Home-Prepared Cat Meals: Why Cats Prefer Them Over Stor

LongTerm Benefits of Feeding Homemade Cat Food

Feeding your feline companion a homemade diet can lead to a noticeable improvement in their health and wellbeing. Many cat owners have reported a reduction in eye boogers, fresher breath, increased water intake, and a decrease in shedding. These positive changes are a testament to the benefits of a wellbalanced homemade meal.

Principles of Homemade Cat Food Preparation

Before diving into the world of homemade cat cuisine, it's crucial to understand your cat's dietary needs and preferences. Cats are obligate carnivores, which means their diet should consist predominantly of meat, with at least 95% of their food being meatbased. The remaining 5% can include organs and nutritional supplements.

Cooking the Cat Food

Steaming is the ideal method for preparing cat food, as it retains moisture and can be served as a liquid meal to help cats stay hydrated. This method also serves as a convenient way to supplement their water intake.

Avoiding Additives

It's important to steer clear of seasonings and spices. If your cat is hesitant to eat the homemade food, you can initially mix it with a small amount of canned food to enhance its palatability. Gradually reduce the amount of canned food over time until it's no longer necessary.

Portion Sizes and Feeding Schedule

The general guidelines for portion sizes are as follows: cats under 4 months should receive 10% of their body weight, cats between 4 and 11 months should get 6% to 8% of their body weight, and cats over 11 months should have 3% to 4% of their body weight. This should be divided into two to three meals per day.

Recipe for Homemade Cat Food

Ingredients: 85% meat (beef, lamb, chicken, duck, rabbit, chicken hearts), 10% fish (mackerel, salmon, sardines), 5% liver, and nutritional powder.

It's worth noting that lean meats are preferred, and chicken, duck, and rabbit should be breast meat. Chicken hearts are a special mention; they are a muscle tissue and not considered an organ, allowing for generous consumption. They are also rich in taurine, a vital nutrient for cats.

Preparation Steps

1. Wash the meat thoroughly and trim any excess fat and tendons.

2. Cut the meat into bitesized pieces and mix well. It's not necessary to puree the meat, as cats have teeth designed for chewing.

3. Steam the meat in portions that correspond to a single meal. The size can be calculated based on your cat's weight.

4. After steaming, let the meat cool to a temperature that is safe to eat (below 40 degrees Celsius). Then, add nutritional powder at a ratio of 1 part powder to 100 parts meat weight (based on the raw weight, not the weight after cooking).

5. Nutritional powder should not be added prematurely, as heat can degrade some of its nutrients.

Storage Tips

It's advisable to prepare a week's worth of food at a time and then portion it into individual servings. Store these in the refrigerator or freezer to maintain freshness. Use baking parchment or small containers for easy storage and defrosting as needed.

Final Reminder

All ingredients should be cooked before feeding. While some pet owners advocate for a raw diet, the freezing conditions in a home refrigerator may not effectively kill parasites, especially in meats like pork and beef. For the health and safety of your cat, always cook the food thoroughly.