Homemade food for cats – facts versus myths.
When I ask my clients how they started making cat food for their own cats, I get a mix of responses. Some of my clients became suspicious of certain ingredients in commercial pet foods, while others hope a homemade diet may help with clinical symptoms of IBD, vomiting, or itchy skin.
I have been in this industry for almost three decades, and I think it’s time to share some information about homemade diets. There is an increasing trend toward making homemade dog and cat food. At its core, the homemade trend reflects a broader breakdown in consumer trust in the pet food and veterinary medicine industries. Making homemade pet food works for some cat parents. But it is a complicated process, not a guarantee of clinical improvement, and it is crucial to know the pros and cons before they even get started.
What are the benefits of homemade cat food?
Making raw or slightly cooked homemade cat food has some benefits. However, they may not be what you expect.
· You know what is in it and can decide on the ingredients yourself.
· It is less wasteful because you are not throwing away an aluminum can every day.
· It may be less expensive, but this depends on the raw materials you use and how much you value your own time.
· Homemade diets may be a good solution for comorbidities with conflicting dietary needs that cannot be met with a commercial diet. For example, a diabetic cat that has been diagnosed with early stages of kidney failure.
· Some cats with food allergies or intolerances may show an improvement in clinical symptoms.
· Some cats may even prefer it to commercially produced food.
What are the cons of homemade cat food?
· If you do it correctly, it is a lot of work.
· You may spend hours in your kitchen, only to be disappointed when your cat ignores the food and gives you a suspicious look after sniffing it for a couple of seconds.
· There is no scientific evidence that homemade diets are better for your cat.
· If you handle raw meat and organs, there is a high risk of harmful bacterial contamination.
· A customized recipe for your cat, along with tips and tricks for making it and ongoing support, is typically expensive but worth it if you are serious about getting started.
· Pet parents who moonlight as sous chefs for their cats often cut corners in their formulations over time, increasing the risk of feeding their cats an unbalanced diet.
How to recognize a professionally formulated diet?
To create a complete and balanced diet for cats, software and knowledge of their palatability preferences are essential. The software includes all the necessary information on nutrients, AAFCO’s minimum and maximum guidelines, caloric density calculations, appropriate feeding amounts, and adjustments for feeding a highly active kitten versus a less active senior cat.
Ingredients:
· Very specific in terms of weight, cut, and quality of the ingredients.
· Example: 1000 grams of 80% lean ground beef versus 2 lbs. of ground meat
Vitamins and Minerals:
· Very specific: does not recommend completer, premix, or formulation; only works with a specific completer; or you must purchase a premix from the company.
· Example: 1 capsule of 400IU Vitamin E versus 1 tablet of Vitamin E
Instructions on how to prepare:
· Very detailed with temperatures and mixing times
· Example: Mix the dry ingredients with 100ml of cold water for 5 minutes, versus using one cup of water to mix in the completer and add it to the meat.
Caloric density and how much to feed:
· Calculated for your cat’s current activity level and weight
If you feel that a homemade diet is what you would like to feed your cat, I am here to help you. We will discuss your specific case and address all your questions.
You can prepare homemade diets for your pets. The Feline Consultant is a virtual cat nutritionist who can answer any questions and concerns and guide you through this process.
References:
Fredriksson-Ahomaa, M., Heikkilä, T., Pernu, N., Kovanen, S., Hielm-Björkman, A., & Kivistö, R. (2017). Raw Meat-Based Diets in Dogs and Cats. Veterinary Sciences, 4(3), 33. https://doi.org/10.3390/vetsci4030033
Parr, J. M., & Remillard, R. L. (2014). Handling Alternative Dietary Requests from Pet Owners. Veterinary Clinics of North America: Small Animal Practice, 44(4), 667–688. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cvsm.2014.03.006
Remillard, R. L. (2008). Homemade Diets: Attributes, Pitfalls, and a Call for Action. Topics in Companion Animal Medicine, 23(3), 137–142. https://doi.org/10.1053/j.tcam.2008.04.006
Wilson, S. A., Villaverde, C., Fascetti, A. J., & Larsen, J. A. (2019). Evaluation of the nutritional adequacy of recipes for home-prepared maintenance diets for cats. Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Association, 254(10), 1172–1179. https://doi.org/10.2460/javma.254.10.1172