In China, live cats and dogs are boiled in boiling pots

Industrially prepared cat food does not require much time and effort from you; it is easy to purchase and give to your pet. This is especially important and convenient during a busy work schedule. However, one cannot ignore the fact that some of these processed foods may be harmful to your cat's health. That's why more and more pet owners are choosing to switch from commercially produced foods to a more natural diet for their pets.

Specially prepared homemade cat food, made from fresh and healthy ingredients, can be, if not the basis, then a pleasant and healthy addition to your pet’s diet. In addition, such food is much more natural, it is closer to the natural diet of cats than anything offered in pet stores.

Choose protein-rich recipes

Owners should be aware that cats need a lot of protein (they need 5 times more protein than dogs), which inevitably means that a dog's food may not be a normal diet for a cat. For each type of animal (for example, cats, dogs, chinchillas), it is necessary to prepare separately. There are many simple and affordable recipes that can be used to provide complete and balanced nutrition for your cat.

Of course, as we all know, cats are picky eaters, so there is no guarantee that they will like all the recipes, but there are sure to be some that they will like. The main thing is to start with what your cat likes and what smells good.

history of the holiday

International Cat Day is a relatively new holiday. If World Animal Day was established back in 1931, the idea to celebrate Meowing Pet Day appeared only in 2002 thanks to the International Fund for Animal Welfare. August 8 was chosen as the date of the new holiday .
Since then, it has been celebrated in dozens of countries around the world. Interestingly, in some countries there are national holidays dedicated to cats, which fall on completely different days. For example, in Russia Cat Day is celebrated on March 1, because a meowing animal is associated with the arrival of spring; in the USA this day is celebrated on October 29, and in Japan on February 22. In Italy, only black cats are celebrated; their day is November 17, but all cats, without exception, can take part in the cat parade, which takes place on the second Sunday of May every three years in the Belgian town of Ypres.

On International Cat Day, animal shelters hold exhibitions where you can take your favorite kitten home for free, veterinary clinics host master classes on caring for cats, animal welfare funds hold charity events, and cat owners post photos with their pets on social networks.

Use a variety of meat sources

The more there are, the better (chicken, turkey, beef, rabbit, duck, etc.). This provides a more complete balance of nutrients and also enriches the feeding with different tastes and textures. You can use different sources of meat at the same time.

There are different opinions regarding the use of bones in preparing cat food. Personally, I never use them due to the risk of choking, puncture or blocking the digestive tract.

Pros and cons of natural nutrition

The main advantage of switching your cat to homemade food is that you know exactly what you are feeding your cat. The quality of food from the store is sometimes questionable, but here it is real food, prepared by the owner himself.

One of the disadvantages is that if the cat eats natural food, it can become infected with parasites. The problem can be solved by heat treatment of meat and prevention of worms in cats.

In addition, unlike food, you will have to spend time preparing food. And not only for cooking, but also for thinking through the diet.

The idea should be abandoned if you often leave and give the cat under the care of other people. Constantly changing food from natural to food and back will only harm the cat.

Also, do not switch your cat to natural food if you follow a vegetarian diet. Cats are predators, and they cannot live without meat, and it will be difficult for a vegetarian owner to cook meat.

Add products containing tatourine

The heart of various animals should be added to the diet, as it is one of the best sources of taurine, which is an essential amino acid for cats. If you do not give your cat enough hearts (about 10% of the diet), additional taurine must be given in the form of food supplements.

The menu should also include the liver or another secretory organ (for example, kidneys and spleen). Most animals do not like their taste, but it can be masked by chopping and mixing with meat and vegetables. Among the vegetables you can give pumpkin, spinach, carrots, etc. Onions and garlic are toxic to cats and should not be given to them.

You will also need a blender, food processor or meat grinder for cooking.

The basic formula for cat food is simple: half protein (meat) and one-quarter each carbohydrates (grains) and vegetables (fiber).

Protein is found in turkey, chicken, rabbit, fish and other meats. The best source of carbohydrates is brown rice. As for vegetables, whatever your cat eats is fine. The meat can be either raw or boiled. Mix it with cooked vegetables and rice.

How to create a menu for a cat

To create a daily menu for a cat, you need to calculate the calorie content and determine the frequency of feeding.

Adult cats over 8 months eat 2 times a day, kittens from 3 to 8 months - 3-4 times a day, from 1 to 3 months kittens need to eat 5-6 times a day.

The calorie content of the diet for cats is calculated using the formula:

K*(30*m + 70), where m is the weight of the cat in kg, and K is the multiplier coefficient.

The coefficient for calculation is presented in the table below.

Let's give an example of a calculation. Let's say we need to calculate the daily calorie content for a neutered cat Vaska, who weighs 5.5 kg. Then the calorie content of his diet will be 1.2*(30*5.5+70)=282 kcal per day. Vasya is already an adult, so he needs to eat 2 times a day - 141 kcal per meal.

It is important to remember that not all foods are healthy for cats. As for vegetables, cats should not eat potatoes, onions, garlic, cabbage, legumes and mushrooms. Liver, river fish and offal are not recommended for cats.

And now some recipes for homemade cat food

They are collected from various sources on the Internet. Anything you prepare for your cat yourself (with a few exceptions, of course) will be better than what you can buy in the store, because not only do you have complete control over all the ingredients, but also because you are directly involved in the process. Cats, like people, appreciate home-cooked food prepared with love just for them.

Chicken with rice and vegetables

• 2 cups chopped or shredded chicken
• 1 cup cooked brown rice
• 1/4 cup grated boiled carrots

Cut the chicken into small pieces. Pass the carrots through a food processor. Mix chicken and carrots with rice. Serve at room temperature.

Diet for a picky cat

• 1 cup boiled chicken
• 1/4 cup steamed broccoli
• 1/4 carrots, steamed
• Chicken broth, about half a cup

Mix ingredients and serve.

Salmon with rice

• 150 gr. steamed salmon
• 1/2 hard-boiled egg
• 1/3 cup boiled rice
• 1 tablet calcium carbonate (400 mg calcium)
• 1 tablet of vitamin-mineral complex

Mix and serve.

Liver holiday

• 2 cups chopped beef or chicken liver
• 2 tablespoons vegetable oil
• 1 cup cooked oatmeal
• 1/4 cup frozen peas, steamed

Boil the liver with vegetable oil, chop finely. Add cooked oatmeal and green peas. Cool and serve at room temperature.

From what is

• 1.5 cups meat - beef, chicken, turkey, lamb (finely chopped)
• 0.5 cups of vegetables - carrots, zucchini, sweet potatoes, pumpkin or wheat germ
• 0.5 cups mashed potatoes, rice or oatmeal
• 1 tablespoon vegetable oil

Pass vegetables through a food processor. Chop the meat finely. Mix meat and vegetables, potatoes, rice or oatmeal. Add vegetable oil and serve.

Tuna for lunch

• 0.5 kg. tuna, canned in oil
• 1/2 cup cooked brown rice
• 1/4 cup grated carrots
• 2 tablespoons sprouted wheat

Mix and serve at room temperature. Do not give more than once a week as it may lead to vitamin E deficiency.

Liver and kidneys for dinner

• 1 cup boiled chopped liver or kidneys
• 3/4 cup boiled oatmeal
• 3 tablespoons grated carrots or zucchini
• 1/3 cup yogurt
• 3 tablespoons butter

Mix minced liver or kidneys, oatmeal and vegetables. Melt the butter and pour in the mixture. Add yogurt and serve at room temperature.

Holiday

• 1 cup shredded beef
• 1/4 cup alfalfa or parsley
• 1/2 cup cottage cheese with cream

Mix the ingredients.

Diet for allergies

• 2 cups shredded lamb
• 1/2 cup grated carrots or zucchini
• 1 cup cooked brown rice
• 1/4 cup cottage cheese
• 1/4 tsp. garlic powder

Combine all ingredients in a blender and serve at room temperature.

Dinner time

• 100 gr. cooked white meat chicken
• 1/4 cup cooked mashed potatoes
• 1-1/2 teaspoons butter

Combine all ingredients in a blender and serve at room temperature.

For breakfast

• 1 egg
• 1 tablespoon green beans (cooked or pureed)
• 1 tablespoon finely chopped carrots
• 2 tablespoons chopped chicken breasts (skinless)
• 1/3 cup brown rice (cooked)
• 1 tablespoon olive oil

Mix all ingredients thoroughly. You can also puree the mixture in a blender if needed.

Stewed chicken for cats

• 1 whole chicken
• 2 cups brown rice
• 6 stalks of celery
• 6 carrots, grated but not peeled
• 2 small yellow pumpkins
• 2 zucchini
• 1 cup green peas
• handful of green beans

Wash the chicken, then cover with water in a large saucepan and simmer. Cut the vegetables into pieces and add to the pan. Add rice. Cook until the chicken is almost falling off the bones and the vegetables are tender. Remove the chicken completely from the bones. This is very important because cooked chicken bones can cause serious intestinal damage. Pour everything into a blender and grind the mixture.

Chicken liver recipe

• 1/2 cup cooked broccoli or cooked carrots
• 1/2 cup cooked rice
• 1 1/2 cups boiled chicken liver
• Chicken liver broth

Place rice, liver, broccoli or carrots in a blender and blend them, adding a little broth.

Chicken with broccoli

• A piece of skinless, boneless chicken breast about the size of your palm or smaller, depending on how much you want to cook.
• Two or three pieces of broccoli

Boil the chicken and broccoli, mix in a blender until smooth.

Shrimp with carrots

• 3-4 raw shrimp. You need to cut off the tail and remove the outer layer, boil it.
• The carrots will need to be cooked over high heat for 10-15 minutes, then blend them in a blender until smooth.

Once the shrimp have cooled slightly, cut them into small pieces. Mix with carrots.

Meat with cottage cheese

• 100 gr. meat, beef or poultry
• 1 tablespoon carrots
• 1 tablespoon cottage cheese
• 1 tablespoon sunflower oil.

You can also add flavorings to your food (kelp powder, garlic powder, nutritional yeast), but only in small quantities.

You can store leftover cat food in the refrigerator, but the same rules apply as leftover human food—use within a few days or freeze.

Expert recommendations for choosing a nutritious diet

Veterinarians are also positive about formulating a diet for cats based on natural products. Currently, the BARF (Biologically Appropriate Raw Food) system is widely used in Europe and America. It was invented in the nineties of the last century by veterinarian Ian Billinghurst from Australia. However, feeding only raw foods is associated with certain risks for the health of cats, so our doctors adhere to the need for heat treatment.

Video: veterinarian talks about the correct natural diet of an animal

What components must be present in a cat's diet?

A balanced diet includes proteins, fats, carbohydrates and vitamin-mineral complexes. Their quantity and daily calorie intake are determined based on data on the cat’s age and weight: for this purpose, it is recommended to use reference tables.

Based on these data, you can calculate the amount of necessary components in the diet.

What foods should be included in a cat’s diet:

1. Meat, poultry and meat products are the main source of protein and essential amino acids. They should be served raw (exclusively after freezing), boiled or stewed. It is recommended to use lean beef, lamb, rabbit, chicken and turkey to feed your cat. Lamb, pork, duck and quail are too heavy for the animal's stomach, as they contain a lot of fat. Among meat products, preference should be given to ventricles, hearts and liver.
2. Fish contains lipids, amino acids, phosphorus and magnesium. It is recommended to use sea fish to feed cats: unlike freshwater fish, it does not accumulate toxic substances in its composition. Fish should be given boiled, after removing the head, fins, tail, scales and all bones: these components are not digested in the stomach. The most useful fish include: pink salmon, hake, salmon, trout, taimen.
3. Butter and vegetable oil are essential sources of fats and vitamin E, help strengthen vascular walls and increase resistance to infections. A lack of fat in an animal's diet can lead to reproductive dysfunction. Oil should be added to food in an amount of no more than half a teaspoon.
4. Dairy products and eggs. Dairy products are rich in calcium and protein and are easily digestible by your pet's body. These include kefir, fermented baked milk, natural yoghurts without additives, cottage cheese, sour cream. Mostly the yolk is used from eggs for cat diet: it contains the required amount of fat.
5. Porridges and cereals act as a source of slowly digestible carbohydrates. To feed your furry pets you should use buckwheat, oatmeal or rolled oats, millet, rice, boiled in water. It is better to avoid semolina porridge: it has no nutritional value and contains only empty carbohydrates.
6. Vegetables are not only a source of healthy vitamins, but also fill the need for fiber. It improves the functioning of the gastrointestinal tract and stimulates digestion processes. Vegetables need to be boiled, baked or ground into a paste using a blender. Most often, cats' menu includes pumpkin, zucchini, broccoli, carrots, and beets. Cabbage, potatoes, legumes and peas cause excessive gas formation, so they are not used. You can use spinach, green onions, celery, and basil as healthy additives.

Cats can often develop interesting taste preferences. The cat of my grandmother, who lived in the village, loved raw cucumbers very much and regularly stole them from the garden. The fluffy pet could handle a whole cucumber alone and never refused a supplement. My sister's cat really loves bananas and melons, but since they contain a lot of sugar, the animal manages to enjoy them only occasionally.

Photo gallery: healthy food for pets

Meat should be served cut into small cubes

Dairy products are rich in calcium

Cereals satisfy the need for slow carbohydrates

Vegetables are the best source of fiber and vitamins

What foods should you avoid altogether?

Some foods and additives familiar to humans are strictly prohibited from being used in the diet of cats. The body of furry pets is much more sensitive to various food components. An incorrectly formulated diet can lead to the development of serious diseases of the liver, stomach, bones and joints, or even cause premature death.

What should not be added to a cat's diet:

1. Ketchup, mayonnaise, adjika and any other sauces. They contain a lot of spices and can also be very salty and spicy. If you think that the dish prepared for your pet is dry, it is better to dilute it with sour cream or meat broth.
2. Meat trimmings, chicken skin, chicken bones. These leftovers do not provide any nutritional value, but can become ballast for your pet's digestive system. Sharp edges of bones and their fragments can injure a cat's delicate gastrointestinal tract.
3. Sausage, frankfurters, sausages, stewed meat, meat pates. These products are more adapted to the human diet: they contain many third-party additives and soy, but they cannot replace real meat.
4. Sweet yoghurts, snowballs, condensed milk, ice cream. Despite the fact that these products also belong to the dairy category, they contain too much sugar. It has been proven that even minor consumption of condensed milk creates a risk of damage to the pancreas and the development of diabetes in cats.
5. Floury. Bread, any pastries and cookies are poorly absorbed in the body of a furry pet and provoke constipation.
6. Tea. Many owners are touched when their cat drinks the rest of the tea from their mug. However, tea (especially black tea) contains caffeine, which has a stimulating effect on the animal’s nervous system and leads to the development of restless behavior and hyperactivity.

While studying at the university, in one of the classes on clinical laboratory diagnostics, we studied the composition and properties of urine using the example of cat urine. One of my classmates collected urine from her cat and brought this sample to class for research. Our teacher conducted several tests with special strips that detect the presence of glucose in urine: they turned out to be positive. It turned out that the day before, a classmate fed her cat sweet yogurt: this caused a sharp jump in sugar levels in the animal’s body. The teacher recommended reconsidering the furry pet’s diet and giving up such food forever.

Photo gallery: prohibited products for animals

Sausages contain a lot of soy and third-party additives

Flour slows down your cat's digestion

Mayonnaise contains a lot of fat

Making your own healthy diet for your cat at home is quite easy.

This way, you don't have to worry about all the harmful additives used in commercial cat food. You can easily make your own homemade cat food that will be tasty, nutritious and healthy. Take these recipes as a basis and experiment.

Remember! Homemade food should provide your cat with all the vitamins and minerals it needs. If you are not sure about this, give additional vitamin and mineral complexes.

Sometimes it is difficult for a cat to switch from dry food to this diet, so first you need to switch to wet food (canned food and preserves), since their texture is closer to natural food. And then gradually mix wet food with natural food until you completely switch to the latter.

Example menu

Having selected suitable foods for your cat, look at their calorie content and calculate how many grams of such food can be given to the cat. The calorie content of foods popular with cats is shown in the table.

Thus, for the cat Vaska with a daily requirement of 282 kilocalories, you can create the following menu:

• 1st meal: 1 boiled egg, 60 grams of 5% cottage cheese - 141 kcal;
• 2nd meal: 75 grams of boiled chicken fillet, 15 grams of buckwheat, 20 grams of carrots - 141 kcal.

The total is 282 kcal, which is exactly Vasya’s daily requirement. In this case, the ratio of proteins, fats and carbohydrates is 50, 30 and 20 percent, respectively.

Another menu example:

• 1st meal: 100 grams of boiled cod, 20 grams of dry rice - 145 kcal;
• 2nd meal: 90 grams of lean boiled beef - 141 kcal.

Cats' taste preferences vary just like people's. One cat will eat 1-2 types of food and be afraid to try new things, while another will demand a daily variety of food. The owner will have to experiment to find out his cat's favorite foods.