5 Raw Cat Food Recipe Ideas: Vet Approved, Easy, & Nutritious

Raw food diets have become popular among pet parents, and cat owners around the world are switching to raw foods for their cats due to the better nutritional value and lack of unnecessary ingredients like grains and other fillers. There are several raw cat food companies, but the meals can be pricey, and many owners are now making raw meals for their pets themselves.

Luckily, making raw food meals for your cat is relatively easy. They contain only a few ingredients that usually don't require cooking. In this article, we'll discuss five great raw cat food recipes to try!

The 5 Raw Cat Food Recipes

1. Simple Raw Chicken Recipe

Simple Raw Chicken Recipe

This simple recipe includes raw chicken thighs, bones, hearts, and liver. When made, you can portion the food out and freeze it to use as needed.

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Prep time

5 min

Mixing Time

5 min

Total time

10 min

Servings

40 meals

Equipment

• Meat grinder
• Mixing bowl

Ingredients

• 4.5 pounds chicken thighs (75% bones and 50% of the skin)
• 7 oz chicken liver
• 14 oz chicken heart
• 1 cup water
• 4 egg yolks
• 2,000 mg taurine
• 8,000 mg fish oil
• 800 IU Vitamin E (d-alpha-Tocopherol)
• 1/2 cap B complex
• 1/2 tsp Lite Salt

Instructions

1. 1At room temperature, remove at least half the skin of the unfrozen, raw chicken thighs or all of it if you’re trying to reduce fats in your cat’s diet. This recipe includes the bones, so you’ll need a grinder, but you can also remove some of the bones if you prefer. Rinse the meat thoroughly and feed it through your grinder along with the hearts and livers.
2. 2Place the taurine, along with any other supplements you prefer, into a mixing bowl with the water and egg. Then, add the ground meat and mix thoroughly. You can then portion out the food and freeze it to use as needed.

2. Chicken and Salmon Recipe

• Servings: 14-18

• Directions:

You’ll again need a meat grinder or a very strong blender like a Vitamix for this recipe. Blend all the organ meats with water first, then gradually add the chicken and salmon, eggs, and taurine. Divide into portions for 1–2 days and freeze the remainder.

3. Raw Beef and Chicken Recipe (No Grinder Required)

• Servings:  enough for 27 days/52 serving

• Directions:

We love the simplicity of this recipe since a grinder and additional supplements are not required. Simply cut all the meat into small, bite-sized pieces, add the tuna and sardines, and mix thoroughly. Portion out a couple of servings and store the rest in the freezer.

4. Boneless Raw Food Recipe

• Servings: 6 days/12 servings

• Directions:

This completely balanced recipe is quick and simple since there are no bones and thus no need for a grinder or blender, although a grinder does make the processing far easier. You’ll need to cut the raw meat into small, bite-sized portions (larger is fine if you are grinding) and add them to a bowl. Mix in the salmon oil, egg yolk, and possibly a touch of water if needed. Lastly, add the eggshell powder and 1,000 mg of taurine.

5. Balanced Raw Recipe

• Servings: 10 days/20 servings

• Directions:

Grind up the whole chicken with the water and add the egg yolks. Once mixed, gradually mix in the salmon oil, followed by the supplements. Then, portion out the mixture and freeze it.

Tips For Feeding Raw Food to Your Cat

A raw food diet is a great option for cats, but, as with any diet, you must ensure your cat is getting all the required nutrients they need to thrive. Sometimes, you may need to add supplements, especially taurine, and include bones or eggshells for calcium and other minerals.

With a raw diet, you’ll need to feed your cats what’s known as a “nose-to-tail” diet, including bones, organs, and muscles in their meals. As obligate carnivores, cats need protein from meat or fish and the associated amino acids like taurine and omega fatty acids to thrive.

They also need essential vitamins like B12 and minerals like calcium and phosphorus. While nutrients can be obtained from organ meats, muscle meats, and bones, the amounts vary a lot, and it is necessary to supplement them according to the recipe you choose. Cats have little need for carbohydrates, so the raw diet is species-appropriate because it passes on proteins and has a high moisture content.

If you’re making raw food for your cat at home, it is vital to obtain the meat from a trusted source, prepare it on a clean, preferably metal surface, and clean thoroughly again afterward. This is due to the real risk of salmonella and other foodborne illnesses, both for you and your cat.

Preparing homemade cat food can be a great way to ensure your cat receives the nutrition they need to thrive, and serving it in the right dish is also an important aspect of nurturing their health. Our Hepper NomNom Cat Bowl was designed with feline well-being in mind, featuring shallow, wide, whisker-friendly dishes and slight elevation, promoting great posture and eating habits. Best of all, this bowl is dishwasher safe, meaning the all-important clean-up after each meal is simple. 

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Conclusion

There's a lot of controversy surrounding raw diets for cats, primarily due to the risk of disease transmission and the fear of inadequate nutrition. Therefore, you must carefully select fresh ingredients from a reliable source and supplement the diet accordingly. A healthy, active adult cat without any special dietary requirements should thrive on any of the previous recipes; however, if your cat is used to commercially processed food, the transition should be done gradually.  Ensure you obtain your meat from a trusted source and thoroughly clean your surfaces and utensils to reduce the risk of disease.

See Also:

• Can Cats Eat Raw Meat? Vet-Reviewed Nutrition Facts & FAQ

• Can Cats Eat Chicken Gizzards? Vet-Approved Facts & FAQ

Featured Image Credit: Nils Jacobi, Shutterstock