Table of Contents
Homemade Cat Food
Warning
Homemade Cat Food – Remember to avoid human foods that are toxic to cats at all times.
Pet owners may consider cooking for their furry friends at home for various reasons, such as concerns regarding pet food recalls, food allergies or the desire to provide the best quality foods. While the internet provides various recipes and suggestions for creating the best home-cooked food, it is not recommended by vets and veterinary nutritionists.
Homemade Cat Food: What You Need to Know
This is because crafting a diet at home that meets all the nutritional needs is challenging and may pose health risks to your cat if not done correctly. Therefore, it is important to understand your cat’s distinct dietary requirements and alternatives to home-cooking.
Top Reasons for Home-Cooking Your Cat’s Food
Pet Food Recalls
There have been several pet food recalls over the years. Occasionally, a company may voluntarily recall batches of food if minor issues arise, but the FDA may issue a mandatory recall when there is a risk of severe consequences that could lead to death or serious health issues.
Reports on pet food recalls may cause anxiety for pet owners. However, these recalls serve as indicators that commercial cat diets are thoroughly monitored and tested, allowing for quick action. While home-cooked diets may seem enticing, they are also at risk of contamination with dangerous germs and unsafe ingredients.
Medical Conditions
Your cat may need a particular diet if diagnosed with specific health conditions. Changing your cat’s diet may be overwhelming at first, but in most cases, it can help manage certain diseases. For instance, cats with diabetes, kidney disease, food allergy or urinary tract disorders may require special diets.
Homemade Cat Food: What You Need to Know
Prescription diets have been carefully formulated to treat medical issues that some commercial cat diets may not. However, they should only be used under the guidance of a veterinarian for an ailment diagnosed in the cat.
Wanting High-Quality Ingredients
Ingredients listed in commercial cat food diets may appear unappetizing, and it is more tempting to envision feeding our furry friends nice slices of roasted chicken with a side of shrimp. However, pet food companies add certain ingredients to improve their image, without these having real nutritional benefits. Additionally, sometimes the best nutrients may come from less appealing ingredients that contain more of what your cat requires.
Picky Eaters
Sometimes cats refuse to eat their favorite food, leading pet owners to think that home-cooked food will appeal to them. However, cats may refuse to eat their food due to reasons such as boredom, fear, changes in their diet formulations or if they are ill. It is especially important to consult with your vet in such situations to determine the cause of your cat’s change in behavior before considering home cooking for your fur baby.
Costs
Commercial cat food can be expensive, leading pet owners to consider cooking for their cats. However, home-cooked food may cost significantly more than commercial diets on the market. This is because fresh batches of food need to be cooked every few days to avoid spoilage, and providing a well-balanced diet for your cat necessitates acquiring many different ingredients and supplements.
Unique Nutritional Requirements of Cats
The dietary needs of cats differ from humans and dogs. Cats are carnivores and require high levels of animal protein in their diet. Additionally, they cannot produce certain amino acids and vitamins and must obtain these nutrients from their diet, making it challenging to develop a well-balanced diet that meets all their nutritional requirements.
Homemade Cat Food: What You Need to Know
Most commercial diets have been carefully crafted to meet these needs, and it is problematic to meet these requirements by cooking at home since cooking animal protein-containing organ meats and bones that may contribute these nutrients is difficult. Home-cooked diets may thus lack the required nutrients unless properly balanced with numerous supplements.
Risks of Home-Cooked Diets
Although it may seem reasonable to consider cooking for your furry friend at home, it is important to acknowledge the health risks that may ensue from this practice. A study in 2019 showed that over 100 home-cooking recipes for cats examined were deficient in important nutrients and were not nutritionally adequate, unlike commercial diets. The most frequent risks that reported include:
