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Homemade cat food

Make Cat Food at Home

Many pet owners are opting for homemade cat food instead of commercial foods.



Commercially prepared cat food undergoes a great deal of processing and contains many artificial ingredients which may not be suitable for pets. Cats are naturally meant to catch their own prey in the wild and eat it raw. Cats have lived in this manner for several years and keeping them as pets does not mean that their natural diets must also change.



Also, many of the important nutrients contained in meat are lost during the process of cooking. If you decide to feed cooked food to your cat, it is advisable to discuss with your vet about also giving the cat a supplement in order to balance the diet.

Before switching to a natural cat diet, it is first advisable to observe the cat’s preferences.



Some cats may receive natural foods such as raw fish and meat very eagerly, while other cats may display some amount of uncertainty. This is probably because they are not accustomed to it. In such cases, you can combine some of the raw meat with the cat’s regular food until they become used to it. Gradually, cats are likely to prefer fresh foods to canned foods due to its superior taste. If your cat depends on you entirely for food and does not obtain it from anywhere else, you need to ensure that you are providing her with all the necessary nutrients that are essential for good health. Select the best quality ingredients that are affordable for you as this will make sure that they are fresh and will also continue to remain fresh. Cheaper ingredients may have been kept in storage or frozen for some time and as such may have lost some if their freshness. Therefore once you buy such ingredients, you will not be able to store them any longer.

Some of the ingredients that may be used in homemade cat food include all types of meat which supply protein, fat and B complex vitamins. Fish may also be given to cats. However ensure that all small bones are removed as they could become lodged in the cat’s throat. Eggs are rich in protein, carbohydrates and vitamins. Raw egg can be fed just one every week. Vegetables supply B vitamins and also add texture and variety to the meal. Whole milk should be offered to the cat only occasionally as lactose may cause a stomach upset if ingested in large quantities.

 
  Submitted on May 7, 2010