Using fresh ingredients to feed a cat is possible, but a few basic rules must be followed:
- The food must have a high animal product content and be enriched with vitamins and minerals;
- The diet must be balanced, and contain sufficient amounts of proteins, energy, etc.;
- Ingredients must be weighed from time to time to verify that the correct amounts are being incorporated;
- The owner must make sure the cat is eating the entire meal and not sorting out only his preferred choice morsels;
- In addition to the meat, rice or pasta, green vegetables, and vegetable oil, a vitamin and mineral supplement containing calcium and phosphorus in a 2:1 ration must be incorporated. Cats require about fifty different nutrients. A vitamin and mineral supplement formulated specifically for cats (available from most veterinarians) is the only way to be sure that all necessary minerals, trace elements, and vitamins are included in the diet.
INGREDIENTS FOR FOODS PREPARED AT HOME
- Meats vary considerably in quality. Meat with a high collagen content (tendons, connective tissues) does not provide high-quality dietary protein. Intermediate quality beef, such as stew or cheek meat, is a good choice. These meats can be served raw or lightly cooked, but not boiled. Pork, on the other hand, must be cooked thoroughly to protect against parasitic diseases. Poultry, which may be cooked by any method, contains particularly high quality fats. None of these meats provide all of the vitamin and mineral (especially calcium) needs of cats.
Regarding raw preparations labeled "for animal consumption" provided they do not contain tendons and connective tissues, they may be of acceptable quality, but normally contain a high percentage of fat. They should be used only on occasion.
- Quantities of offal should be limited. Special care must be taken with regard to liver since it contains large amounts of vitamin A. It must make up no more than 10% of a cat's diet. Lung has been fed to cats for centuries. It is a source of moderate quality protein and can be fed from time to time to sedentary cats lacking energy.
- Fish is also an excellent source of high-quality protein. It must be cleaned and cooked, since the viscera may contain the vitamin B1 blocker thiaminase, which can lead to nervous disorders. The disadvantage of fish is that it contains a lot of bones, which may get caught anywhere in the digestive tract. A distinction is made between fatty fish (more than 8% fat), such as mackerel, sardines, salmon, or herring, and low-fat fish (less than 5% fat), such as cod, pollock, skate, or bream, and moderate fat fish, such as flounder, dab, and all flat fish.
- Eggs (provided the whites are cooked) and dairy products are sources of high-quality proteins. However, not all cats are alike when it comes to lactose, the sugar in milk. Though kittens have sufficient lactase, the enzyme necessary for the digestion of milk, adult cats are sometimes lactose intolerant. However, yogurt, which does not contain lactose, is easily digested and can even help maintain healthy intestinal flora. Unfermented cheeses are also typically well tolerated.
- Grains provide most of their energy in the form of starch. Starch must be well cooked, or it will be difficult to digest. Puffed grains for animal consumption are good energy sources. Rice must be well cooked and sticky.
- Vegetables provide fiber, or bulk, which dilutes energy and speeds passage through the intestinal tract. Unfortunately, cats do not like vegetables, so they must be surreptitiously added to the diet. Well cooked, puréed potatoes are acceptable. Dry vegetables such as chickpeas and beans are not recommended because they cause gas.
The addition of soy, grape seed, or canola oil incorporates high-quality essential fatty acids (Omega 6 and 3). Peanut and olive oils are also acceptable. Rounding out the perfect meal, a vitamin supplement will fill in the gap if there happens to be a deficiency in the homemade diet, particularly calcium or fat-soluble vitamin deficiencies.
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