Barks Blog

It’s food, folks. It doesn’t have to be “people food,” it’s REAL food. I’m not sure how people got into this people vs. pet food mindset. When feeding our beloved pets, including our cats, for optimal health and behavior, a fresh, wholesome diet can be a good alternative. That said, it is crucial to balance a cat’s diet and provide the correct proportions of proteins, vitamins, and minerals. But it’s not that hard, once you get the hang of it. Today I will teach you the basics about preparing a home-cooked diet for your cat. Note: always consult your veterinarian for nutritional advice to ensure your cat gets the optimum nutrition for his specific needs.

Cats are carnivores, they are not carbivores. Sure, a cat can survive on a bag of food, but if you are looking for a convenient AND healthy cat diet, there are a handful of good raw pet food companies to meet this need. If you prefer a canned cat food, be sure to avoid binders such as carrageenan, guar gum, xanthan gum, and tapioca. These binders not only bind the food together, but also can cause constipation and colon issues.

Benefits of preparing your cat’s fresh food at home vs. a high-quality commercial pet food:

1. Control of Ingredients Used: By preparing your cat’s meal, you can ensure you start with the finest and healthiest of raw ingredients. Starting with organic, or at least antibiotic- and hormone-free, meats is a great way to make sure your cat is not eating synthetic hormones or antibiotics.
2. Moisture: Cats, dogs and people need a high-moisture diet. Dry food causes a variety of health issues such as diabetes, urinary tract infections, and crystals, to name just a few.
3. Customization: By preparing your cat’s meals at home, you can customize his diet to meet his nutritional and behavioral needs. Food affects health and behavior.
4. Rotation: Another bit of misinformation is that a cat should eat the same food day in and day out. Really? Does that even seem to make sense? Can you imagine if we ate the same meal for our entire lifetimes? We would surely be lacking in good nutrition. That said, rotating meals should be done slowly and without big changes between the recipes.
5. Economical: Shopping for your cat’s meals, instead of purchasing a high-quality prepared cat food is more economical. If you have access to local co-ops and a large freezer, you can save even more! Also, by providing a healthy diet, you may also save money on “fixing” a medical problem associated with a bad diet.

Transitioning your cat to a fresh diet can sometimes be a challenge. We know that cats can be pretty particular when it comes to change. I would recommend just adding the cooked food as a tiny “topper” to your cat’s current diet until he is eating it with gusto.

Turkey and Liver Recipe: Approximately 24 days’ worth of food

• 9 lb turkey thighs
• 1 lb liver (turkey or chicken)
• 8 oz carrots
• 8 oz peppers (red, green or orange)
• 4 oz blueberries
• 8 oz zucchini

Directions

• Preheat oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit.
• Remove and discard the skins and bones from the turkey thighs. Reserve 3 turkey skins.
• In a meat grinder or food processor, grind/puree the turkey thighs, 3 turkey skins and liver. Place ground mixture into large mixing bowl.
• Wash the fruits and vegetables. Remove and discard the stems and seeds of the peppers. Remove and discard the skin and seeds of the zucchini.
• In a food processor, puree the fruit and vegetables.
• Add the pureed veggie and fruit mixture to the meat mixture and mix well to incorporate.
• Put the food mixture into glass or ceramic loaf pans or muffin pans, and bake for 60 minutes.
• Allow to cool fully.

Divide the recipe into approximately 24 individual portions and freeze. Remove 2 days at a time and place in your refrigerator. I prefer to feed pets 3 times a day. When feeding your cat his meal, allow his food to reach room temperature and place 1/3 of his supplements (Balance IT Feline) into each meal.

Voila! A healthy, home-prepared diet for your cat.

Please Note: If your cat has any medical issues or concerns, please seek a veterinarian food therapist to formulate a proper diet for your cat.

For more articles by Tonya Wilhelm visit: https://www.raisingyourpetsnaturally.com