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Do you have a cat at home who needs to put on a few pounds? If this is the case, you are in the minority of cat parents. About half of all adult cats in the US are considered overweight.
If you have gotten the all clear from your vet to try and fatten up your slim kitty, there are many commercially available balanced diets to help with this. For most, just increasing the daily allowance of kibble will result in the needed weight gain. Dried foods contain more calories and fat than wet foods and will more easily enable weight gain. Remember to regularly weigh and body condition score your cat so you know when they have reached their target condition.
For personal reasons many people prefer to step away from store-bought foods and turn their attention toward their own kitchen. Homemade cat foods can help your cat gain weight while giving you peace of mind, as you know exactly what they are eating. By preparing meals yourself, you take control of what’s in your pet’s food dish. Let’s dig in, so your cat can too!
A Word of Caution on Homemade Foods
Honestly speaking, it is quite difficult to produce a balanced diet that meets all the requirements for your cat without a degree in veterinary nutrition. That is why we recommend you employ the services of a veterinary nutritionist to help you with a home prepared diet recipe suitable to your individual cat’s needs.
If you are keen to get started in the kitchen in the meantime, we take a look at nine tasty online recipes you can prepare for your cat. As a note, these should only be seen as an occasional supplement to a balanced, vet-approved diet.
None of the recipes below are sufficient to replace a standard, vet-approved meal plan for your cat. When we put each of these diets through the food formulation guidelines for AAFCO, they all came up lacking in some nutrient or other that would be essential to cats for longterm health.1 The nutrients commonly lacking were fiber, taurine, lutein and various fatty acids and vitamins. This shows the importance of getting professional help with home made diets.
So, as long as these recipes are used as a tasty treat instead of a meal replacement, your cat is sure to greatly enjoy these dishes.
The 9 Homemade Cat Food Recipes
1. Beefy Dinner
Beefy Dinner
Prep Time 10 mins
Cook Time 20 mins
Servings 8
Prep Time 10 minutes minsCook Time 20 minutes mins
1 lb beef mince or ground beef 10% fat½ lb chopped chicken liver½ lb chopped chicken hearts½ lb chopped chicken wings½ cup cooked white rice1 dash salt ⅛ teaspoon1 tablespoon canola oil
Simply combine all chopped ingredients with the beef mince or ground beef. You can decide if you would like to cook the meat or leave it raw. Once finished, divide into 8 servings. Leftovers should be refrigerated for up to 3 days.
2. Sardine Meal
Image Credit: olrat, Shutterstock
Prep Time:
5 mins
Cook Time:
None (Raw Meal)
Servings:
3
Ingredients:
2 cups sardines (in oil)
⅔ cup boiled white rice
¼ cup chopped parsley
Instructions:
In a medium bowl, mix all ingredients well.
Using a wooden spoon will help break the sardines into smaller pieces for easy consumption for your cat.
Once finished, separate into portions.
Refrigerate leftovers for up to 3 days.
3. Tuna and Chicken Dinner
Image Credit: Bildagentur Zoonar GmbH, Shutterstock
Prep Time:
10 mins
Cook Time:
20 mins
Servings:
4
Ingredients:
4 ounces canned tuna in oil (drained)
4 ounces boiled dark chicken meat (chopped)
2 ounces mashed sweet potatoes
1 tablespoon canola oil
½ kids complete multivitamin tablet crushed
⅛ teaspoon salt
Instructions:
Mix all ingredients in a small to a medium-sized bowl.
Once fully blended, separate into portions and feed to your kitty.
Refrigerate leftovers for up to 3 days.
4. Raw Chicken Meal
Image Credit: David Tadevosian, Shutterstock
Prep Time:
5 mins
Cook Time:
None (Raw Meal)
Servings:
3 (depending on size of cat)
Ingredients:
½ pound chicken thighs (bone-in)
4 ounces raw chicken hearts
2 ounces raw chicken livers
3 ounces water
1 egg yolk
Instructions:
In a blender or food processor, grind chicken and chicken bones.
Then grind the chicken hearts and livers.
Once finished, combine all ingredients in a bowl and mix thoroughly.
When finished, the meal is ready to be served to the kitty.
Refrigerate leftovers for up to 3 days.
5. Salmon Dinner
Image Credit: amenic181, Shutterstock
Prep Time:
10 mins
Cook Time:
20 mins
Servings:
3 (depending on size of cat)
Ingredients:
4 ounces salmon fillet baked or boiled
1 whole boiled egg
½ cup cooked white rice
1 tablespoon Canola oil
¼ teaspoon powdered taurine supplement (1000mg per ¼ teaspoon)
⅛ teaspoon salt
Instructions:
Cook the ingredients and then combine and chop or blend until desired texture.
Divide combined ingredients into meal-sized portions according to your cat’s size.
Leftovers should be refrigerated and consumed within 3 days.
6. Turkey and Rice
Image Credit: BW Folsom, Shutterstock
Prep Time:
10 mins
Cook Time:
20 mins
Servings:
3 (depending on size of cat)
Ingredients:
6 ounces cooked turkey white meat without skin
½ cup cooked white rice
5 teaspoons canola oil
⅛ teaspoon salt
¼ teaspoon taurine powder (1000mg per ¼ teaspoon)
Instructions:
Cook the ingredients then combine and chop or blend to the desired texture.
Once finished, divide into servings sizes and cover portions tightly.
Leftovers can be kept in the refrigerator for upto 3 days.
7. Chicken and Rice
Image Credit: Merrimon Crawford, Shutterstock
Prep Time:
10 mins
Cook Time:
20 mins
Servings:
3 (according to cat size)
Ingredients:
3 chicken breasts cooked
3 teaspoons canola oil
1/4 cup of white rice cooked
⅛ teaspoon salt
½ kids multi-vitamin-mineral tablet crushed
¼ teaspoon bone meal powder
⅛ teaspoon taurine powder
Instructions:
In a pan, boil water and then add the rice to cook.
While rice is boiling, use a separate pan to boil the chicken breasts.
Once all ingredients are cooked, chop the chicken and mix in a large bowl.
Consistency should adhere to your cat’s preferences.
Divide into serving sizes and refrigerate any leftovers.
8. Eggs and Fish
Image Credit: Lina Keil, Shutterstock
Prep Time:
10 mins
Cook Time:
20 mins
Servings:
3 (according to cat size)
Ingredients:
6 ounces white fish boiled
1 boiled whole egg
½ cup boiled white rice
¾ teaspoon bone meal powder
½ kids multivitamin tablet
Instructions:
Boil the fish for roughly 15 to 20 minutes or until the flesh is tender.
Once finished, remove all bones.
Add all ingredients to a large bowl and mix thoroughly.
Serve then refrigerate any leftovers for kitty’s next meal.
9. Lamb Dinner
Image Credit: ThamKC, Shutterstock
Prep Time:
5 mins
Cook Time:
20 mins
Servings:
3 (according to cat size)
Ingredients:
5 ounces of cooked lamb meat
½ cup white boiled rice
⅛ teaspoon salt
1 ½ teaspoon canola oil
¾ teaspoon bone meal powder
¼ teaspoon taurine powder (1000mg per ¼ teaspoon)
Instructions:
Cook ingredients and then combine and chop or blend to desired texture.
When finished, mix well and feed to your kitties.
Store leftovers in the refrigerator for upto 3 days.
The Benefits of Homemade Cat Foods
When it comes to feeding your feline friend homemade foods you’ll discover several benefits for your kitty’s health. This is especially true when you craft homemade recipes designed to offer additional calories to aid in weight gain. Let’s take a look at these benefits so you can decide if homemade foods are right for your cat.
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You Control the Cooking Process and Ingredients
Possibly the best benefit of feeding your cat foods you make at home is the control it offers you, as the owner when it comes to their dietary needs and preferences. Like us all cats are individuals with their own needs and likes. When you take control of your cat’s menu, you can be sure to cook what they want, how they like it and with any special dietary needs taken care of.
Homemade Is Ideal for Cats with Special Dietary Needs
This list includes foods for cats who need additional calories for weight gain. Weight gain isn’t the only dietary need meals prepared at home take care of. If your kitty suffers from food allergies or has digestion issues, you can ensure they are eating foods specially made for their specific needs. There are some cats (although only a tiny percentage) who have genuine food allergies and need to be on an exclusion diet under the guidance of their vet. Home preparation is a great way to control ingredients.
You Can Save Money
While making cat food in your kitchen may seem like a daunting task, it needn’t be. By buying good ingredients and making quality foods, you end up saving money in the long run. Most homemade recipes render several servings. The leftovers can easily be stored in the fridge for kitty’s later meals or frozen and kept until needed. This helps you avoid costly waste and is often cheaper than store-brand cat foods.
Raw vs Cooked
Image Credit: Miriam Doerr Martin Frommherz, Shutterstock
If you decide to make cat food at home, you may find yourself debating whether raw food or cooked meals are best. This is a personal decision and many people will have strong opinions on either side of the debate. Some people opt for a mixture of both. Cooked foods provide your cats with great nutrition and the vitamins they need for a healthy life. The same can be said for a raw diet. Keep in mind the possibility of pathogens uncooked meats may contain such as bacteria and parasites. Ensure you are practicing strict food hygiene safety in the kitchen to keep you, your family and your cat safe. We do not recommend raw diets for cats with compromised immune systems such as those with cancer.
The Best Ingredients
Using the right ingredients to help your cat gain weight and avoid possible health issues is important no matter what diet you choose for them to follow. When it comes to home cooked meals there are a few ingredients you can use that are well-trusted and offer the nutrition your cat needs.
Meat – cats are obligate carnivores who get most of their nutrition from protein. Adding meat to your cat’s prepared meals helps them get the vitamins and minerals they need daily.
Bones – If you choose to follow a raw diet for your cat, bones are an important part. They provide additional calcium for your cat’s health. Ensure all bones are ground thoroughly to help your cat eat properly. Bones should not be used in a cooked meal for your kitty. Also, be sure to debone any fresh fish fed to your cat. Bone meal tablets or powder can be used as an alternative.
Organs – Heart, liver, kidneys, and other organs are ideal for providing your cat with vitamins, iron, and phosphorus.
Supplements – According to the recipe and what nutritional value it offers your cat, added supplements can help. Supplements are good ways for cats to get added nutrition when needed. These are usually taurine, which is essential for cats eye and heart health, and a kids’ multivitamin.
Things to Avoid
As obligate carnivores, there are certain ingredients your cat doesn’t need. These ingredients offer them no real nutritional value and can even cause bowel or allergy issues. Here’s a list of what you should avoid adding to your cat’s homemade meals. When you see these ingredients in commercial cat foods they have been processed to make them more digestible for cats, but this isn’t possible at home.
Wheat
Corn
Peas and pea fibers
Certain fruits and vegetables (Keep in mind several fruits and veggies are considered toxic for cats. Such as garlic and onions. See ASPCA website to check the safety of plant ingredients.)
Conclusion
As you can see, these nine recipes are a great way to help your kitty gain the weight he or she needs to, while giving them a yummy treat in the process. As with any recipe prepared in your kitchen, always try to choose the best ingredients possible and practice food hygiene. This will keep both you and your kitty healthier while you offer your furry sidekick foods you can completely trust. You might even save a few bucks, too!
Don’t forget to use these dishes as supplements to a vet-approved meal plan for your skinny kitty.
Featured Image Credit: Audreycmk, Shutterstock
