Many pet owners are eager to explore new at-home diets for their cats. Research indicates that a majority of pet owners prioritize buying healthy food for their pets, sometimes even giving it more importance than other aspects. However, for those new to this concept, the process can be frustrating. It's hard to find a reliable diet, and many think it might be too costly. Interestingly, while homemade diets are a bit more expensive than commercial dry food, they are more economical than canned food.
As more owners look into fresh diets for their pets, it's crucial to keep some rules in mind. If you're curious about such a diet for your pet, read on as I highlight the main rules for this dietary transition.
The 10 Basics of a Fresh Diet for Cats:
I consider these basics to be fundamental rules for at-home diets. Not all may apply to you, but having a list of expectations helps avoid surprises.
1. Prioritize Your Health
Since most at-home cat diets involve raw meat or raw ingredients, be aware that in some cases, this might not be safe for certain people. Pregnant women, immunocompromised individuals, the elderly, young children, and others should not be near or handle raw meat. Discuss this with your healthcare provider before switching your cat's diet. Or, let your veterinary nutritionist know your circumstances so they can formulate a cooked diet for your pet.
2. Prioritize Your Cat’s Health, Too!
Not all cats are suitable for a raw diet. Many feline diseases can limit their ability to handle a raw diet. Have your cat checked by a veterinarian before changing their diet. Also, routinely have lab work done, like blood tests, weight checks, body condition score analysis, urinalysis, and possibly fecal tests. Your vet will decide which tests are best for your cat.
3. Select Your Pet’s Nutritionist Carefully
There are many animal nutrition courses for pet owners, but they don't cover the same syllabus as what veterinarians learn in animal nutrition specialization. Since figuring out what to feed your cat has a big medical component, it's important to have a diet formulated by a veterinarian. Your pet is unique, and a diet tailored to their health and medical status is best. Just knowing about feline nutrition isn't enough if someone isn't a veterinarian; they won't have all the knowledge to formulate a diet for pets with specific conditions.
4. Get Ready For Raw
For beginners in preparing at-home cat diets, raw meats are the best option. Cooking meat reduces its nutritional value significantly. Cooked diets usually need supplements to be nutritionally adequate, which might seem less "natural" to those wanting a natural diet. Most people interested in fresh diets for their pets prefer a raw diet for cats as it's the most biologically appropriate.
5. Meat Sourcing
It's recommended to source meat for human consumption and choose raw meat that has undergone quality control, like pasteurization. If you wouldn't buy it for yourself, don't buy it for your pet.
6. Hygiene
Wash hands thoroughly with disinfectant soap for at least 20 seconds before and after handling raw meats. Also, wash any surface used for cutting meat with hot water and disinfectant soap.
7. Segregation
Use different cutting boards, knives, bowls, and utensils for meat preparation. Don't use them with or store them with other kitchen items for other foods.
8. No Cats!
The kitchen is dangerous for pet cats as they can jump onto counters and get into things they shouldn't. They might be injured by kitchen appliances or sharp objects. So, don't let your cat in the kitchen.
9. … And No Other Pets, Either
Just like cats, other pets shouldn't be in the kitchen. Dogs, ferrets, or other carnivorous pets might try to steal cat food. Non-carnivorous pets might also be curious and sample the cat food.
10. Keep Your Expectations Realistic
While natural diets can be beneficial for some pets, most of the benefits are anecdotal and not fully verified by research. Keep your expectations realistic. A diet might help your cat, but don't think it will cure diseases or make your cat immune. Also, remember that the process of dietary transition is slow, and results take time.
Conclusion
These are my 10 essential rules for those new to fresh homemade diets for their cats. There might be other rules for your situation, but these cover most relevant aspects of homemade pet nutrition.
Featured image credit: LightField Studios, Shutterstock
