In China, live cats and dogs are boiled in boiling pots

Industrially prepared cat food does not require much time and effort from you; it is easy to purchase and give to your pet. This is especially important and convenient during a busy work schedule. However, one cannot ignore the fact that some of these processed foods may be harmful to your cat's health. That's why more and more pet owners are choosing to switch from commercially produced foods to a more natural diet for their pets.

Specially prepared homemade cat food, made from fresh and healthy ingredients, can be, if not the basis, then a pleasant and healthy addition to your pet’s diet. In addition, such food is much more natural, it is closer to the natural diet of cats than anything offered in pet stores.

Choose protein-rich recipes

Owners should be aware that cats need a lot of protein (they need 5 times more protein than dogs), which inevitably means that a dog's food may not be a normal diet for a cat. For each type of animal (for example, cats, dogs, chinchillas), it is necessary to prepare separately. There are many simple and affordable recipes that can be used to provide complete and balanced nutrition for your cat.

Of course, as we all know, cats are picky eaters, so there is no guarantee that they will like all the recipes, but there are sure to be some that they will like. The main thing is to start with what your cat likes and what smells good.

history of the holiday

International Cat Day is a relatively new holiday. If World Animal Day was established back in 1931, the idea to celebrate Meowing Pet Day appeared only in 2002 thanks to the International Fund for Animal Welfare. August 8 was chosen as the date of the new holiday .
Since then, it has been celebrated in dozens of countries around the world. Interestingly, in some countries there are national holidays dedicated to cats, which fall on completely different days. For example, in Russia Cat Day is celebrated on March 1, because a meowing animal is associated with the arrival of spring; in the USA this day is celebrated on October 29, and in Japan on February 22. In Italy, only black cats are celebrated; their day is November 17, but all cats, without exception, can take part in the cat parade, which takes place on the second Sunday of May every three years in the Belgian town of Ypres.

On International Cat Day, animal shelters hold exhibitions where you can take your favorite kitten home for free, veterinary clinics host master classes on caring for cats, animal welfare funds hold charity events, and cat owners post photos with their pets on social networks.

Use a variety of meat sources

The more there are, the better (chicken, turkey, beef, rabbit, duck, etc.). This provides a more complete balance of nutrients and also enriches the feeding with different tastes and textures. You can use different sources of meat at the same time.

There are different opinions regarding the use of bones in preparing cat food. Personally, I never use them due to the risk of choking, puncture or blocking the digestive tract.

Why a cat is not just a pet

Once upon a time, cats were predatory and unapproachable, but after their domestication even before our era - 9500 years ago - a lot has changed! Today cats are the most popular pets and they are much more popular than dogs. According to statistics, more than 30 million cats live in Russian families - we rank third in the number of these purring animals in the world. And all because cats are unpretentious, they love to spend time on their own, but at the same time they are always ready to give warmth and affection to their owner. Research shows that interacting with cats can relieve physical tension, stress and improve health, including psychological health. A cat can provide emotional support to people suffering from depression, anxiety and loneliness.

It is also known that cats can relieve the owner’s physical pain - the normal body temperature of adult cats is from 37.5 to 38.9 ° C, so they are real “hot water bottles” for humans. You've probably noticed more than once that the cat itself determines where it hurts and applies its body to the source of the discomfort. Also, if a cat licks or fiddles with your ear, this is how she heals. The fact is that there are many acupuncture points on the auricle. By acting on them, a cat can prevent a heart attack or nervous breakdown.

Moreover, doctors from the Berlin Institute have proven that animal owners (including cats) live on average 10 years longer than people without pets.

Add products containing tatourine

The heart of various animals should be added to the diet, as it is one of the best sources of taurine, which is an essential amino acid for cats. If you do not give your cat enough hearts (about 10% of the diet), additional taurine must be given in the form of food supplements.

The menu should also include the liver or another secretory organ (for example, kidneys and spleen). Most animals do not like their taste, but it can be masked by chopping and mixing with meat and vegetables. Among the vegetables you can give pumpkin, spinach, carrots, etc. Onions and garlic are toxic to cats and should not be given to them.

You will also need a blender, food processor or meat grinder for cooking.

The basic formula for cat food is simple: half protein (meat) and one-quarter each carbohydrates (grains) and vegetables (fiber).

Protein is found in turkey, chicken, rabbit, fish and other meats. The best source of carbohydrates is brown rice. As for vegetables, whatever your cat eats is fine. The meat can be either raw or boiled. Mix it with cooked vegetables and rice.

Example menu

Having selected suitable foods for your cat, look at their calorie content and calculate how many grams of such food can be given to the cat. The calorie content of foods popular with cats is shown in the table.

Thus, for the cat Vaska with a daily requirement of 282 kilocalories, you can create the following menu:

• 1st meal: 1 boiled egg, 60 grams of 5% cottage cheese - 141 kcal;
• 2nd meal: 75 grams of boiled chicken fillet, 15 grams of buckwheat, 20 grams of carrots - 141 kcal.

The total is 282 kcal, which is exactly Vasya’s daily requirement. In this case, the ratio of proteins, fats and carbohydrates is 50, 30 and 20 percent, respectively.

Another menu example:

• 1st meal: 100 grams of boiled cod, 20 grams of dry rice - 145 kcal;
• 2nd meal: 90 grams of lean boiled beef - 141 kcal.

Cats' taste preferences vary just like people's. One cat will eat 1-2 types of food and be afraid to try new things, while another will demand a daily variety of food. The owner will have to experiment to find out his cat's favorite foods.

And now some recipes for homemade cat food

They are collected from various sources on the Internet. Anything you prepare for your cat yourself (with a few exceptions, of course) will be better than what you can buy in the store, because not only do you have complete control over all the ingredients, but also because you are directly involved in the process. Cats, like people, appreciate home-cooked food prepared with love just for them.

Chicken with rice and vegetables

• 2 cups chopped or shredded chicken
• 1 cup cooked brown rice
• 1/4 cup grated boiled carrots

Cut the chicken into small pieces. Pass the carrots through a food processor. Mix chicken and carrots with rice. Serve at room temperature.

Diet for a picky cat

• 1 cup boiled chicken
• 1/4 cup steamed broccoli
• 1/4 carrots, steamed
• Chicken broth, about half a cup

Mix ingredients and serve.

Salmon with rice

• 150 gr. steamed salmon
• 1/2 hard-boiled egg
• 1/3 cup boiled rice
• 1 tablet calcium carbonate (400 mg calcium)
• 1 tablet of vitamin-mineral complex

Mix and serve.

Liver holiday

• 2 cups chopped beef or chicken liver
• 2 tablespoons vegetable oil
• 1 cup cooked oatmeal
• 1/4 cup frozen peas, steamed

Boil the liver with vegetable oil, chop finely. Add cooked oatmeal and green peas. Cool and serve at room temperature.

From what is

• 1.5 cups meat - beef, chicken, turkey, lamb (finely chopped)
• 0.5 cups of vegetables - carrots, zucchini, sweet potatoes, pumpkin or wheat germ
• 0.5 cups mashed potatoes, rice or oatmeal
• 1 tablespoon vegetable oil

Pass vegetables through a food processor. Chop the meat finely. Mix meat and vegetables, potatoes, rice or oatmeal. Add vegetable oil and serve.

Tuna for lunch

• 0.5 kg. tuna, canned in oil
• 1/2 cup cooked brown rice
• 1/4 cup grated carrots
• 2 tablespoons sprouted wheat

Mix and serve at room temperature. Do not give more than once a week as it may lead to vitamin E deficiency.

Liver and kidneys for dinner

• 1 cup boiled chopped liver or kidneys
• 3/4 cup boiled oatmeal
• 3 tablespoons grated carrots or zucchini
• 1/3 cup yogurt
• 3 tablespoons butter

Mix minced liver or kidneys, oatmeal and vegetables. Melt the butter and pour in the mixture. Add yogurt and serve at room temperature.

Holiday

• 1 cup shredded beef
• 1/4 cup alfalfa or parsley
• 1/2 cup cottage cheese with cream

Mix the ingredients.

Diet for allergies

• 2 cups shredded lamb
• 1/2 cup grated carrots or zucchini
• 1 cup cooked brown rice
• 1/4 cup cottage cheese
• 1/4 tsp. garlic powder

Combine all ingredients in a blender and serve at room temperature.

Dinner time

• 100 gr. cooked white meat chicken
• 1/4 cup cooked mashed potatoes
• 1-1/2 teaspoons butter

Combine all ingredients in a blender and serve at room temperature.

For breakfast

• 1 egg
• 1 tablespoon green beans (cooked or pureed)
• 1 tablespoon finely chopped carrots
• 2 tablespoons chopped chicken breasts (skinless)
• 1/3 cup brown rice (cooked)
• 1 tablespoon olive oil

Mix all ingredients thoroughly. You can also puree the mixture in a blender if needed.

Stewed chicken for cats

• 1 whole chicken
• 2 cups brown rice
• 6 stalks of celery
• 6 carrots, grated but not peeled
• 2 small yellow pumpkins
• 2 zucchini
• 1 cup green peas
• handful of green beans

Wash the chicken, then cover with water in a large saucepan and simmer. Cut the vegetables into pieces and add to the pan. Add rice. Cook until the chicken is almost falling off the bones and the vegetables are tender. Remove the chicken completely from the bones. This is very important because cooked chicken bones can cause serious intestinal damage. Pour everything into a blender and grind the mixture.

Chicken liver recipe

• 1/2 cup cooked broccoli or cooked carrots
• 1/2 cup cooked rice
• 1 1/2 cups boiled chicken liver
• Chicken liver broth

Place rice, liver, broccoli or carrots in a blender and blend them, adding a little broth.

Chicken with broccoli

• A piece of skinless, boneless chicken breast about the size of your palm or smaller, depending on how much you want to cook.
• Two or three pieces of broccoli

Boil the chicken and broccoli, mix in a blender until smooth.

Shrimp with carrots

• 3-4 raw shrimp. You need to cut off the tail and remove the outer layer, boil it.
• The carrots will need to be cooked over high heat for 10-15 minutes, then blend them in a blender until smooth.

Once the shrimp have cooled slightly, cut them into small pieces. Mix with carrots.

Meat with cottage cheese

• 100 gr. meat, beef or poultry
• 1 tablespoon carrots
• 1 tablespoon cottage cheese
• 1 tablespoon sunflower oil.

You can also add flavorings to your food (kelp powder, garlic powder, nutritional yeast), but only in small quantities.

You can store leftover cat food in the refrigerator, but the same rules apply as leftover human food—use within a few days or freeze.

How to create a menu for a cat

To create a daily menu for a cat, you need to calculate the calorie content and determine the frequency of feeding.

Adult cats over 8 months eat 2 times a day, kittens from 3 to 8 months - 3-4 times a day, from 1 to 3 months kittens need to eat 5-6 times a day.

The calorie content of the diet for cats is calculated using the formula:

K*(30*m + 70), where m is the weight of the cat in kg, and K is the multiplier coefficient.

The coefficient for calculation is presented in the table below.

Let's give an example of a calculation. Let's say we need to calculate the daily calorie content for a neutered cat Vaska, who weighs 5.5 kg. Then the calorie content of his diet will be 1.2*(30*5.5+70)=282 kcal per day. Vasya is already an adult, so he needs to eat 2 times a day - 141 kcal per meal.

It is important to remember that not all foods are healthy for cats. As for vegetables, cats should not eat potatoes, onions, garlic, cabbage, legumes and mushrooms. Liver, river fish and offal are not recommended for cats.

Making your own healthy diet for your cat at home is quite easy.

This way, you don't have to worry about all the harmful additives used in commercial cat food. You can easily make your own homemade cat food that will be tasty, nutritious and healthy. Take these recipes as a basis and experiment.

Remember! Homemade food should provide your cat with all the vitamins and minerals it needs. If you are not sure about this, give additional vitamin and mineral complexes.

Sometimes it is difficult for a cat to switch from dry food to this diet, so first you need to switch to wet food (canned food and preserves), since their texture is closer to natural food. And then gradually mix wet food with natural food until you completely switch to the latter.

Cat diet requirements

Cat food should contain the correct proportion of proteins, fats, carbohydrates, vitamins and microelements - just like in humans. Since cats are carnivorous animals by nature, the majority of a cat's diet consists of protein.

At the same time, you cannot feed your cat only meat: for good health, the cat must also eat vegetables, cereals, dairy products and eggs.

Calculating the ideal ratio of BJU for cats is quite difficult: different cats have different needs. However, veterinarians advise leaving at least 50% of the diet for proteins, 10-15% for carbohydrates and the rest for fats.

A study on cat preferences found that most cats prefer a ratio of 52% protein, 36% fat and 12% carbohydrates.

A proper cat diet also includes fatty amino acids Omega-3 and Omega-6, phosphorus, potassium and other trace elements and vitamins. A lack of elements necessary for a cat affects its appearance, and if the deficiency is critical, it leads to illness.

Beneficial properties of soup for the animal's body

Liquid warm food is especially useful for small kittens and adult animals suffering from gastric diseases. When introducing soups into the diet, the pet receives not only the beneficial substances contained in the broth, but also fiber from cereals and vegetables, which promotes proper intestinal function.

Effect on the digestive system

The substances contained in liquid food have a beneficial effect on the digestive system of cats. They help maintain the balance of intestinal microflora, remove swallowed hairballs, and normalize the animal’s stool. In addition, soups are easily digestible; such food does not cause irritation to the gastrointestinal tract.

The soup contains nutrients and trace elements necessary for the growth and development of the cat.

Precautions and possible harm

When introducing first courses into a cat's diet, the following precautions must be taken:

1. Choose your soup ingredients carefully. Keep unusable, expired products out of the way.
2. It is advisable that the food is always fresh. If the amount of food is large and you cannot do without a refrigerator, divide the soup into portions and take out a small amount of food for each feeding.
3. If you suspect an allergic reaction, put your cat on a diet with gradual elimination of foods.
4. Use fractional meals. Frequent, small portions facilitate the digestion process.
5. Transition your cat gradually to a new type of food. The period for changing the diet is approximately 2 weeks.