Preparing homemade food for cats can seem like a natural and affectionate option, but it requires in-depth knowledge of the specific nutritional needs of felines. Cats are strict carnivores with very particular requirements that differ significantly from dogs or humans. In this guide, we explain how to do it correctly, which nutrients are essential and which simple recipes you can prepare.
Advantages and disadvantages of homemade cat food
The main advantage of homemade food is that you know exactly the ingredients your cat consumes and can control the quality of the raw materials. It can also be useful in cases of food allergies to control the intake of specific proteins.
However, the disadvantages are significant:
- It is very difficult to cover all of the cat's nutritional requirements without expert formulation
- The risk of deficiency in taurine, arachidonic acid, preformed vitamin A or iodine is high
- It requires time, planning and strict control of proportions
- A prolonged deficiency can cause serious health problems not always visible in the short term
Essential nutrients that cannot be missing
Cats have nutritional needs that make them dependent on animal sources to survive:
- Taurine: an amino acid that cats cannot synthesize. Its deficiency causes blindness and dilated cardiomyopathy. It is only found in animal tissues.
- Preformed vitamin A: cats cannot convert beta-carotene (from carrots) into vitamin A. They need retinol from animal sources (liver, fish).
- Arachidonic acid: a fatty acid that cats do not synthesize and is only found in animal tissues.
- Niacin: cats have very high requirements and cannot obtain it from tryptophan.
- Animal protein: cats need high levels of protein and do not tolerate low-protein or plant-based diets well.
Permitted and forbidden foods
Safe foods
- Cooked chicken, turkey and rabbit (without bones)
- Cooked fish (salmon, cod, tuna), without bones and in moderation
- Chicken or beef liver (small quantities, maximum 1-2 times per week)
- Hard-boiled egg
- Cooked rice or quinoa as a side dish (small quantities)
Forbidden foods
- Onion, garlic and leek (hemolytic anemia)
- Grapes and raisins (nephrotoxicity)
- Chocolate (toxic theobromine)
- Milk and dairy products in large quantities (lactose intolerance)
- Raw fish in excess (destroys thiamine)
- Liver in excess (hypervitaminosis A)
Homemade recipes for cats
Recipe 1: Chicken with rice and broth
- 150 g cooked, shredded chicken breast
- 50 g cooked white rice
- Some chicken broth without salt or seasonings
Mix the ingredients and serve at room temperature. This recipe is especially useful for cats with sensitive stomachs.
Recipe 2: Fish with carrot
- 150 g steamed salmon or cod (without bones)
- 30 g cooked, mashed carrot
- A drizzle of salmon oil
Fish provides taurine and essential fatty acids. Serve without salt or spices.
Recipe 3: Protein mix
- 100 g cooked chicken
- 50 g chicken liver (cooked, no more than 2 times a week)
- A chopped hard-boiled egg
This protein bowl is rich in taurine, vitamin A and essential fatty acids.
The importance of supplementing with a complete food
None of these recipes alone covers 100% of the cat's long-term nutritional needs. If you opt for homemade food, consult a veterinarian specializing in nutrition or add specific supplements. A practical alternative is to combine homemade recipes with high-quality complete foods, such as wet food for cats or pouches for cats, which already contain all the nutrients in the correct proportions. To learn more about what cats can eat, see our guide on what cats can eat, and discover the benefits of wet food for cats.
