Homemade meals are nearly always healthier for people than prepared foods from the shop. We would think that our feline pals would experience the same thing, right? Not invariably.
Prior to hurriedly purchasing an abundance of components, it is advisable to educate yourself on the process of creating nutritionally full and well-balanced cat food. It might not be as easy as you think to complete.
What you should know about homemade cat food is provided here.
Can Handmade Cat Food Outperform Packaged Diets?
There are advantages to preparing your cat’s food at home. First off, all of the ingredients you use are entirely up to you. Do you want your diet to be devoid of artificial flavors, colors, and preservatives? Is your feline a grain-free or organic eater? It is all up to you. Cats with dietary sensitivity may find that homemade food is an excellent alternative.
Avoiding your cat’s triggers is rather simple if they have a food allergy or intolerance. If your ill cat is refusing to touch other food, you might be able to get them to try homemade food instead.
Can You Feed Your Homemade Cat Food?
Nevertheless, homemade cat food may not always be more healthful than store-bought formulas. Being a discerning shopper and feeding your cat only premium commercial cat food will allow you to get the majority of the benefits listed above. A natural canned cat food, for instance, can be created using the same kinds of ingredients, and it can be grain-free and free of artificial colors, flavors, and preservatives.
Organic cat food is also commonly accessible from nearby and internet pet food companies. It’s also rather simple to locate solutions that will satisfy the demands of cats with dietary allergies thanks to the large selection of unusual cat foods that are available (such duck and potato). Strict quality control measures are used in the production of commercial veterinary diets to prevent cross-contamination, which can cause symptom flare-ups.
Raw vs. Cooked Homemade Cat Food
You need to take extra precautions if you’re thinking about raw homemade cat food instead than just homemade. It is astonishing how often raw animal parts that are approved for human consumption are contaminated. For instance, the US Department of Agriculture calculates that Salmonella and/or Campylobacter germs contaminate around 25% of raw chicken parts in facilities that produce food for human consumption.
Young, elderly, or unwell animals frequently cannot fend off foodborne illnesses, even if healthy cats may be able to handle many (but not all). Furthermore, even seemingly healthy pets can serve as carriers and expose humans to diseases. Whole raw bones should be included in homemade cat chow, according to some raw food supporters. Although cooked bones are more likely to break than raw ones, cats who chew on big bones run the danger of gastrointestinal problems and broken teeth.
Important Information to Have Before Making Your Own Cat Food
In case you have made your cat’s food yourself, make sure to adhere to these instructions in order to fulfill all of your pet’s dietary requirements.
Maintain Nutritional Equilibrium
For cats to thrive, their diet must be balanced. Serious health issues can result from nutrient surpluses and deficits. Regretfully, a lot of cat food recipes either excessive amounts or insufficient amounts of one or more crucial elements. A 2019 study assessed 114 recipes for cat home-prepared maintenance diets (HPMD) compiled from books and the internet. “Nutritional adequacy problems were identified in all evaluated HPMD recipes,” the scientists write.
Utilize Recipes Approved by Vets
So, from where do you acquire your homemade cat food recipes? A board-certified veterinary nutritionist is your best bet. These experts can create recipes that consider your cat’s weight, age, and any underlying medical conditions. A veterinary nutritionist can be found through the American College of Veterinary Nutrition or through your primary care physician. Additionally worthwhile are the veterinary nutritionist-run websites Petdiets.com and BalanceIt.com.
The Appropriate Supplements Are Needed
Without the aid of vitamin and mineral supplements, producing a cat food that is both nutritionally complete and balanced is nearly difficult. Any recipe that says your cat can get all the nutrition they need without supplements should be avoided. You may find out from reliable sources just how much of each particular vitamin and mineral supplement you need to add to the other ingredients in the mix.
Be Certain You Have the Time to Devote to Cat Food Making
Your cat will need more time and money to prepare a customized diet. Preparing meals in portion sizes to freeze and cooking for a week or two at a time can help simplify your life. Before feeding, bring the meal to body temperature by thawing it in the fridge for the entire night. Homemade food should be refrigerated for a few days or thrown out after two hours at room temperature.
Change Over Time Gradually
Any kind of abrupt food changes might cause cats’ digestive systems to become disturbed. Allow one or two weeks to progressively combine dwindling quantities of the previous food with growing amounts of the new one. Revert to the previous diet if your cat doesn’t respond well to it, and see your veterinarian if the symptoms continue.
Regularly take Your Cat to the Veterinarian for Checkups
A veterinarian should examine cats on a homemade diet twice or three times a year to check for health issues linked to the diet and to make sure your recipes are still meeting your cat’s needs.
Homemade Cat Food’s Advantages
Creating your own cat food recipes could be an enjoyable method to feed your cat wholesome food. Food may also help our feline friends, especially those who have dietary intolerances or allergies.
Among the advantages of making cat food at home are the following:
Command Over the Components
Are you aware of the ingredients in your cat’s food? Sadly, pet parents are unable to comprehend the subtleties of the pet food sector. Although the ingredient list is visible on the label, you have no say over what is actually put into the product. Making your own cat food gives you more control over the precise components and their quality, which might help you stay away from artificial flavors and preservatives.
Steer Clear of Risky Components
You have control over the kind and caliber of ingredients, but you can also stay away from recipes and ingredients that might be dangerous. Following pet food recalls will tell you that even well-known businesses have to recall products when there are complaints of animals becoming ill from them. Contaminants that could hurt your pet are not an issue when you prepare your own cat food. Rather, you are well aware of the food you are giving them.
Fulfill the Requirements of Particular Dietary Needs
Although they are uncommon, cat food allergies can affect any breed, age, or state of health. Additionally, homemade cat food can help you establish a particular diet for diabetics, which can aid with disease control.
Attractive to Finicky Eaters
A finicky eater is a situation that many cat owners have encountered. Naturally, a cat’s diet is crucial to its overall health, so you need to make every effort to locate a meal your cat will love. Unfortunately, it’s not as simple as it seems.
Cons of Making Cat Food at Home
Cats need particular foods to thrive. Since they are obligate carnivores, as you may already be aware, their diet must consist mainly of meat. They are also incapable of tasting sweetness and require specific nutrients, such vitamin A, from their food because they are unable to produce them on their own.
Some dangers associated with homemade cat food are as follows:
It Might not be Balanced Nutritionally
Cats should get all the nutrition they require for a healthy life from the food they eat. As previously discussed, commercial diets are tailored to fulfill the specific dietary needs of cats. Unfortunately, it can be difficult to recognize your cat’s unique demands. You’ll need to make sure certain nutrients are in your cat’s food because they can’t produce them on their own. To do this, consult a veterinary nutritionist who can assist you in creating recipes that offer a comprehensive and well-balanced diet. If not, you run the danger of your cat experiencing nutritional deficiencies that could negatively affect their general health and result in heart difficulties, visual problems, muscular weakness, and other severe medical concerns.
Both Costly and Time-consuming
Acquiring the skill to make food can be difficult and time-consuming. First of all, you’ll need to set up time to prepare meals every few days. It might be time-consuming for pet parents to learn about the necessary vitamins, minerals, and other nutrients cats need in their meals because the majority of them are ignorant about cat nutrition. They will also need to collaborate with a veterinarian who is well-versed in cat nutrition. On the other hand, preparing cat food at home can be more costly than purchasing dry kibble or canned food.
Risk of Food Poisoning
Cats can eat a variety of human foods, thus there is a chance of accidental food poisoning. However, since cats must consume meat, making homemade cat food will need you to prepare meat. You also have to make sure their meals are properly stored. To avoid bacterial and germ-related disorders, homemade cat food needs to be made every few days. Additionally, as bacteria grow more readily in meat that is left at room temperature for extended periods of time, you will need to keep an eye on your pet’s food dish to make sure they are finishing it within a few minutes or hours. There’s always a chance of food illness when handling raw meat. Your cat can become quite sick and need to visit the vet right away if you unintentionally undercook their food.
Substitutes for Making Your Own Cat Food
Before giving your cat new food, always consult your veterinarian. All the nutrients your cat needs for optimum health should be included in their food. When giving your cat a home-cooked diet, you unfortunately put their health at danger if you don’t know enough about cat nutrition. Naturally, if pet parents are prepared to learn as much as they can and follow the instructions, homemade cat food can be a healthy choice.
To find out if your homemade recipes will satisfy your cat’s nutritional needs, consult your veterinarian. There are a few other diets that can keep your pet happy and healthy if this one isn’t right for them. Here are some cat food options to consider:
Dry Cat Food
Because it’s inexpensive and keeps for weeks, dry cat food is the most practical choice for pet owners. Sadly, kibble isn’t as tasty as other options, so fussy cats might choose to stay away from it completely.
Semi-moist Cat Food
Cat food that is halfway between wet and dry is called semi-moist cat food. It’s less tasty than wet food, but it’s not as crunchy as dry food. Furthermore, the fact that there are a lot of ingredients in moist cat food and that some manufacturers offer subpar products makes it an unpopular choice.
Wet Cat Food
Due to its tasty flavor and meat-like aroma, wet cat food is the most preferred by cats. Because wet food stimulates cats to eat, many pet parents exclusively give their cats wet food. These foods are usually of a good caliber, and your cat can stay hydrated with their high moisture content.
Conclusion
Your cat may benefit from some health benefits if you make their food. But it’s an expensive and time-consuming operation. In order to guarantee that your cat receives the right nutrients from their diet, you will need to collaborate with a veterinary nutritionist to create recipes that will supply all the vitamins and minerals your cat requires for optimal health.
It goes without saying that you should always think about the food and should choose homemade cat food. Choosing the appropriate commercial pet food can be difficult because some are of lower quality than others.
