Cats are obligate carnivores and as such, they need a diet containing ONLY meat. What else does this mean? They should have a significant amount of protein from meat or fish, fatty acids, vitamins, minerals, water and taurine. Carbohydrates, or fillers, in very small amounts are okay; however, to provide the cat with energy and reduce the cost of the diet (but not necessary). In order to provide your cat with a healthy homemade cat food, there are a few other facts you should know.
Homemade Cat Food: Do’s
- Follow the recipe exactly as it reads. Not following the recipe exactly as it reads can actually do more harm to your cat than good in regard to feeding a home-based diet
- AVOID garlic, raisins, onions, raw egg whites and tomatoes!
- Provide protein using chicken, beef, pork, liver or fish
- Include a sufficient amount of fat
Homemade Cat Food: Don’ts
- Do not include too many carbohydrates! The diet should be less than 10% carbohydrates in content.
- Don’t forget taurine! If you do not include taurine, your furry feline friend will go blind!
- Do not feed processed treats!
- Do not try to feed your cat fruits and veggies! They are obligate carnivores remember, so they do not need these.
If you have any questions regarding homemade cat food or for your canine friend, our in-house pet nutritionist is available to assist you.
Amber Johnson, Animal Behaviorist
Miss Amber Johnson has many years of experience with pets and is a licensed cat and dog nutrition and behavior specialist. She currently collaborates with PetPremium where she counsels clients in pet behavior and nutrition. The statements made in this article are the personal opinions of Miss Amber Johnson and based on independent experiences and could be different from the opinions of PetPremium Pet health Insurance or any other pet health insurance provider.