Best Homemade Cat Food for Beginners (Easy Guide + Recipes)

 Introduction: Why Homemade Cat Food?

If you’re new to making homemade cat food, you’re not alone! Many pet parents today prefer preparing meals at home because it’s fresh, healthy, and budget-friendly. When done correctly, homemade cat food can give your feline friend better nutrition, more energy, and fewer digestive problems.

In this beginner guide, you’ll learn the best homemade cat food recipes, ingredients you should use, what to avoid, and how to get started safely.

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Benefits of Homemade Cat Food

Homemade meals can offer your cat:

✔ Fresher ingredients

✔ No harmful preservatives

✔ Better protein quality

✔ Customizable meals (great for sensitive cats)

✔ More hydration if feeding cooked or wet meals

✔ Stronger bond between you and your pet

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What Cats Need in Their Diet

Cats are obligate carnivores; their bodies require animal protein to survive. A balanced homemade cat diet should include:

1. High-quality protein (70–80%)

• Chicken

• Fish

• Beef

• Turkey

• Sardines

• Liver (tiny amount only)

2. Healthy fats

• Omega-3 fish oil (1–2 drops)

• Chicken skin (small amount)

3. Essential vitamins & minerals

Since homemade meals can lack taurine and calcium, beginners should either:

➡ Add a cat-safe supplement

➡ Use a balanced recipe approved by a vet

4. Hydration

Cooked or blended recipes help keep your cat hydrated, especially if it hates drinking water.

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Ingredients to AVOID Completely

❌ Onions

❌ Garlic

❌ Chocolate

❌ Alcohol

❌ Salt

❌ Raw bones

❌ Excess liver

❌ Spices

❌ Oil-rich fried foods

❌ Grapes & raisins

These can be dangerous or even fatal to cats.

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🐱 Best Homemade Cat Food Recipes for Beginners

Here are simple, safe, and vet-approved beginner recipes.

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Recipe 1: Easy Chicken & Rice Cat Meal

Ingredients:

• 1 cup boiled chicken breast (shredded)

• 2 tbsp cooked rice

• 1 tbsp boiled carrot (finely mashed)

• 2 tsp chicken broth (no salt)

• 1 drop fish oil (optional)

How to Make:

1. Boil chicken until soft.

2. Shred into tiny pieces.

3. Add cooked rice and carrot.

4. Mix in chicken broth.

5. Serve warm (not hot).

Why it’s good:

Gentle on the stomach + easy for beginners.

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Recipe 2: Tuna & Pumpkin Digestive Recipe

Ingredients:

• ½ can tuna in water (drained)

• 1 tbsp boiled pumpkin

• 1 tsp water or broth

• 1 tiny pinch of taurine supplement (optional)

How to Make:

1. Mash pumpkin.

2. Mix with tuna.

3. Add broth for softness.

Why it’s good:

Perfect for cats with constipation or hairballs.

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Recipe 3: Chicken Liver Boost (Use Only Weekly)

Ingredients:

• 2 tbsp boiled chicken liver

• 3 tbsp shredded chicken

• 1 tbsp mashed peas

How to Make:

Mix everything well and serve as a small portion.

Important:

Liver is rich in Vitamin A — only once a week.

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Recipe 4: Sardine Super Meal (Omega Boost)

Ingredients:

• 1 whole cooked sardine (bones removed)

• 1 tbsp mashed pumpkin

• 1 tsp water

How to Make:

Mix until soft and serve.

Why it’s good:

Shiny coat + improved energy.

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Feeding Guidelines for Beginners

Cat Weight	Daily Homemade Food
2–3 kg	80–100g
3–4 kg	100–120g
4–5 kg	120–150g
Above 5 kg	150–180g

✔ Split into 2 meals

✔ Always keep clean water available

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Can Homemade Food Replace Cat Food?

Yes — BUT only if the recipe is nutritionally balanced.

For beginners:

➡ Start with 1 homemade meal per day

➡ Balance with quality cat kibble/wet food

➡ Slowly increase homemade meals if your cat likes it

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Signs Your Cat Loves Homemade Food

😺 Better appetite

😺 Shinier coat

😺 More active

😺 Less smelly poop

😺 Fewer stomach issues

If you see vomiting, diarrhea, or itching → stop and switch back.

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⭐ Final Thoughts: Start Simple, Keep It Safe

Making homemade cat food isn’t complicated. Start with easy recipes, introduce ingredients slowly, and always avoid foods that are unsafe for cats. Over time, you’ll learn what your cat enjoys the most.

Healthy cat = Happy home! 🐾❤️