How to Cook for a Cat

Cats can be finicky eaters. You can avoid mealtime difficulties by tempting Fluffy's taste buds with a variety of home-cooked meals. Always keep in mind that cats have very specific nutritional needs and any homemade specialties should be served as part of a properly balanced diet.

Instructions

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Things You’ll Need:

• Ground or chopped meat
• Grains
• Eggs
• Vegetable or olive oil

Assembling the Ingredients

1. Purchase 1 lb of ground or chopped meats appropriate for cats. Most cats will eat ground beef, chicken, turkey or canned mackerel.
   
2. Decide what type of grain to use. Oats , millet, polenta and bulgur usually work well when cooking for cats.
3. Combine 1 egg with 1 to 2 tablespoons of vegetable or olive oil.

Cooking the Meal

4. Cook 1 to 2 cups of the grains according to package directions.
5. Stir the egg and oil mixture into the cooked grains.
6. Add the meat to the grain mixture and bake in a shallow baking dish for about 20 minutes at 350 degrees F. Allow to cool before serving to your cat.
7. Store any unused portions in the refrigerator for no more than 3 days or in the freezer for up to 2 weeks.

Tips & Warnings

• When combined with dried cat food, substitute approximately 1/3 cup of cooked food for each 1/3 cup of dry cat food normally served. Do not overfeed.
• Make sure the food is at room temperature when served. Most cats will not eat chilled food.
• Some cats enjoy a teaspoon of cooked peas or carrots with their food.
• Cats should never be fed chocolate, garlic, onions, raisins, or tomatoes.
• Taurine is an essential amino acid for cats. Never feed your cat a homemade diet exclusively without first consulting a veterinarian. Taurine deficiency can lead to serious illness or death of your cat.