Basics of a Homemade Cat Food

Homemade cat foods are difficult to make not because they are complex to make, but because cats have unique nutritional requirements, which ideally is met by a “prey diet”.  Carbohydrates although apparently tolerated by cats are potentially detrimental to the long-term health of many cats.  Although not proven conclusively carbohydrates or dry cat foods are believed to contribute to Urinary tract disease, inflammatory bowel disease, skin problems, obesity, and diabetes mellitus.

Cats are not truly domesticated like dogs but initially became associated with the early agrarian man attracted to the rodents that lived on mans’ stored winter food supplies. Our domestic cat evolved from the African wildcat Felis sylvestris. To-day because of human restrictions the “feral” cat has become dependent on us.

The introduction of dry cat foods into the market was done to expand the company’s product line.  Flavours were added to dog food formulations, and kibble shape and sizes were made to appeal to cats. The assumption was that a cat’s nutritional requirements were not different from a dog.  In addition, AAFCO feeding trials proved these diets were not detrimental over the short term. Extrusion technology not appropriate nutrition dictates what ingredients are necessary in a dry food. Carbohydrates are required in dry diets to keep the kibble together which is a manufacturing necessity not a nutritional one.

 Table 1 Unique features of a cat an obligate carnivore

 The ideal diet for a cat

An all “prey” raw diet is ideal. Unfortunately, to feed whole raw mice to a cat does not appeal to the public. A fear of feeding raw foods is instilled in the cat owner by both the industry and the veterinary profession.

Some raw food manufacturers are aware of the public health issues surrounding raw diets, (see the Canadian Association of raw food manufacturers’ web site) and take steps to minimize the presence of offending microorganisms in their diets. A cautionary note on all packaging indicates the proper methods for handling and feeding the raw diets. If these steps are followed, the risk of ingesting food borne pathogens is minimal. Once a cat is adapted to a raw diet, they generally eat their allotted portion rapidly within 2 minutes, so there little concern about left over raw food in the feed dish.

When a veterinarian advises a client to feed a raw diet or a client tells the veterinarian that their pet is fed a raw diet, the client should be made aware of the potential public health concerns and the precautionary steps to minimize the risk of exposure.  This information should be put in the medical records of that pet and the owner should sign that they understand.

Commercially a canned diet is preferable over a dry diet. To determine the amount of carbohydrates present you look at the guaranteed analysis on the label and you subtract from 100 the value for the Min, Crude Protein % plus Min Fat% plus the Max Moisture %plus the Max Fibre% plus the Max Ash %. This number should be less than 1.5.

The basic principles of a homemade diet:

Protein

Protein requirement for kittens is 1.5 time higher than chicks or piglets; for adults it is 2 to 3 times higher. The diet must supply a protein source of a high biological value that meets the unique amino acid requirements of the cat: meat, egg

Taurine, arginine, tyrosine (coat colour) essential: organ meat raw

Fat

Must provide arachidonic acid, Omega 6, and Omega 3 fatty acids: wild salmon oil organ meat

Fat: animal fat

Minerals

Calcium: powdered eggshell, raw young bone (raw chicken wing tips, breastbone), supplement

Trace Minerals

Dry powdered kelp

Vitamins

Vitamin A and D required preformed: liver raw, egg yolk

B Vitamins: Nutritional yeast, brewer’s yeast

Basic Cat Recipe (Please get permission to use copy right Marion Smart)

600 g Chicken breasts Raw with skin and cartilage (Northern Pike  because of thiaminase fish should no be fed raw)or venison)

100 g raw chicken liver

2 eggshells powdered in coffee grinder

4 hard-boiled eggs (free range chickens)

80 g low fat cheddar cheese (Optional)

1 tbl salmon oil

1 tbl nutritional yeast

1 tsp powder Kelp

Equipment:

Heavy-duty food processor, coffee grinder, metric food weigh scale, normal scale to weigh the cat.

Preparation:

This is where ones preferences and creativity come into play. The chicken breast with skin and cartilage can be minced in the food processor and then lightly cooked in a fry pan, or fed raw. The liver I would leave raw, as Taurine and some other nutrients are heat sensitive.

All the ingredients can be added to the food processor and minced and mixed

Caution

*Palatability can be an issue with cats, introduce the diet slowly mixing with decreasing amounts of the regular diet.  You must ignore if the cat’s behaviour becomes obnoxious. Do not allow the cat to go without eating any food for more than 48 hours. 

Do not feed cooked bones of any kind.

Table 1 Is a rough estimate of how these diets compare to the cat’s range of requirements. The values may not be accurate as they were generated from book values and not an actual analysis of the diets. This analysis                                       does not take into account the added chicken breast bone and wing tip to the diet as a treat.

Amount to feed

Between 3 to 4 % of a cat’s ideal body weight in kilograms will give you approximately the number of grams to feed per day for example a 6 kg cat in good body condition would require between 180 to 240 g per day. If the cat becomes too thin or fat, the daily intake can be increased or decreased slowly.

For something to chew on to elevate boredom, provide additional cartilage, Ca and P, and clean teeth, give ½ raw chicken breast bone or 1 raw wing tip every other day.

Recommended Web Sites

http://www.catnutrition.org/index.php

http://www.yourdiabeticcat.com/

http://www.carpfm.ca/