Homemade Cat Food: Safety, Nutrition Risks and How to Do It Properly

By Tailwisp Editorial TeamUpdated October 20, 20264 min read

Many owners are drawn to the idea of cooking for their cat. You choose the ingredients, you know what goes in, and your cat may eat with delight. But cats are unforgiving when it comes to nutrition, and homemade food is one of the places where good intentions most often go wrong.

Why cats are hard to cook for

Cats are obligate carnivores. They have strict requirements for nutrients that most animals can make themselves, or need in small amounts:

• Taurine, essential for the heart, eyes and reproduction. Deficiency causes heart disease and blindness. See taurine: why cats need it.
• Arachidonic acid, a fatty acid found only in animal fat.
• Preformed vitamin A, since cats cannot convert beta-carotene.
• Niacin and vitamin B12, in higher amounts.
• Calcium and phosphorus, in the right ratio.
• High protein.
• Other minerals and vitamins, such as vitamin E, iodine, copper and zinc.

Muscle meat alone is low in calcium, and high in phosphorus. Rice and vegetables add little that cats need.

What research shows

Studies of homemade recipes from books and websites have found that the vast majority are incomplete or imbalanced, even when they look healthy. Some are low in taurine, calcium, or vitamins, and some are too high in vitamin A or other nutrients. Cats fed unbalanced diets may develop bone problems, heart disease, vision loss or other conditions over months or years, and the signs may be subtle at first. Kittens are most at risk.

Safer ways to cook for your cat

1. Talk to your vet, and ask for a referral to a board-certified veterinary nutritionist, a specialist who has completed a residency. Some offer online consultations, and some university programs provide recipe services.
2. Use a recipe written for your cat, considering its age, weight, health and preferences.
3. Follow it exactly. Do not substitute ingredients, or skip the supplement mix. Weigh ingredients on a gram scale.
4. Use the specified supplement, which supplies taurine, calcium and vitamins.
5. Recheck every year, or when your cat's health changes. Recipes should be updated.
6. Monitor your cat, with regular weights, body condition scores and bloodwork.

Cooked versus raw

Cooking kills many bacteria, and makes it safer for you and your cat. But cooking also destroys some nutrients, such as taurine, so recipes account for this. Raw homemade diets carry the risk of Salmonella and Listeria. See raw food diets for cats and can cats eat raw meat. Vets generally advise against raw homemade diets.

Hygiene in the kitchen

• Wash hands before and after handling raw meat.
• Use separate cutting boards, and sanitize surfaces.
• Cook to safe internal temperatures.
• Refrigerate or freeze portions quickly, and use within the days recommended. See how to store cat food.
• Wash bowls after each meal. See how to clean cat food bowls.

Ingredients to avoid

• Onions, garlic, chives and leeks. See are onions and garlic toxic to cats.
• Grapes and raisins. See are grapes and raisins toxic to cats.
• Chocolate, caffeine and xylitol.
• Cooked bones. See can cats eat bones.
• Excess liver, because of vitamin A. See can cats eat liver.
• Raw fish, which may contain thiaminase.
• Excess tuna.

Cats with health conditions

Cats with kidney disease, diabetes, pancreatitis or allergies need carefully tailored diets. A homemade diet for a sick cat should only be done under veterinary guidance. See cat food allergies and sensitive stomachs.

Middle ground

If you want to share your cooking, add a small amount of plain cooked meat as a topper, up to about 10 percent of daily calories, on top of a complete commercial food. That keeps the diet balanced while giving you the pleasure of cooking. See healthy cat treats.

Signs a homemade diet is not working

Watch for a dull or thinning coat, weight loss or gain, low energy, changes in stool, bad breath, tremors, trouble walking or changes in vision. Some deficiencies take months to show, so do not wait for signs. Weigh your cat regularly on a baby scale, and keep a record. Ask your vet for annual bloodwork and an examination. If anything looks wrong, return to a complete commercial diet while you investigate, and tell your vet exactly what you have been feeding, with the recipe and supplements.

When to see a vet

See a vet before starting a homemade diet, and if your cat has changes in weight, coat or energy. Use the US vet directory to find a clinic.

This article is general educational information, not veterinary advice. Every cat is different. If your cat is unwell, or you are unsure about a symptom, diet change or medication, contact your veterinarian.