It's no secret that a homemade cat food diet can offer the best nutrition when it is prepared the right way. Most veterinarians and feline nutrition experts won't recommend this diet, because they know that pet owners won't put the work into ensuring the homemade meals provide 100% balanced nutrition. With that said, this balanced homemade cat food recipe may offer the proper nutrition for some cats, but it will not provide balanced nutrition for every feline.
The term “balanced” is used by veterinarians, pet nutritionists, pet food companies and other experts in the field to refer to a diet that is nutritionally balanced and can be used as a cat's sole source of nutrition.
The next time you're in the pet store, check out the label of the cat food options that are labeled “balanced.” They specifically state the type of cat that the food is formulated for. For example, food for kittens, senior cats, cats in all life stages, overweight cats, cats with special health conditions…the list goes on and on.
Now you know what I mean when I say that this food may be balanced for some cats, but not every cat. Before you begin feeding this recipe, discuss the change in diet with your vet or a trained feline nutritionist. They will be able to tell you if this food will provide adequate nutrition to meet your pet's unique needs.
It's likely that the expert you consult will recommend adding supplements to this recipe. In fact, a recent study performed on 114 homemade cat food recipes showed that many recipes (even the ones that come from veterinarians) do not have all the adequate nutrients that the “average” cat needs.
“Balance” refers to the type and amount of nutrients contained in a recipe. Prolonged feeding of unbalanced meals exposes your cat to many health risks. This is why it is crucial that you discuss this recipe with your veterinarian or a feline nutrition expert before you begin feeding it to your cat.
Balanced Homemade Cat Food Recipe
Recipe: Balanced Homemade Cat Food Recipe
The ingredients in this recipe could be substituted if necessary. You could use a different protein source or any feline-friendly vegetables that are a good choice for your pup. Your veterinarian will have substitution suggestions if your cat has any special dietary needs.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 20 minutes
- Total Time: 30 minutes
- Yield: 1.5 cups 1x
- Category: Cooked Food
- Method: Stovetop
- Cuisine: Cat Food
Ingredients
- 1 cup cooked chicken (baked or boiled)
- ¼ cup steamed carrot (mashed)
- Chicken broth
- ¼ cup steamed broccoli (mashed)
Instructions
Put all the ingredients in a food processor and add 2 tablespoons of the chicken broth. Puree the ingredients until it resembles paté cat food. If the mixture is too crumbly, add more broth one tablespoon at a time to achieve the best consistency.
Once this balanced homemade at food recipe has cooled, you can serve it to your pet.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1/6 cup
- Calories: 26
- Sugar: .2 g
- Sodium: 23 mg
- Fat: .5 g
- Carbohydrates: .5 g
- Fiber: .2 g
- Protein: 4.7 g
- Cholesterol: 12 mg
How much to feed: I recommend feeding about 1/3 cup of food daily. This recommendation is for 2 servings per day, so the average cat would need about 1/6 cup in the morning and 1/6 cup in the evening. This is just a guideline. Typically cats do not overeat, but some cats do. Your cat may not overeat dry kibble, but the enticing whole food ingredients of homemade food may cause him to eat more than he should.
How to store: You can store the leftover cat food recipe in an airtight container in the refrigerator for 3-5 days or freeze it in an airtight container for storage of up to 3 months. Keep in mind that this recipe includes no preservatives, so it won't last nearly as long as commercial cat food.
