kg, a kitten needs 150 g of food. It can be meat, dairy products in a 50:50 ratio.

How much food does an adult need?

For a mature animal, the amount of food is prepared at the rate of 5% of the pet’s weight. With a cat weighing 4 kg, food needs 200 g, the composition is the same as for babies: equal shares of meat and dairy products. You can mix some vegetables (10-15 grams) and a couple of drops of vegetable oil into your food.

It is not always possible to weigh an adult cat separately. You can do the following: stand on a bathroom scale with your animal, then subtract your weight, which will leave you with the mass of your furry friend.

Water

Cats should have constant access to clean filtered water; it is important that the liquid is always in sight. Furry pets, like all mammals, need it. Often cats prefer to drink from large, deep dishes: buckets, basins, ignoring small bowls.

A large dog bowl is an ideal container: the water will remain clean for a long time, and it will be difficult to turn the dishes over. The cat regulates the amount of liquid needed on its own by drinking the required amount. You need to monitor older animals, because constipation may indicate an imbalance in water balance. To get rid of intestinal problems and prevent dehydration, cats are switched to feeding semi-liquid food.

Recipes

Cats are even greater food connoisseurs than people. This is facilitated by their origin and habits developed over the years. They quickly get bored with monotonous food; a change in diet is necessary at least a couple of times a week. If it is not possible to cook frequently, long-lasting dishes are prepared.

What do cats eat from homemade food? This can be homemade dry food and minced meat laid out in portions and stored in the refrigerator.

How to prepare dry food

This type of food is convenient to use, you can take it with you on the road, it does not take up much space. But cheap industrial feeds contain a lot of dangerous chemicals that can kill the animal. High quality food is not available to every cat owner. Therefore, homemade dry food, made from high-quality natural products and dried to a certain moisture content, will be an excellent replacement for expensive ready-made food. It is also convenient on the go and has a long shelf life. You can prepare cat food from many products available at home. It all depends on the imagination of the owner and the taste preferences of the pet. The main thing is that it should be beneficial and have good taste. Cats happily eat this tasty, inexpensive food.

Recipe No. 1:

500 g beef liver;
carrots, cottage cheese 500 g each;
eggs - 2 pcs;
cottage cheese, zucchini, beets - 100g each.

The products are ground independently in a meat grinder, eggs are beaten in, everything is mixed. The resulting minced meat is formed into meatballs or cutlets, distributed on a sheet, and sent to the oven to dry for 40-50 minutes. It is taken out and after cooling it breaks into small pieces.

Recipe No. 2:

500 g liver;
500 g hearts;
1 kg chicken soup set;
2 carrots;
1 glass of boiled cereals (buckwheat, pearl barley, rice - you can alternate).

The meat is beaten, finely chopped, and ground together with hearts, liver, and carrots using a food processor. The resulting pate is evenly spread on a baking sheet or silicone sheet, baked, and dried in the oven for 40 minutes. It is cut and broken into small pieces. Stored in the refrigerator for a long time.

Homemade natural dishes

These recipes will take a little effort and time, which is important for busy modern people. With the help of such dishes, your pets will always be full and happy.

Liver with oatmeal:

chicken, beef liver;
half a glass of oatmeal;
frozen green peas;
a little sunflower oil.

The liver is boiled or stewed. Oatmeal is boiled. Chopped liver is mixed with peas and oatmeal.

Chicken breast with vegetables and rice:

carrot;
half a glass of rice;
1 breast;
2 glasses of water.

The breast and rice are boiled. The meat is chopped, mixed with rice and grated carrots.

Diet for allergies:

2 cups minced lamb meat;
half a cup of zucchini or carrots;
a glass of boiled dark rice;
50 g cottage cheese;
a quarter teaspoon of garlic powder.

Beat the ingredients in a blender and feed them warm.

Examples of a cat's daily menu

The cat's diet consists of home-cooked food (based on the animal's weight of 4.5 kg).

breakfast: 30 g cottage cheese, 1 chicken egg, water;
lunch: 40 g cottage cheese, 30 g chicken hearts, water;
dinner: 70 g rabbit meat, 40 g cottage cheese, water.

breakfast: 15 g of vegetables, 50 g of boiled fish;
lunch: 20 g kefir, 45 g cottage cheese;
dinner: 20 g kefir, 70 g lean meat.

No. 3 (write for all techniques):

500 g beef;
2 hard-boiled eggs;
1.5 - 2 cups rye crackers;
chopped parsley.

The meat is boiled, ground in a meat grinder along with the eggs, the ingredients are mixed with breadcrumbs and herbs, and immersed in boiling water for a couple of minutes. Give it to the cat half-baked.

Which products are dangerous?

Before you go into the kitchen to prepare food for your pet, there are several factors to consider. You should understand: foods you like may be harmful to cats.

Cats are prohibited:

chocolate, products with cocoa beans - contain theobromine, toxic to animals;
onions, garlic, grapes, raisins;
tomatoes, eggplants;
sugar, salt, soda, baking powder;
sweets (sweets, cakes) cause diabetes, allergies;
herbs, spices;
alcohol;
artificial sweeteners;
tea, coffee, products, medications from a human pharmacy containing caffeine;
dog food (dry, wet), because has a different composition:
pork, lamb;
bones, heads, tails, paws can cause intestinal obstruction and digestive tract injuries;
semolina, millet, corn porridge - useless food;
pasta, flour - cause obesity, constipation, colitis;
remains of human food (fried, smoked, baked);
sausages;
raw eggs;
veterinarians do not recommend feeding cats raw meat purchased in markets or stores - it often contains dangerous hormones and antibiotics;
pickled vegetables, fruits;
freshwater fish - risk of helminth infection;
seafood;
mushrooms - the cat’s body does not digest them, does not produce enzymes capable of breaking them down, the cat can even be poisoned by edible ones;
nuts are not digestible and can cause a severe allergic reaction, including respiratory arrest.

Feeding your pet a natural menu requires a competent, attentive approach. You need to spend a lot of time, often a lot of financial resources, to provide the animal with a varied, balanced menu. A cat, just like us, cannot eat the same product all the time.

It is especially important to monitor the nutrition of animals that have recovered from illness, those who have undergone surgery, pregnant animals, young animals, and those suffering from chronic diseases. In such cases, it is better to listen to a veterinarian or feline health specialist to rule out dangerous products. Sometimes even healthy foods can cause harm if you use them in excessive quantities.

Before sitting down at the table, you should feed the animal. A hungry cat is especially sensitive to the smells of human food, begins to intensively beg for food, then eats with increased appetite, which eventually causes obesity.

Be attentive to your pet’s behavior: an unsuitable product must be immediately eliminated and replaced with another. If your pet friend looks good, is cheerful, healthy, and playful, then the diet is correct. This means that food prepared with your own hands will give your pet good health, a long, happy life, and excellent health.

Industrially prepared cat food does not require much time and effort from you; it is easy to purchase and give to your pet. This is especially important and convenient during a busy work schedule. However, one cannot ignore the fact that some of these processed foods may be harmful to your cat's health. That's why more and more pet owners are choosing to switch from commercially produced foods to a more natural diet for their pets.

Specially prepared homemade cat food, made from fresh and healthy ingredients, can be, if not the basis, then a pleasant and healthy addition to your pet's diet. In addition, such food is much more natural, it is closer to the natural diet of cats than anything offered in pet stores.

Before preparing food for your pet, you need to know a few rules

There are foods that are harmful to the health of cats:

pork,
chocolate,
mushrooms,
salt.

You should also avoid feeding your cat raw eggs (boiled eggs can be given calmly), raw fish and milk, or at least these foods should not be fed frequently. Most people who own multiple types of pets often feed their pets the same foods. You can't do that.

Choose protein-rich recipes

Owners should be aware that cats need a lot of protein (they need 5 times more protein than dogs), which inevitably means that a dog's food may not be a normal diet for a cat. For each type of animal (for example, cats, dogs, chinchillas), it is necessary to prepare separately. There are many simple and accessible recipes that can be used to provide complete and balanced nutrition for your cat.

Of course, as we all know, cats are picky eaters, so there is no guarantee that they will like all the recipes, but they are sure to love some of them. The main thing is to start with what your cat likes and what smells good.

Use a variety of meat sources

The more there are, the better (chicken, turkey, beef, rabbit, duck, etc.). This provides a more complete balance of nutrients and also enriches the feeding with different tastes and textures. You can use different sources of meat at the same time.

There are different opinions regarding the use of bones in preparing cat food. Personally, I never use them due to the risk of choking, puncture or blocking the digestive tract.

Add products containing tatourine

The heart of various animals should be added to the diet, as it is one of the best sources of taurine, which is an essential amino acid for cats. If you do not give your cat enough hearts (about 10% of the diet), additional taurine must be given in the form of food supplements.

The menu should also include the liver or another secretory organ (for example, kidneys and spleen). Most animals do not like their taste, but it can be masked by chopping and mixing with meat and vegetables. Among the vegetables you can give pumpkin, spinach, carrots, etc. Onions and garlic are toxic to cats and should not be given to them.

You will also need a blender, food processor or meat grinder for cooking.

The basic formula for cat food is simple: half protein (meat) and one-quarter each carbohydrates (grains) and vegetables (fiber).

Protein is found in turkey, chicken, rabbit, fish and other meats. The best source of carbohydrates is brown rice. As for vegetables, whatever your cat eats is fine. The meat can be either raw or boiled. Mix it with cooked vegetables and rice.

And now some recipes for homemade cat food

They are collected from various sources on the Internet. Anything you prepare for your cat yourself (with a few exceptions, of course) will be better than what you can buy in the store, because not only do you have complete control over all the ingredients, but also because you are directly involved in the process. Cats, like people, appreciate home-cooked food prepared with love just for them.

Chicken with rice and vegetables

2 cups chopped or shredded chicken
1/4 cup grated boiled carrots

Cut the chicken into small pieces. Pass the carrots through a food processor. Mix chicken and carrots with rice. Serve at room temperature.

Diet for a picky cat

1 cup boiled chicken
1/4 cup steamed broccoli
1/4 carrots, steamed
Chicken broth, about half a cup

Mix ingredients and serve.

Salmon with rice

150 gr. steamed salmon
1/2 hard-boiled egg
1/3 cup boiled rice
1 tablet calcium carbonate (400 mg calcium)
1 tablet of vitamin-mineral complex

Mix and serve.

Liver holiday

2 cups chopped beef or chicken liver
2 tablespoons vegetable oil
1 cup cooked oatmeal
1/4 cup frozen peas, steamed

Boil the liver with vegetable oil, chop finely. Add cooked oatmeal and green peas. Cool and serve at room temperature.

From what is

1.5 cups meat - beef, chicken, turkey, lamb (finely chopped)
0.5 cups of vegetables - carrots, zucchini, sweet potatoes, pumpkin or wheat germ
0.5 cups mashed potatoes, rice or oatmeal
1 tablespoon vegetable oil

Pass vegetables through a food processor. Chop the meat finely. Mix meat and vegetables, potatoes, rice or oatmeal. Add vegetable oil and serve.

Tuna for lunch

0.5 kg. tuna, canned in oil
1/2 cup cooked brown rice
1/4 cup grated carrots
2 tablespoons sprouted wheat

Mix and serve at room temperature. Do not give more than once a week as it may lead to vitamin E deficiency.

Liver and kidneys for dinner

1 cup boiled chopped liver or kidneys
3/4 cup boiled oatmeal
3 tablespoons grated carrots or zucchini
1/3 cup yogurt
3 tablespoons butter

Mix minced liver or kidneys, oatmeal and vegetables. Melt the butter and pour in the mixture. Add yogurt and serve at room temperature.

Holiday

1 cup shredded beef
1/4 cup alfalfa or parsley
1/2 cup cottage cheese with cream

Mix the ingredients.

Diet for allergies

2 cups shredded lamb
1/2 cup grated carrots or zucchini
1 cup cooked brown rice
1/4 cup cottage cheese
1/4 tsp. garlic powder

Dinner time

100 gr. cooked white meat chicken
1/4 cup cooked mashed potatoes
1-1/2 teaspoons butter

Combine all ingredients in a blender and serve at room temperature.

For breakfast

1 egg
1 tablespoon green beans (cooked or pureed)
1 tablespoon finely chopped carrots
2 tablespoons chopped chicken breasts (skinless)
1/3 cup brown rice (cooked)
1 tablespoon olive oil

Mix all ingredients thoroughly. You can also puree the mixture in a blender if needed.

Stewed chicken for cats

1 whole chicken
2 cups brown rice
6 stalks of celery
6 carrots, grated but not peeled
2 small yellow pumpkins
2 zucchini
1 cup green peas
handful of green beans

Wash the chicken, then cover with water in a large saucepan and simmer. Cut the vegetables into pieces and add to the pan. Add rice. Cook until the chicken is almost falling off the bones and the vegetables are tender. Remove the chicken completely from the bones. This is very important because cooked chicken bones can cause serious intestinal damage. Pour everything into a blender and grind the mixture.

Chicken liver recipe

1/2 cup cooked broccoli or cooked carrots
1/2 cup cooked rice
1 1/2 cups boiled chicken liver
Chicken liver broth

Place rice, liver, broccoli or carrots in a blender and blend them, adding a little broth.

Chicken with broccoli

A piece of skinless, boneless chicken breast about the size of your palm or smaller, depending on how much you want to cook.
Two or three pieces of broccoli

Boil the chicken and broccoli, mix in a blender until smooth.

Shrimp with carrots

3-4 raw shrimp. You need to cut off the tail and remove the outer layer, boil it.
The carrots will need to be cooked over high heat for 10-15 minutes, then blend them in a blender until smooth.

Once the shrimp have cooled slightly, cut them into small pieces. Mix with carrots.

Meat with cottage cheese

100 gr. meat, beef or poultry
1 tablespoon carrots
1 tablespoon cottage cheese
1 tablespoon sunflower oil.

You can also add flavorings to your food (kelp powder, garlic powder, nutritional yeast), but only in small quantities.

You can store leftover cat food in the refrigerator, but the same rules apply as leftover human food—use within a few days or freeze.

Making your own healthy diet for your cat at home is quite easy.

This way, you don't have to worry about all the harmful additives used in commercial cat food. You can easily make your own homemade cat food that will be tasty, nutritious and healthy. Take these recipes as a basis and experiment.

Remember! Homemade food should provide your cat with all the vitamins and minerals it needs. If you are not sure about this, give additional vitamin and mineral complexes.

Sometimes it is difficult for a cat to switch from dry food to this diet, so first you need to switch to wet food (canned food and preserves), since their texture is closer to natural food. And then gradually mix wet food with natural food until you completely switch to the latter.

It's no secret that cats, as members of the feline family, naturally eat raw meat. Domesticated to save people from rats and mice, cats did not change this rule. One cannot help but think about how the health of these beloved furballs is affected by such dry cat food, which is easily accessible to their owners. If you are still thinking about this, it means that you really love your cat, since preparing natural, organic raw food for it is not an easy task. However, there are a number of rules and regulations that you should not deviate from when preparing treats for your cat.

Natural raw cat food

Meat pre-treatment

The presence of bacteria on the surface of the meat is normal. Therefore, before cooking it must be washed in running water. The same goes for the cat's bowl. Even if the bowl looks licked, it should still be washed thoroughly with soap. If you are an inveterate perfectionist, then you need to disinfect with a 1:1 solution of vinegar and hydrogen peroxide. Hands should be protected with rubber gloves.

Healthy cat food recipe

Basic recipe

1. 2 kg of raw meat. These could be chicken necks, which are easy for a cat to chew, thighs and drumsticks;

2. 400 grams of heart, the best option is the animal taken in point 1 (if there is no heart - Taurine 4000 mg);

3. 200 grams of liver, the best option is the animal taken in point 1 (if there is no liver - 40,000 IU of vitamin A and 1,600 IU of vitamin D);

4. 2 cups of water;

5. 4 egg yolks;

6. 4 capsules of iron supplement;

7. 4000 mg salmon oil;

8. 200 mg vitamin B;

9. 800 mg vitamin E;

10. Additionally: brown and red dry seaweed, 1/4 teaspoon each.

11. Additionally: plantain seeds, 4 teaspoons each.

IMPORTANT: When replacing a heart or liver, it is imperative to replace the missing mass with meat from point 1.

WARNINGS

Making your own cat food is easy!

If you are new to preparing your own cat food, then you must follow the stated recipe. You cannot change the proportions and ingredients to your taste, as this will make the food unbalanced and may have a detrimental effect on your pet’s health. This mixture can be stored in the refrigerator for up to 2 days, in the freezer – up to 10. It is recommended to defrost by placing the mixture in a closed bag in warm water. There is a risk of overdosing on fat-soluble vitamins A, D, E and K. The amount of supplements should be measured as accurately as possible, otherwise the balance will be upset. During long-term storage of the finished product by freezing, loss of vitamins occurs. Before giving food to a cat, 4000 mg of Taurine should be added, regardless of whether the food is made with heart disease or not.

The cat family has been eating raw food for thousands of years. Even domestic cats have caught and continue to catch mice, rats and other rodents. This suggests that for proper nutrition and maintaining good health, they need meat in their daily diet. If you're tired of spending a lot of money on expensive food, try feeding your pet raw food. Make your own food to keep your cat healthy and happy.

Ingredients

2 kilograms of raw meat with bones
400 grams of heart, preferably from the same animal whose meat you will use. If you were unable to purchase a heart, then 4000 milligrams of taurine should be used instead.
200 grams of raw liver, preferably from the same animal whose meat you will use. If you cannot find liver, then it should be replaced with a supplement of 42 mg of vitamin A and 1.7 mg of vitamin D, but it is still better to use natural liver instead of substitutes.
If you replaced the ingredients with taurine and vitamins A and D, then you will need more meat. For example, if you couldn't find liver and heart, add an additional 400 grams of meat with bones.
2 glasses of water
4 raw egg yolks (preferably homemade and not from chickens injected with antibiotics)
4 capsules of bovine glands
4000 mg salmon oil
200 mg vitamin B complex
800 IU Vitamin E. The powder is very easy to use, but you can also use oil capsules.
1/4 teaspoon kelp powder and ¼ teaspoon red kelp powder (for a total of ½ teaspoon) optional.
4 teaspoons plantain seeds or 8 teaspoons whole plantain leaves, optional.

Steps

Part 1

Preparing to prepare cat food

Examine your cat. Before switching to this type of food, the animal must be completely healthy. Take your cat to the veterinarian for a full examination. You should also consult a pet nutritionist about your cat's diet.

Prepare your food. Grinding and freezing raw cat food reduces the amount of taurine in it. You should supplement with this amino acid to prevent possible eye and heart problems. You may not immediately notice a taurine deficiency. This may take several years, and then the process will become irreversible.

Seek help from an expert who will tell you the required dose of taurine for your specific animal.

Take care of food safety. Every time you purchase raw meat, it must be thoroughly washed and properly stored in the future. This is very important to prevent salmonella poisoning. Always use fresh meat and avoid using stale looking meat as this will increase the risk of illness.
Buy meat. Depending on your preferences when choosing meat for preparing food, you will need to spend time searching for a quality product. Although you can easily purchase a whole chicken at your local grocery store, you will need to spend some time finding a farmer or butcher from whom you can purchase the hearts and livers. If you have a whole chicken on hand, then only small bones should be ground together with the meat. If you add bones that are too large, your cat will simply avoid them. Make sure that you do not use bones in the preparation of food that could damage your animal's digestive system.

Part 2
Preparing raw cat food
1. Prepare the meat. Trim the carcass and cut it into pieces. Pass the pieces of meat through the largest grate of the meat grinder. Pieces of meat that are not ground into mince will allow your pet to chew food, thereby adding the required load on the teeth and gums. Select the bones. Place the prepared meat in the refrigerator.
  - When using chicken, remove as much of the skin as possible. Chicken necks are an excellent food for cats, as they consist mainly of cartilaginous bones, which are easily digested in the animal's stomach. You can also use rabbit, duck or turkey meat.
2. Process the heart and liver. After wrapping the meat, add the required amount of heart and liver. Grind them in a meat grinder or food processor and put them in the refrigerator while you prepare the rest of the ingredients.
  - At this point, you can also remove the bones from the refrigerator and grind them in a meat grinder. You should not use a food processor for this purpose, as it is not designed to grind bones.
3. Mix all additives. In a separate bowl, whisk together salmon oil, bovine glandular capsules, kelp, red kelp, vitamins E and B, egg yolks and water. If you use plantain, add it at the very end and mix the ingredients thoroughly again.
  - You can discard the egg whites or save them for other purposes.
4. Remove food from freezer and reheat. If you still have some food left in the refrigerator, you still need to warm it up. Some cats begin to vomit when cold, raw food enters their stomach.
  - To warm up a bag of food, simply place it in hot water and allow it to warm to room temperature or slightly higher. Never use a microwave oven to heat raw food, especially if you used bones to cook it. Bones prepared in this way break into sharp pieces and can be very dangerous for the health of cats, while soft, raw bones are easily digestible by animals.
- A little variety in food is very beneficial for domestic cats. Rabbit, chicken, partridge, turkey and guinea fowl are best suited for these purposes. Some cats love beef and lamb, but not all of them will be able to immediately digest beef or lamb if up to this point they have been eating exclusively dry food.
- If you do not intend to use the food immediately and plan to freeze it for more than a week or two, then 4000 mg should be added to it. taurine so that beneficial substances do not disappear during storage. You can also add taurine directly to the food two or three times a week; This will ensure that your cat is getting enough of this amino acid.
- You can feed this food to both kittens and adult cats. You can begin to gradually introduce raw food into your pet's diet.