Raw Food for Cats πΊ - Nutritious Homemade Meals for Your Feline Friends - Learn How to Prepare a Balanced Raw Diet for Your Cats!
Introduction πΊπΊπΊ
Transitioning your cats to a raw food diet can be better for their health and vitality. I’m excited to share a detailed recipe for homemade raw cat food, designed to meet all your furry friends' nutritional needs.
With a balanced Meat:Bone:Organ ratio of 75:15:10, this recipe ensures your cats get all the essential nutrients they need for a happy, healthy life.
This recipe is inspired by the guidelines from the CRAP(Cats Completely Raw and Proud) Facebook group.
Making the switch to a raw food diet for your cats can be both exciting
and daunting. I remember the first time I made this recipe; I felt like a
gourmet chef preparing a special feast for my cats! The transition wasn’t easy,
but the noticeable improvement in their health made it all worthwhile. This
recipe provides a balanced and nutritious diet, ensuring your cats get the best
possible nutrition.
Raw Food for Cats Recipe
Serving Size : For 58-60 Days of Food for 2 Cats:
Ingredients
- Calcium Source:
- 126g (4.4 oz) eggshell powder (or use bonemeal(756g) as an alternative)
- Organs:
- 1.3kg (2.87 lbs) chicken liver
- 800g (1.76 lbs) beef kidney
- Meat:
- 1.3kg (2.87 lbs) chicken heart
- 1.6kg (3.52 lbs) Kangaroo meat
- 12.85kg (28.34 lbs) chicken breast
- Other Ingredients:
- 1.4kg (3.08 lbs) tinned tomato sauce sardine (ensure no onion or garlic)
- 22 whole raw eggs
- 13g (0.46 oz) taurine
Instructions
- Prepare Eggshell Powder:
- Wash and dry eggshells, then bake at 150°C (300°F) for 20 minutes.
- Grind the dried eggshells into a fine powder using a coffee grinder or crush them in a plastic bag and rolling pin.
- Mixing the Ingredients:
- Open cans of sardine and whisk the raw eggs in a large bowl.
- Cut the organs and meat into thin slices to fit into a mixer or meat grinder.
- Mince the organs and meat, then combine them in a large bowl.
- Combining All Ingredients:
- Add the eggshell powder (or bonemeal) and taurine to the minced mixture.
- Mix everything thoroughly with 2 liters (8 cups) of cold water.
- Packaging:
- Divide the mixture into portions and store in the freezer.
Recipe Tips
- Substitutes: If your cat is allergic to chicken, you can substitute with turkey or rabbit. Ensure the meat to bone ratio is maintained.
- Health Tip: The raw diet is packed with essential nutrients, promoting better digestion, healthier skin, and a shinier coat.
- Transition Tip: Transitioning from dried food to raw food can be challenging. Start with small batches and gradually introduce the new diet to your cats.
The Purr-fect Budget: Cost Breakdown for Homemade Cat Cuisine
Embarking on the homemade cat food journey not only ensures your feline friends get the freshest and most nutritious meals, but it also allows you to manage your budget effectively. Here’s a glimpse into the cost of crafting culinary delights for your kitties:
- Chicken Heart: $6.44
- Chicken Liver: $6.09
- Beef Kidney: $9.36
- Chicken Meat: $110.24
- Eggs: $12.70
- Sardines: $11.70
Total Investment: $156.53
This sumptuous spread serves two cats for 58 days, which breaks down to a daily cost of approximately $2.70 for both. When we crunch the numbers further, the daily cost to feed one cat is just about $1.35. It’s a small price to pay for the health and happiness of our whiskered companions.
Investing in quality ingredients ensures your cats are getting the best, and when you look at the numbers, it’s clear that homemade can be both economical and rewarding. So, whisk out your bowls and get ready to mix up a feast that’s both cost-effective and cat-approved!
Small Batch Recipe for beginners:
Option 1: With Bone
- 470g (16.6 oz) boneless meat
- 150g (5.3 oz) chicken Wings
- 70g (2.5 oz) liver
Option 2: With Eggshell
- 460g (16.2 oz) boneless meat
- 60g (2.1 oz) liver
- 1/2 teaspoon finely crushed eggshell
Option 3: With Bonemeal
- 460g (16.2 oz) boneless meat
- 60g (2.1 oz) liver
- 2.8 teaspoons bonemeal
Understanding Your Cat's Calcium Needs
To keep your feline friends healthy, it’s essential to understand their
calcium needs. Cats typically need about 1% of their diet as calcium on a dry
matter basis. While bones can provide this calcium, they also contain
phosphorus, which affects the calcium-to-phosphorus ratio. This means a
significant amount of bone is required to meet calcium needs since only a small
portion of the calcium in bones is readily available.
Using a calcium supplement instead of bone simplifies the process, as
these supplements aren't bound to phosphorus and don't contain water. The most
straightforward, cost-effective, and likely the best supplement is calcium
carbonate, commonly found in powdered eggshells.
The Calculation Breakdown:
For those who love the nitty-gritty details, here’s how you can calculate
the calcium requirement:
- Convert Food to Dry Matter:
- Raw food typically contains
about 80% moisture.
- Therefore, 1kg of raw meat is
1000g of total weight. Converting to dry matter: 1000g x 20% = 200g.
- Calculate the Calcium Needed:
- On average, 1% of the dry matter
should be calcium.
- 200g x 1% = 2g of calcium per
1kg of meat.
- Determine the Amount of Calcium
Carbonate (Eggshell):
- Calcium carbonate is
approximately 40% calcium.
- To get 2g of calcium: 2g / 40% =
5g of calcium carbonate.
The recommended dosage of 1/8th teaspoon of eggshell powder per day
aligns closely with the calculated value. By calculation, you need 0.6g of
calcium per day, and 1/8th teaspoon provides about 0.625g.
Summary:
To ensure your cat gets the right amount of calcium, aim for a balanced
intake:
- Lowest acceptable limit: 2.5g of calcium carbonate per kg
of food.
- Mid-range (ideal): 5g of calcium carbonate per kg
of food.
- Upper acceptable limit: 8g of calcium carbonate per kg of food.
Maintaining the right amount of calcium is crucial as both deficiencies
and excesses can be harmful. Strive to keep the calcium intake around the
mid-range of 5g per kg of meat for optimal health.
Feeding Guide for Growing Kittens:
For the Little Explorers (Kittens):
- Offer multiple feasts throughout the day; let them
indulge to their heart’s content. There’s no cap on their banquet—they
should eat their fill at each sitting.
For the Young Adventurers (6 months to
1 year):
- Transition to a twice-daily dining schedule, yet keep
the buffet open-ended. Their appetite is still the best measure.
For the Mature Companions (Over 1
year):
- Settle into a routine of one to two meals daily. To
keep their physique in check, aim for a portion that’s 2-5% of
their current weight.
- Observe and tweak the portions if your feline friend
is sporting a little extra fluff or if they’re more on the svelte side.
This version adds a bit of narrative
flair and personalizes the feeding stages to the cat’s life stages. I hope this
aligns with the engaging and informative style you’re looking for! πΊ
Conclusion
I hope this detailed guide inspires you to prepare nutritious raw meals
for your cats. This recipe ensures your furry friends get the best possible
nutrition, leading to healthier, happier lives. Share your own versions and
experiences in the comments below! And don’t forget to follow my Instagram
@CookWithJuyea for more tips and recipes.
Check out my video on YouTube for a visual feast of culinary creations: CookWithJuyea.
https://www.youtube.com/@CookWithJuyea
Happy feeding!
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