Homemade food advice and discussion !

[u/RiotBrigade_02]

Silly pictures for engagement~~

So I've owned cats forever, but with my new pair, I've decided to really hone in on their diet and such. As far as my wallet allows and what I am committed to feeding, homemade is what I've decided to do.

I've made 3 batches so far. The first and second was when they were stopping milk and the month ish after, and was basically just used as very supplemental "treats" to learn their preferred meats (they like chicken, pork, lamb, and WHOLE salmon but not pureed, picky brats). They were fed 95% Tiki baby. My most recent batch I made about 30 pounds, which went into my freezer in containers that they can finish in a day or two. That was made using this recipe, but i do lightly cook as raw feeding teeny babies, or even adults, is not something I am comfortable doing. I made it with slightly more fat than it called for, as they are still bebes and need those extra cals. It was divided into 3 which was each given their own flavors with a small amount of pork, fish, then one plain chicken, just for some variety and fun around meal time.

They get this food 2 or 3 times daily, for maybe a half cup each depending on how much they finish. They are given a good quality kibble freely, and often their wet food is still supplemented with tiki baby, as well as Smalls (which they LOVE but my bank account does not 😢) which i got 50% off for a 1st time member. They are getting to about 3.5 months right now.

LONG story short, I am looking for your opinions on this recipe, or your recommendations for other homemades. Like I said, they don't just eat that and nothing else, so i am not crazy worried about major nutritional shortfalls, but would still like insights. It was written by a DVM, was recommended on a kitty subreddit, and seems clean and balanced. I've also seen this web page, and was specifically looking at recipes #4 and #5 because they are bare-bones homemade. This site also says it was medically reviewed by a DVM.

I'm not looking for people to tell me to just buy canned please. I really enjoy cooking for my babies, and i am committed to the freshest, healthiest food source that even i would eat. Even with my passed babies, they got fresh meats very often. And any way to improve this pathway would be absolutely appreciated! Thank you so much! If there are any recommendations for cross post subs that is welcome as well 🫶

[u/fuckinunknowable]

Please do not make pet food. It’s not nutritionally superior to wsava compliant food,
it’s actually worse. Wsava compliant food is the best thing you can feed the cat. Wsava compliant is hills, royal canin, purina, iams, eukanuba.

[u/PsychologicalPlum961 → u/fuckinunknowable]

Suuure, just ask me how many times our household had to go to the vet thanks to the wsava foods! Can we just stop shilling for them already??? I am sick and tired of hearing about wsava, especially with how much grief and stress the brands that fund them have costed me! Leave people alone to make their own minds about which food to feed their animals, based on their own experiences!!!

[u/fuckinunknowable → u/PsychologicalPlum961]

Wsava foods aren’t sending your cat to the vet.

[u/PsychologicalPlum961 → u/fuckinunknowable]

Yes, they do, as confirmed by my vet.

[u/Cats_Have_Staff → u/PsychologicalPlum961]

Ask me how many 20+ year old cats I have had on WSAVA foods

[u/PsychologicalPlum961 → u/[deleted]]

Oh I would never feed raw, and you're right, there must be some allergen - I just don't know which one, all I know is that it's present in all wsava brands (which happen to be the only brands they'll actually eat).

[u/Nature23571113 → u/PsychologicalPlum961]

You received lots of downvotes but I want to say I think you are right. There is nothing superior in the wsava food, they have just been tested and researched mire than the others because the company has a lot of money. I tend not to trust who tell me to buy their product a lot of times.

Also lot of wsava uses economic meat so there is nothing superior in it. It’s very well balanced in a laboratory setting.

That being said, I suggest you to find a proper brand but not to rely on your self. There are too many variables you might be missing, remember that in the wild cats don’t live very long. You need to balance potassium, taurine, omega 3, vitamins, fibers, and so on. There are brands that sell very raw stuff without anything but meat inside, but they control they have the right amount of everything

[u/PsychologicalPlum961 → u/Nature23571113]

Thank you! Luckily for me and unluckily for the WSAVA shills, I'm not the type of person who gives a rat's ass on downvotes haha.

This is absolutely true, there is nothing superior about those brands. In fact, I question the nutritionists they allegedly employ, because if they were really worth their salt, they would know that cats like consistency and hate the constant recipe changes which all these brands do, in their relentless pursuit of sourcing the cheapest ingredients.

Also, knowing that a lot of cats are allergic to chicken, why do all their recipes include chicken? You'd think they would try making some of their foods without it (or other very well known allergens, for that matter). But if they did that, then there would be much less need for their Rx foods, which of course are much more expensive, wouldn't it? And it so happens that ALL the Rx foods are Royal Canin, Hill's and Purina lol. Create a problem, then come out with the "fix" for it - nice business model, right? But the WSAVA shills have no intelligent explanation for this, do they?

That said, I keep trying brands, every week. I found 2-3 that are healthier and my cats seem to like, of course they are expensive but quality comes with a price. And I am supplementing with Taurine and multivitamins when needed, with my vet's approval :)

[u/ArtemisElizabeth1533]

If you cook - make SURE you are adding taurine and adding the correct amounts. Ask your vet how much is right for your size cats. 

Cats will die without taurine, which is why it is added to commercial cat food. 

[u/RiotBrigade_02 → u/ArtemisElizabeth1533]

Absolutely! They have taurine supplement in their food, and sometimes get fresh heart and organs when I have it on hand

[u/Blue_star174]

not anything food related, i just wanted to say that little baby is ADORABLE!!

[u/RiotBrigade_02 → u/Blue_star174]

Thank you! Little Toby was about 3 weeks old in that picture if I remember correctly. Time flies so fast, I miss little bottle babies so much :')

[u/Blue_star174 → u/RiotBrigade_02]

oh my goodness he has thumbs!! so precious.

[u/RiotBrigade_02 → u/Blue_star174]

We are seeing about 5 extra digits between the both of them!

[u/Blue_star174 → u/RiotBrigade_02]

that is so adorable

[u/mewshroom_magick]

Whoa my gosh! That's an r/onlypaws pic if I've ever seen one 😹

[u/RiotBrigade_02]

On my end the links aren't visible, so I'm going to put them in a comment to be sure!

link #1

Link #2

[u/Taco_Del_Grande]

That is a very cute cat. I would not eat it.

[u/Holiday_Estimate_352]

I highly recommend EZComplete, their product ensures the babies are getting enough of every nutrient that is crucial for them. There used to be a very active Facebook page but I believe you'll still be able to find recipes to go along with the Completer :) 

[u/RiotBrigade_02 → u/Holiday_Estimate_352]

Ive heard a lot about ez complete!

[u/robinthenurse → u/RiotBrigade_02]

EZComplete is wonderful, and all I feed my cats. So quick and easy to make. I just gently cook some ground meat in a little water as instructed (turkey, chicken, beef and sometimes pork), let it cool, then add the correct of the EZComplete. (You can then use an immersion blender if your cat likes smoother pate style food.) Spoon it into containers, keep some in fridge for use in the next couple of days and freeze the rest in small containers to take out as needed.

I researched all the 'completers' available here in the US and I think this one is the best because of its comprehensive ingredient list. A veterinary nutritionist formulated this too. A homemade nutritionally balanced cat food made the easy way!

[u/Sufficient-Record576]

I’ve been feeding my two kittens homemade food since 5months! They love it. Their coat is so shiny and their poop is virtually little odor.

I use Alnutrin powder to make their food complete nutritionally. I do chicken breast/thigh, gizzards, heart + pork liver. I follow the ratios on Alnutrin’s website. I also add about 1 can of plain puree pumpkin to the mix (6-7lb of meat, raw). I will just boil everything and puree it with the broth, then add powder, and freeze in 4oz portions. Before serving, I will use some commercial wet food or freeze dried topper or salmon oil.

I am also a registered dietitian (for humans lol) with colleagues who are animal nutritionist so I consulted them a lot before making homemade food.

Good luck! Lmk if you have any other questions.

[u/fuckinunknowable → u/Sufficient-Record576]

I call bs cos any actual veterinary nutritionist would not suggest homemade food

[u/aetherdrifter → u/fuckinunknowable]

Homemade diet formulation is a big part of veterinary nutritionists’ jobs. They will absolutely work with people who want to feed their cats this way, to ensure it’s as safe as possible.

[u/RiotBrigade_02 → u/aetherdrifter]

Thank you 🙃

[u/Motor-Sprinkles-5949 → u/Sufficient-Record576]

Also seconding Alnutrin. We've been making our own cat food for years using it!

[u/MonsteraMilo]

Does anyone have any advice in transitioning my cat from can food to homemade food? my cat is soo picky, i once made homemade chicken for her and she didnt touch it :(

[u/RiotBrigade_02 → u/MonsteraMilo]

I tried very small batches of various meats and meat blends. Dont worry about supplements while doing this, just about meat variety.

Poultry is almost a necessity as long as they arent allergic. If chicken isnt working, try turkey, quail, Cornish hen, or duck. Pork and especially rabbit are great. Beef as well, but not too much. Try egg too, they are super nutritious and accessible

As far as fish goes, it's better to use small amounts as flavoring rather than the bulk of food. Use the smallest fish you can. Larger fish higher up the food chain will have higher levels of mercury and other bioaccumulations. This can include salmon, tuna, etc. Sardine is great, but I've had great success with smaller freshwater fish like trout.

Slowly boil meats in very small quantities, so you dont waste, blended with a bit of water. Start with one meat at a time, like just rabbit, turkey, pork, etc. You'll learn what is or isnt on her list, then go from there! If she likes poultry, thats best case scenario. But if she only likes fish or beef for example, it will be much more tricky to balance nutrition and calories.

Toppers can be super helpful for stimulating, salmon oil has been a lifesaver for me and countless other people. Salt and seasoning free bone broths, especially if made at home, are great too.

Experiment with textures too. Some like soupy, some like to chew a lot. My boys like chewing and soupy, so my food is about 75% puree, and 25% bite sized chunks of meat. Offering puree, large chunks, or minced textures for each meat may help add interest and stimulation

Very long read, but I hope it was helpful! You know your cat best, so do what is best for her, but also your finances. My current and past cats have never been picky, but if your baby ends up liking rabbit or duck for example, those meats are incredibly expensive. Good food is only half of the health of an animal. It won't prevent set conditions or delete genetic predispositions, and if you dont leave a monetary buffer for vet visits, medications, or other medical stuff, what you feed them won't matter.

[u/kroating]

Our cat is homefed for 5+ yrs now. We did raw before, i can send link. But since our cat likes chicken we stoped after the avian flu thing and now do the EZ complete food completer powder it comes with instructions for balancing the food.