Best Homemade Cat Food: 10 Must Try DIY Ideas

Like humans, pets also want variation in their food. Making your cats something new every few days is much better than feeding them with the same food day after day, only for them to turn their noses up at it out of boredom. If you cook your own cat food then you can control exactly what nutrients your cat is getting on a daily basis. Plus, homemade food is often easier for your cat to digest. All you need is some time for your favorite feline and a few basic ingredients commonly found in most kitchens. Below, we are going to discuss 10 such homemade cat food recipes.

Not only do you have to find a homemade cat food that’s nutritionally sound and in your budget, but it has to be something your furry but friend will like and eat.

 

1. Dry Kibble

You can try making dry kibble which can be stored for up to 3 weeks in the fridge. It can be supplemented with wet, meat-based food, like a chicken and vegetable medley, to give your cat something new. It doesn’t take long to make and your cat will love you for it!

Ingredients

• 1 cup (150 grams) of cornmeal
• 2 cups (210 grams) of soy flour
• 3 cups (340 grams) of whole wheat flour
• 1 cup (115 grams) of wheat germ
• 1 cup (125 grams) of fat-free dry milk
• 1/2 cup (68 grams) of brewer’s yeast
• 15 ounces (430 g) of canned mackerel
• 5 tablespoons (74 mL) of vegetable oil
• 1 tablespoon (15 mL) of cod liver oil
• 2 cups (470 mL) of water

Directions

• Preheat oven to 177 degrees.
• Take cornmeal, soy flour, whole wheat flour, wheat germ, fat-free dry milk, and brewer’s yeast into a large mixing bowl. Whisk together the dry ingredients.
• Put the canned mackerel, vegetable oil, and cod liver oil into a small bowl. Whisk and mash the ingredients together using a fork.
• Combine the water and the dry ingredients until it gets too heavy and thick to handle.
• When it gets heavy and thick, start mixing by hand.
• Make the dough into a ball and then push down on it while it’s in the bowl.
• Repeat this gathering and pushing motion until all the ingredients are worked together.
• Add the fish and oil mixture to the dough after the water and dry ingredients have mostly combined.
• Roll out the dough and cut it into small squares of ¹⁄₄ inch each.
• Bake the kibble for about 20 to 25 minutes.
• Once it is baked let it cool for 10 to 15 minutes. Then transfer it to an airtight container and you can refrigerate it for up to 3 weeks.

 

2. Chicken and Vegetable Medley

You can combine it with dry food for variety or serve as it is. It contains a lot of vitamins and protein for your cat. It’s also one of the easier to make homemade cat food recipes.

Ingredients

• 1 cup (125 grams) of broiled or baked chicken
• 1/4 cup (40 grams) of steamed broccoli
• 1/4 cup (37.5 grams) of steamed carrots
• 3 to 4 tablespoons of chicken broth

Directions

• Bake 1 chicken breast, or enough to make 1 cup. You can also use a rabbit or hen if you don’t have chicken.
• Take broccoli and carrots and steam it.
• Use a grinder, blender or a food processor to blend the vegetables and the chicken together.
• Add in chicken broth to give the food a smooth consistency as per the requirement.
• Cool-down the food completely before feeding your cat.

3. Deluxe Fish Balls Recipe

Ingredients

• Small can of oil-packed tuna fish
• 2 tablespoons of bread crumbs
• 1 egg, well beaten
• 3 tablespoons or 45 milliliters of grated cheese

Directions

• Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
• Mash all ingredients together to make a paste-like mixture.
• Shape the mixture into balls and place on a greased baking tray.
• Bake for approximately 20 minutes. Check frequently; when they are golden brown and firm, they are ready.
• Cool it well before serving.

 

4. Rabbit Stew

Ingredients

• 1/2 lb rabbit meat
• 1 teaspoon olive oil
• A dash of parsley, thyme, rosemary, and marjoram
• Unsalted vegetable stock
• 20 gm of sweet potato, carrot, celery, and peas

Directions

• Sautee the rabbit in the olive oil
• Sprinkle with herbs and add veggies, bringing to a boil.
• Reduce heat and cook through.
• Add chopped vegetables and return to the oven for another 45 mins.
• Let it cool to room temperature and serve.
• You can store the leftovers in an airtight container for up to 3 days in the fridge, or freeze.

 

5. Raw Chicken Homemade Cat Food

Ingredients

• 4.5 lbs chicken thighs (including bone and skin!)
• 14 oz chicken hearts
• 7 oz chicken livers
• 2 cups of water
• 4 egg yolks or whole eggs (optional)
• 200 mg Vitamin B supplement
• 200 IU Vitamin E
• 1.5 teaspoons of light iodized salt (be sparing! Too much salt can be dangerous for a kitty)
• 2000 mg taurine

Directions

• Remove roughly half of the skin and 20% of the bone and discard it
• The thighs must be sliced and diced into small bite-sized portions
• Grind the rest of the thigh meat, bones, liver, and hearts and stir very well
• Take a large bowl and combine all vitamin supplements, salt, and eggs, and add 2 cups of water to it. Whisk the eggs well.
• You should now have three main mixtures – the sliced meat, the ground meat, and the supplement bowl. All of these should now be combined and mixed thoroughly.
• The leftovers can be stored in an airtight container that allows room for expansion as the food freezes. Leave a day or two’s worth of meal in the fridge and freeze the rest.

 

6. Chicken and Greens

Ingredients

• 3-pound quartered roasting chicken
• 4 cups of water
• 1⁄2 teaspoon salt
• 2 celery stalks with leaves
• 1 cup carrots, finely chopped
• 2 tablespoons parsley flakes or half cup chopped fresh parsley
• 1⁄2 cup barley, uncooked
• 1 tablespoon lemon juice
• 3 teaspoon brewer’s yeast

Directions

• Place chicken, salt, water, and the celery leaves in a slow cooker. Cover it and boil. Reduce heat and cook slowly for 1 to 1½ or until chicken is tender.
• Remove chicken and strain broth into a bowl. The broth is to be chilled in a refrigerator until the top is covered in fat. Skim fat.
• Remove fat, skin, and bones from chicken. Discard. Cut meat into bite-sized pieces. Set aside.
• Return broth to the pot. Chop celery and add it with carrots, barley, brewer’s yeast and lemon juice. Cover and simmer 20 minutes.
• Add chicken, spinach, and green beans. Cook 15 more minutes until beans are tender. Cool and serve. You can refrigerate this homemade cat food for one week or freeze for a month in an airtight container.

 

7. Mackerel Recipe

 

Ingredients

• 1 cup canned mackerel
• 1 tablespoon sunflower seed oil
• 1 tablespoon organic cooked brown rice
• Take 1 to 2 tablespoons of water or broth (chicken or beef)

Directions

• Combine all ingredients in a food processor.
• Puree until blended.
• It tastes the best if served immediately but you can refrigerate the leftovers up to three days.

 

8. Beef Dinner

If your favorite feline has an affinity for beef, this dish is sure to please! It’s one of the delicious homemade cat food recipes.

Ingredients

• 1 cup of ground beef
• 1/2 cup of steamed brown rice
• 6 tablespoons of minced alfalfa sprouts
• 3/4 cup of small curd cottage cheese

Directions

• Fry the ground beef till it becomes brown and drain in a frying pan and then cool completely.
• Mix all the four ingredients together in a medium-sized bowl and serve.
• Refrigerate leftovers up to three days.

 

9. Chicken and Tuna Dinner

Ingredients

• 1/2 cup cooked chicken
• 1 can tuna in oil
• 1 tablespoon cooked carrot, mashed
• 2 tablespoons brown rice

Directions

1. Combine all ingredients in a food processor
2. Pulse until blended and serve.
3. Refrigerate leftovers, and discard after three days.

 

10. Cat Salad

This is one of those homemade cat food that’s meant for indoor cats. Cats usually like greens, but indoor cats usually don’t have access to the grass they crave. This recipe should satisfy your cat’s craving for something green.

Ingredients

• 1/4 cup grated zucchini
• 1/2 cup chopped alfalfa sprouts
• 1/8 cup chicken or fish stock
• 1/8 teaspoon of minced catnip for garnish

Directions

• Combine and mix the first three ingredients in a bowl and toss.
• Serve sprinkled with the minced catnip on top.
• Leftovers can be stored in a refrigerator for up to three days.

 

Conclusion

So here we have it! Ten homemade cat food recipes whose ingredients you can easily find at home or purchase at meager expenses. These recipes are sure to make your cat both, a happy cat and healthy cat. We are sure that this will delight your cat and increase the bond between you and your kitty. Happy cooking!