| Some owners prefer to make their cats' meals. This | | | | homemade diet? Practically anything humans would |
| way they can control exactly what goes into their | | | | eat. The home cooked diet is basically a blend of |
| pets' food, and they know and trust what they are | | | | meat, carbohydrates, fats, and vegetables. Some |
| consuming. The ingredients are often natural and | | | | common ingredients include cooked chicken livers, |
| fresh, and depending on the food that you prepare | | | | gizzards, hearts, cooked ground beef, duck, venison, |
| for your cat, you can choose a non organic or | | | | lamb, fish, turkey, sardines, cottage cheese, cooked |
| organic home cooked diet or a raw diet. | | | | eggs, carrots, broccoli, and other vegetables. If you |
| Providing your cat with a home cooked diet is a lot | | | | are making homemade meals for your cat, you can |
| of work. The meat, vegetables and other ingredients | | | | also all baby food (meat or vegetables) into the mix. |
| need to be lightly cooked and served to your cat | | | | Preparing meals for your feline friend can be a very |
| warm. Food smells and tastes better to cats if it is at | | | | expensive and time consuming process. If you want |
| room temperature. If you decide to provide a home | | | | to feed a home cooked diet, talk to your veterinarian |
| cooked diet, you will have to prepare batches of | | | | first. She will be able to educate you on nutritional |
| food every day or plan ahead and make enough to | | | | requirements and can give you a few basic recipes |
| last for a few days by freezing the leftover portions. | | | | to follow. Some cats with diseases or allergies have |
| This means that you will be spending a lot of time | | | | seen improved health conditions when switched to a |
| cooking for your cat, freezing the extra meals and | | | | home cooked diet. If you have a pet with a chronic |
| reheating them. | | | | illness or disease, ask your veterinarian if this diet |
| If you make batches of food ahead of time and | | | | could benefit him. |
| freeze the leftovers to use later, do not defrost | | | | If you like cooking for your cat, there are many |
| then in the microwave. Microwave ovens destroy | | | | websites and books devoted to the subject, and |
| essential enzymes and drain food of vitamins. | | | | many include recipes. However, always show your |
| Instead, leave the prepared food in the refrigerator | | | | veterinarian any recipe you are going to use before |
| to thaw slowly, or place the bag or container in a pot | | | | you start feeding it to your cat, it never hurts to get |
| of hot water to thaw. | | | | a professional opinion. |
| What kind of food goes into a home cooked or | | | | |