How to Make Homemade Cat Food with Chicken

Making homemade cat food for your furry companion can be a healthy and cost-effective option. With the growing concern over the quality of commercialized pet foods, making your own cat food out of fresh ingredients gives you control over what goes into your pet’s meal.

Nutrition is critical for a growing mostly carnivorous animal like a cat. It is extremely important that their diet be high in protein and essential fatty acids.

Chicken is an excellent source of animal protein and fat. So feeding homemade cat food made from chicken can be a great way to make sure your cat is getting the nutrition it needs.

With some basic knowledge and supplies, you can make homemade cat food with chicken for your cat easily.

Do Cats Need to Eat Chicken?

As obligate carnivores, cats do need to eat animal-based proteins like chicken to get the nutrition they require to survive.

When cats eat a diet mostly composed of proteins from “true animal products” (like those from warm-blooded animals, eggs, and milk-added products), they can better absorb essential nutrients like amino acids, taurine, and arachidonic acid.

Amino acids and taurine are provided in greater amounts in animal proteins, including chicken, than in vegetable proteins like peas.

How to Buy Chicken for Your Cat

When shopping for chicken to make homemade cat food, make sure to purchase only fresh, human-grade, uncooked chicken. This poultry should be free of preservatives, additives, and fillers.

Avoid getting chicken with added broth, flavoring, or seasoning, as some of these added ingredients may be toxic to cats.

The freshest chicken will be found at a local butcher store. If you’re unable to find fresh chicken, you can purchase cooked chicken from the grocery store. Choosing chicken breasts over other cuts of chicken will provide you with the leanest option.

Preparing the Chicken

Before you make homemade cat food with chicken, you will want to prepare the poultry. Raw chicken should be cooked until it is completely done (no pink is visible).

You can either bake or boil the chicken, and it should be cooked thoroughly to an internal temperature of 165 degrees Fahrenheit.

Ideally, you should break the chicken apart into small enough pieces or shred it so that it is easier for cats to chew and digest. When making your cat food, you should not add salt, pepper, or other spices to the recipe.

Additionally, avoid adding onions and garlic to your cat food, as these spices could potentially be toxic to cats.

Including a Starch-Source

Including a starch source when making cat food with chicken can help cover nutritional needs and provide cats with a more balanced meal.

Starches like brown rice, oats, or quinoa are all good options to add to your homemade cat food. These carbohydrates should be cooked before being mixed in with the chicken.

Including Healthy Fats

Healthy fats such as tuna oil, olive oil, or flaxseeds will provide cats with the essential fatty acids they need to stay healthy. These fats should be added after the chicken and starches have been cooked, as overheating these fats can cause them to go rancid.

Oils should be added in measured amounts, and flaxseeds can be crushed and sprinkled on top of the cooked cat food.

Including Food Supplements

It is important to make sure your cat is getting the necessary nutrition it needs. You can easily add vitamins and mineral supplements like fish oil, calcium, taurine, lysine, and methionine to your homemade cat food.

It is best to consult with a veterinarian to discuss the proper amount of vitamins and minerals to add to your homemade cat food.

Storing Cat Food with Chicken

Once you have made your cat food with chicken, it’s very important that you store it properly. Homemade cat food should be refrigerated immediately and be served within five days of preparation.

Frozen cat food can be stored for approximately one month. When defrosting frozen cat food, make sure it is done in the refrigerator, and be sure to smell the food before you give it to your cat.

5 Cat Food Recipes with Chicken

Creating these cat food recipes with chicken will provide your feline friend with a variety of nutritious and delicious meals.

Ensuring the right balance of nutrients is crucial for your cat’s health. Here are five recipes that you can prepare:

Recipe 1: Chicken and Pumpkin Delight

Ingredients:

• 1 cup cooked and shredded chicken
• 1/4 cup cooked and mashed pumpkin
• 1 teaspoon fish oil
• 1/4 teaspoon taurine supplement (if recommended by a vet)
• 1/4 teaspoon calcium supplement (if recommended by a vet)

Instructions:

1. Cook the chicken thoroughly and shred it into small, cat-friendly pieces.
2. Cook the pumpkin until soft and mash it.
3. In a bowl, mix the shredded chicken, mashed pumpkin, fish oil, taurine supplement, and calcium supplement.
4. Blend the mixture to achieve a consistent texture.
5. Serve an appropriate portion size to your cat.

Recipe 2: Chicken and Spinach Medley

Ingredients:

• 1 cup cooked and diced chicken
• 1/4 cup cooked spinach, chopped
• 1/4 teaspoon salmon oil
• 1/4 teaspoon powdered cat multivitamin (if recommended by a vet)
• 1/4 teaspoon bone meal powder (if recommended by a vet)

Instructions:

1. Dice the cooked chicken into small pieces.
2. Cook the spinach and chop it finely.
3. In a bowl, combine the diced chicken, chopped spinach, salmon oil, powdered cat multivitamin, and bone meal powder.
4. Mix well until all ingredients are evenly distributed.
5. Serve an appropriate portion to your cat.

Recipe 3: Chicken and Carrot Feast

Ingredients:

• 1 cup cooked and minced chicken
• 1/4 cup cooked carrots, mashed
• 1/4 teaspoon flaxseed oil
• 1/4 teaspoon powdered taurine supplement (if recommended by a vet)
• 1/4 teaspoon powdered calcium supplement (if recommended by a vet)

Instructions:

1. Mince the cooked chicken finely.
2. Cook the carrots until soft and mash them.
3. In a bowl, mix the minced chicken, mashed carrots, flaxseed oil, powdered taurine supplement, and powdered calcium supplement.
4. Ensure all ingredients are well combined.
5. Serve an appropriate portion of this delightful meal to your cat.

Recipe 4: Chicken and Sweet Potato Bliss

Ingredients:

• 1 cup cooked and shredded chicken
• 1/4 cup cooked sweet potato, mashed
• 1/4 teaspoon fish oil
• 1/4 teaspoon powdered cat multivitamin (if recommended by a vet)
• 1/4 teaspoon bone meal powder (if recommended by a vet)

Instructions:

1. Shred the cooked chicken into small, cat-friendly pieces.
2. Cook the sweet potato until soft and mash it.
3. In a bowl, combine the shredded chicken, mashed sweet potato, fish oil, powdered cat multivitamin, and bone meal powder.
4. Mix thoroughly until the ingredients are well incorporated.
5. Serve an appropriate portion of this flavorful dish to your cat.

Recipe 5: Chicken and Pea Delicacy

Ingredients:

• 1 cup cooked and diced chicken
• 1/4 cup cooked peas, mashed
• 1/4 teaspoon salmon oil
• 1/4 teaspoon taurine supplement (if recommended by a vet)
• 1/4 teaspoon calcium supplement (if recommended by a vet)

Instructions:

1. Dice the cooked chicken into small pieces.
2. Cook the peas until soft and mash them.
3. In a bowl, combine the diced chicken, mashed peas, salmon oil, taurine supplement, and calcium supplement.
4. Mix well until all ingredients are evenly distributed.
5. Serve an appropriate portion of this nutritious meal to your cat.

Remember, it’s essential to consult your veterinarian before introducing any new diet to your cat, especially if you’re making significant changes to their nutrition. These recipes can serve as a starting point, but individual cats may have specific dietary requirements or sensitivities.

Conclusion

Making your own cat food with chicken is a great way to make sure your furry companion is getting the nutrition it needs. With some basic supplies and knowledge, you can easily make homemade cat food with chicken for your cat.

When shopping for chicken, it is important to purchase only fresh and human-grade. When preparing cat food, be sure to properly cook the chicken and avoid adding any spices. Including starches and healthy fats can help make sure your cat food is balanced.

And remember to store your cat food properly in the refrigerator or freezer. With this knowledge, you can feel secure that the cat food you have made is both tasty and nutritious!