Homemade-meals

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Veterinary Information Network

American Association of Feline Practitioners

Remember, your cat's yearly examination is the most important part of its health care

To achieve a proper balance of proportions, follow the recipes and provide a variety of ingredients to meet your pet’s nutritional needs. Cats particularly need high levels of meat protein and do best when fed a variety of meats over the course of a week. Raw meat is beneficial because cooking can destroy some of the essential minerals, for example, the taurine needed by cats. When food is cooked, it’s important to add these elements in supplement form.

Basic Cat Food Recipe

% of Vol.IngredientVolumekcal

80% Ground turkey, raw 2 cups (16 oz.) 16 x 55 = 880

20% Leafy green vegetables½ cup, finely chopped1 x 25 = 25

Chicken liver, raw 1 ½ oz., minced 1.5 x 55 = 82

Fish oil2 capsules or 1 teaspoon 1 x 45 = 45

Calcium carbonate 1 ½ teaspoons

Taurine(250 mg. daily in preparation 1*)

Kosher salt pinch

______________________ ________________

Total 3 ½ cups 1,000 kcal approx.

Meat Substitutes:

Ground beef, lean, raw 2 ½ cups

Rabbit, lean, raw 3 cups

Salmon, canned or fresh* *Feeding uncooked fish is not recommended.

Take care to limit the amount of fish to occasional servings weekly.

Preparation 1 - Cooked Meat Meal:

Combine meat, liver and veggies in a covered pan and cook at low temperature to protect nutrients. Stir occasionally to blend flavors. Do not overcook. Cool and add supplements. (*Taurine must be added to the recipe when the meat is cooked as heat destroys taurine. Recommended daily dose of taurine is 250mg daily.) Divide entire food mixture into 10 parts, each one meal for an 8-lb. cat.

Preparation 2 - Raw Meat Meal:

Steam vegetables and finely chop. Mince the raw liver and meat, and combine with vegetables. Add supplements. Divide whole mixture into 10 parts, each one meal for an 8-lb. cat. Addition of taurine is not required when feeding meats raw.

Calcium Note:

We recommend Animal Essentials Calcium, which is high in bio-availability and low in phosphorus. When using this product, only one teaspoon is required. Calcium carbonate is unnecessary if bones are included in the diet. Follow raw meat safety recommendations when choosing meats and preparation.

Additional recommended daily supplements:

•A balanced multi-vitamin with vitamin B-complex

•A balanced antioxidant with vitamins A, C and E

•Kelp, a rich source of vitamins, minerals and trace elements

•Egg yolk or nutritional yeast (not brewer’s yeast) for natural vitamin B-complex