Is homemade cat food better for my cat then the store bought food?

Question

I have 4 cats including 2 kittens under a year. The older ones eat different food than the young ones. I'm having trouble finding a food that is good for all of them. I was wondering if I started making homemade cat food for them if it is healthier. Aswell, if you have some veterinary certified recipes plz feel free to post them. Thx a lot!!

Answer 1

Hi Liz...it can be if you understand the requirements of feline nutrition. Without the essential minerals such as taurine they can suffer ill effects. I hope the following websites will be helpful for you if you would like to prepare the food yourself:
http://catinfo.org/
http://www.catinfo.org/makingcatfood.htm
http://felinefuture.com/

Answer 2

The answer is yes, if you do it right. It takes a lot of research on your part and a lot leg work to get the correct ingredients.

I suggest doing some searches on BARF (biologically appropriate raw food) diets and on raw cat food. You can cook the food, but then you have to add back in a lot of the nutrients lost during the cooking process, and there is some debate as to whether this is as good. Plus you can't serve cooked bones so you'll have to supplement for that and you lose the dental benefits of raw meat and bones.

I suggest you throgoughly read the following web site, www.catinfo.org

You will notice that she has good information on why cats should eat meat based diets, the benefits and risks, she gives a recipe and good instructions on how to make your own raw cat food, and if you're not interested in feed raw food, she has excellent reviews on the best commercial cat foods and why they are so good, it might help you make a decision. Based on this web site I started feeing Nature's Variety to my cats and I couldn't be happier.

For more cat information, I strongly recommend the forums at www.thecatsite.com

The people there are very knowledgeable and helpful.

Answer 3

The veterinarian at www.catinfo.org has information about using a raw meat diet. At www.littlebigcat.com Dr. Jean Hovfe has an article titled "Easy Home-Made Diets for Cats and Dogs".

I use a supplement powder called Feline Instincts with the ground organic chicken and turkey that I use in preparing my cats' food. The powder is veterinarian approved as meeting the nutritional requirements for cats and dogs.

The Yahoo group Holisticat has recipes in its archives. Many of the members feed a raw diet to their cats. The list owner has recently published a book "Whole Health for Happy Cats" which has recipes for preparing a home-made diet for your cats. Joining a group such as that is the best move for you to make as you can ask questions and receive guidance from people who have "been there, done that" rather than just taking a recipe off a website.

It take some education and research to do it properly and it is not string theory.

Answer 4

I am a cat breeder and I have a great response to my clients who ask me that question? If you were a cat living in the wild and had to fend for yourself what would you eat? An ear of corn, chew on a piece of wheat? I'd think it would be meat, a fat mouse or an unsuspecting bird on the ground.

I like to give my cats raw beef, get a sirloin, stew meat, fatty hamburger, whatever, and cut it into bite sized pieces, rarely a cat can resist raw meat, it is their instinct. Young and old alike will eat meat. Give it a try.

Terri

Answer 5

Ive always bought my cat food from the store. if you get a good brand it will include most vitimins and minerals your cat needs.
just buy/make one kind of food from now on. when youre cats get hungrey enough they will eat it! its not being cruel, cats are fussy eaters. if you give them milk they will turn their noses up at water! ive had cats since i was a little girl i love them but they are fussy so stop worrying and just make one from now on

Answer 6

try raw feeding. Get some chicken wings and break them up into 3 or 4 pieces. It may take them a while to get the hang of them. Added bonus is that it will help keep their teeth clean.

Answer 7

they have food for cats and kittens that both of them can it. It is by purnia and it is kind of expensive, but cats and kittens can both eat it. I know this because i used to have cats and one had kittens and we got that food and they both could eat it. Otherwise give the cats food they will eat and the kittens love those little packets of wet food.

Answer 8

for yhe big ones u can make 4 them but the kittens??i guess it's better to buy 4 them

Answer 9

Same differance