Homemade Cat Food

The pet food recalls from the last few years have cat owners thinking more seriously about homemade cat food. By making your cat's food at home, you can ensure the purity of the product that your pet is eating.

Not all foods that are good for humans are good for cats. Some foods can make your cat sick or even cause death. Other foods are fine in small amounts, but they should not be fed to your pet on a regular basis.

The following list of foods should be avoided:

• Raisins
• Onions
• Garlic
• Chocolate
• Artificial sweeteners
• Raw meat
• Grapes
• Fake fats
• Egg shells
• Mushrooms
• Macadamias
• Citrus oils
• Persimmons
• Avocado

Don't feed your cat garlic.

• Alcohol
• Moldy or spoiled foods
• Pork
• Dog foods

Foods that should be used with caution include:

• Milk and dairy products
• Fat trimmings
• Tuna (high mercury levels)
• Liver and other organ meats

Do watch the amount of liver that you feed your pet, especially if you are supplementing your cat's food with vitamin A. Liver has a lot of this vitamin and your cat can end up with toxic levels if you are not careful. If the liver you are serving your feline friend is not organic then you should keep in mind that the liver filters out the toxins in the things that go into the body. This is another reason to serve liver only on an occasional basis.

There is some debate about feeding cats a raw diet. Many people believe that the raw diet is the closest to what a cat would eat in the wild. Others believe that homemade cat food should always be cooked. It is important to do your own research and come to your own conclusions. Of course always check with your vet before changing your cats' diet.

Cats, unlike most other mammals, do not need carbohydrates in their diet. Their bodies are uniquely created to function on a diet made up of proteins and fats. Because of this they have a very high protein requirement.

Cats require six types of nutrients to thrive:

• Calories
• Protein
• Essential fatty acids
• Water
• Minerals
• Vitamins

Most mammals get the glucose their bodies need from the breakdown of carbohydrates. Cats are able to derive glucose from the glycogenic amino acids found in protein and fats. Cat food that has a lot of cereal or vegetable fillers is actually unhealthy for your cat. Think about it, under normal circumstances cats do not feel the need to add a side dish of pasta with their mouse tartar. The only carbohydrates they are likely to get are those that may be still encased in the digestive system of their prey.

Recipes for homemade pet foods are all over the Internet. When you are looking at cat foods, keep the list of foods to avoid handy. Not all cat food recipes that are published online are healthy for your cat. Feline Future has a great series of articles on cat nutrition]. If you have any doubt check with your veterinarian. Here are some other sites focused on homemade foods for felines:

• e-Healthy Pet Food
• No Cans
• Cat Food
• Healthy Recipes for Pets

If you'd like to find some recipes you can easily keep on hand, check out The Natural Pet Food Cookbook from LTK's own Wendy Nan Rees. Wendy wrote this book in conjuction with Dr. Kevin Schlanger, DVM. This book contains a collection of tasty, balanced recipes for both cats and dogs, and there are additional feeding guidelines that clearly explain what your pets need as well as how much to feed them. You'll find dinner recipes as well as treats you can bake at home for your pet.

Once you have made a recipe that your cat loves, you will want to store the unused portion. Since cats eat about one–half to one cup of cat food a day, the easiest way to store it is in small freezer bags. You can then just take out enough food for the next day, place it in the refrigerator to thaw overnight and be ready to serve your cat nutritious and delicious meals.

Cat food stored in the refrigerator will be at its best for about three days but not much more than that. Do not feed your cat anything that may be spoiled. Cats can get food poisoning just as humans can. Some cats will not eat chilled food, so you may need to let it come to room temperature or heat slightly before serving.

While making homemade cat food can be a labor of love it is important that you give your cat all the nutrition it needs. Many vets caution against making cat food because of the difficulty in getting the nutritional balance just right. By understanding your cats' unique nutritional requirements and doing the research you will be able to create a healthy, inexpensive food for your cat.

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