Do you want to make your own raw cat food? This is the homemade raw cat food recipe that we used when we first switched our cats to a raw food diet, and continue to use and recommend today. We include instructions for making eggshell and vitamin supplement powder, and where to buy the vitamins you need to get started.
This recipe is nutritionally balanced for adult cats. If you are raw feeding kittens please follow the instructions to adjust the recipe.
Equipment needed to make raw cat food
This recipe does not use whole bone for the calcium source. If you plan to only make this raw cat food recipe, a less powerful grinder or food processor will be adequate to mince the protein and muscle/organ meats.
We advise against purchasing pre-ground mince or pet food mince from your butcher or supermarket. There is a higher risk of bacteria in pre-packaged mince.
In addition to the meat grinder, we also use the following items when making this raw recipe:
- a large chopping board
- stainless steel mixing bowls
- small kitchen scales
- sharp knife for cutting meat and organs
- fork and tongs for handling the raw meat
- spatula for scraping the bowl.
Raw recipe ingredients
You will need the following ingredients for this recipe:
- 737g (1 pound, 10 oz) boneless protein e.g. chicken, turkey, kangaroo, beef etc.
- 85g (3 oz) heart
- 45g (1.6 oz) liver
- 45g (1.6 oz) kidney
- 1 tsp (6.1g) finely ground eggshell powder OR 26 capsules of Calcium Hydroxyapatite (freeze-dried bone)
- 7 capsules of 500mg salmon oil*
- 1/2 tsp vitamin supplement mix
- 1 large egg yolk
NOTE: When using eggshell as a bone substitute, this homemade cat food recipe is balanced and complete for adult cats only. Growing kittens need additional calcium and phosphorus. For kittens, you must replace the eggshell with calcium hydroxyapatite (freeze dried bone).
* One capsule of the Natural Factors Wild Alaskan Salmon Oil is 1000mg. Use 3-4 capsules per batch of raw food.
How to make ground eggshell powder (adult cats)
Finely ground eggshell powder works well as a calcium substitute for adult cats, and is easy to prepare.
Save your eggshells. Wash them throughly to remove the egg white but leave the membrane inside which has nutritional benefits.
Once the eggshells are dry, place them on a baking tray and bake them in the oven (150 C / 300 F for 10-15 minutes) until they are brittle.
We buy organic eggs from the supermarket. These are usually date stamped, so we break off the bits of eggshell that have ink on them to be on the safe side.
Next, place the eggshells in a clean coffee grinder (we used a Nutri Bullet which worked well too), and pulse until they resemble a finely ground powder. Wait 10 minutes for the dust to settle before opening the grinder, then transfer the eggshell powder to a glass jar and store in the pantry.
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Vitamin mix for raw cat food recipe
You must add 1/2 a teaspoon of the vitamin supplement mix to every batch of homemade raw cat food. This will ensure the recipe is nutritionally balanced.
The vitamin supplement mix includes:
- 1,000mg Taurine – 50 capsules
- 150mcg Standardised Kelp – 20 tablets
- 10mg Chelated Manganese – 10 capsules
- 400iu Dry Vitamin E – 5 capsules
- 50mg B Complex – 2 capsules
To combine, add all supplements (including gel caps) to a clean coffee grinder (or NutriBullet) and pulse until finely ground. Wait for the dust to settle before opening the grinder, then transfer to an airtight glass jar.
Where to buy vitamin supplements
We purchase the supplements to make this raw food recipe directly from iHerb who offer a convenient service and fast shipping around the world. We personally recommend their products and service. Click on the product links below and add them directly to your shopping cart. You can save 5% on your order if you use code “GSP403” at checkout.
Note: *You must use the Calcium Hydroxyapatite if you are making this raw cat food recipe for kittens.
Raw cat food recipe step-by-step instructions
Based on a 55g (2 oz) portion size, this recipe makes 18 individual meals. This provides an adult cat with enough raw cat food for nine days based on feeding two meals per day.
This is the process we follow when making the raw food recipe for our cats.
Set up: Raw recipe preparation
It is easier to get everything ready and have what you need within arms reach before you start. Now is also a good time to put your cats in another room, otherwise you’ll have extra paws in the kitchen wanting to help.
We use a plastic chopping board with an absorbent kitchen cloth underneath which soaks up any meat and organ juices and minimises mess.
TIP: A red coloured chopping board is better than a white one if you’re a little squeamish.
Make sure you have prepared your eggshell powder and vitamin supplement mix.
Step 1: Cut raw meat and organs into pieces
Cut the raw boneless muscle meat and organs (heart, liver and kidney) into pieces that will fit through the feeder on the meat grinder. Mince everything and place the ground meat in a large stainless steel mixing bowl.
Chicken heart, liver and kidney are often the easiest organs to source but you can use any mix of organs when making this raw recipe.
TIP: Cutting up organs is our least favourite part of the process, it’s also the messiest – so we deal with them first. We also use a carving fork and tongs with long handles to minimise the ‘icky’ factor of handling raw meat and organs.
Step 2: Add salmon oil and egg yolk
Using a push-pin, pierce the salmon capsules and squeeze the fish oil onto the raw meat and organs, and add the egg yolk.
Alternatively, melt the salmon oil capsules in hot (not boiling) water and add the water/melted salmon oil to the raw food mix.
Step 3: Add eggshell and vitamin powders
Ground eggshell powder (for adult cats only) and a vitamin supplement mix must be added to this homemade raw cat food recipe to ensure it is nutritionally balanced.
Place the powders (ground eggshell and vitamin supplements) together in a glass jar and shake to combine. You can then add to the raw meat and organs. If required, add a small amount of water to ensure the supplements are mixed evenly throughout the raw food.
Alternative calcium source for kittens
Kittens need additional calcium and phosphorus in their diet. If you are making this raw cat food recipe for growing kittens, you must use freeze dried bone. Substitute 26 capsules of Calcium Hydroxyapatite (freeze-dried bone) instead of the eggshell powder.
Step 4: Mix and package raw food
Mix everything together thoroughly using a fork or spatula. Once the raw cat food recipe is well combined, spoon meal-sized portions into zip-lock freezer bags (expel as much air as possible when sealing) and freeze until required.
TIP: We use a permanent marker to label all the zip-lock bags so we can easily identify the raw protein source in the freezer e.g. a capital K on the outside of the zip lock bag = Kangaroo, C = Chicken, T = Turkey, B = Beef etc.
If you are feeding multiple cats or preparing raw food in bulk you may prefer to use plastic freezer food containers or Ball Mason freezer glass jars instead of zip-lock bags. Some people also freeze smaller portions of this raw recipe in ice cube trays.
Step 5: Defrost raw cat food – ready to eat
Place a meal sized portion in the fridge for 12 hours to defrost. We usually get the morning portions out the freezer the evening before and defrost overnight. We get the evening portions out the freezer that morning to defrost during the day.
If you forget to take the raw cat food out the freezer, you can defrost quickly in warm water. Simply submerge the zip-lock bag in warm (not hot) water for 10-15 minutes to bring it to ‘mouse body’ temperature.
NEVER use the microwave to defrost raw food as it can destroy essential nutrients.
Why we recommend this raw recipe
There are many homemade raw cat food recipes available on the internet. We trust and follow this recipe which was developed by Laurie Goldstein and Carolina Lima, founders of the Raw Feeding for IBD Cats Facebook group and Food Fur Life where they developed EzComplete, a premix supplement for homemade raw cat food. Pawesome Cats are sharing this recipe with their permission.
Nutritional analysis
If you want to understand the nutritional analysis of this recipe, you can view the original ‘Balanced Raw Food Recipe with Nutritional Analysis‘ page on the Raw Feeding for IBD Cats website.
Raw recipe questions
Please read the comments section, as we may have answered your question previously. Comments are now closed, but you can ask questions about this raw recipe in the Raw Feeding for IBD Cats Facebook group.
Hi. I was able to get some Lamb liver, kidney and heart and was going to make this but then realized that the nutritional values for lamb liver are quite different than chicken liver in some cases. For example the vitamin A in 100 g of Lamb liver is 24609 IU and for chicken liver is 11077 IU. More than twice as much. That is still ok?
Could I make the recipe with chicken muscle meat and the lamb liver kidney and heart?
Yes, you can. We often use chicken meat and lamb organs.
Regarding your question about the different levels of Vitamin A in lamb liver versus chicken liver, please ask in the Raw Feeding for IBD cats Facebook group (see the link in the blog post above).
In regards to the egg yolk, what size eggs would this be from? And if I use powdered yolk instead, do you know how much I should add? Thank you!
We use standard size eggs, the tray is often labelled large eggs. If you plan to substitute egg yolk powder in this recipe, I’d check the packet to find out how much egg yolk powder equals a single egg yolk. I looked at one egg yolk powder and it stated one egg yolk was 1.5 tablespoons or 11.25 grams. Hope this helps.
Hi, thanks so much for this recipe. I have a question about liver/heart/kidney please. Do I need to use the three of them or could I just use liver for example (and put more of it in the recipe) ? Thank you
You should follow the recipe exactly as it is written, without making any substitutions. This is a “balanced” raw food recipe and ensures your cat is eating a meal that contains the right balance of nutrients (vitamins, minerals, fats, amino acids) to ensure their optimal health and wellbeing.
What about giving bones, like wing tips to kittens and wing pieces to older cats?
Yes, we feed wing tips to our cats and quail necks are good too if you can get them.
What do I do with the extra supplement mix? Can I freeze it?
The extra supplement mix can be stored in a jar and will last as long as the earliest expiry date on the individual supplements (it’s usually at least 12 months). I write the date on a sticker and attach to the jar, to discard after this date. I store in the pantry or fridge during the heat of summer.
I have been making my own raw cat food based off a recipe that says to use three chicjen skins per batch for a little bit of fat content. If a cat prefers a keaner raw meat is there any options you’d recommend for added fat content other than chicken skins?
I can’t comment on someone else’s’ recipe and this recipe doesn’t include chicken skins. But in addition to feeding my cats this balanced raw recipe, their weekly treats include pieces of meat – e.g. chicken thighs with fat, duck with skin and other meat including small amounts of fat.
Hello, When combining those vitamins to mix together how much 1/2 tsp servings are in this recipe? How many months would this recipe last for one cat before having to make another batch?
The supplement mix will last you many months possibly even a year. I feed multiple cats and make a batch maybe twice a year.
How much do those supplements cost and how long do they last [how many batches]? I’m on a fixed income so I have to be careful. My cat is 21, so I’d like to help him in his older years. I’ve only had him for about 4 years.
You can view the supplement prices in your currency on iHerb. The supplement mix results in quite a large batch – it will last you many months if you’re only feeding one cat.
They say to feed your cats from 2-6 meals a day normally. Stating 6 is best so with the raw food diet you state that recipe is for two meals a day. I know based on my cats weight he should eat 400 cal a day. Do you have that info available for this raw food diet. Do you also feed your cats more than two meals a day. My cat easy like a bodybuilder on a competition every three hours he howls for food🤣 thanks for the info
If you have a kitten or cat under 12-18 months old then it’s good to feed them smaller meals more frequently to support their growth and development. For an adult cat, a morning and evening meal usually fits with the typical family schedule, especially if you are away from home during the day. My cats receive two meals per day, they also have a small snack at lunchtime when I’m working from home, and usually get another snack (freeze dried meat) an hour before bedtime. Just make sure you factor the extra treats into your cat’s overall food intake, otherwise you may end up overfeeding. The total amount you feed your cat needs to be appropriate for their age and activity levels.
Hello! Thank you so much for the recipe! Sorry if this question is silly, but I was wondering if you use chicken with the skin or no skin? Also, what part of the chicken do you use, like breast or thigh or legs? I am looking to transition my 2 cats to raw diet. Also, how long can the vitamin mix be kept? Thanks again!!
We use chicken breast or thigh, or a combination of both. A little bit of fat (skin) won’t hurt although thighs generally have a bit of fat on them anyway. The expiry of the vitamin powder, will be the same as the vitamins themselves (use the first date to expire as an indicator of how long the vitamin powder will last you). Good luck with transitioning your cats.
Can I freeze this homemade cat food?
Yes, we always freeze in individual portion sizes for convenience.
The math seems to be off. It says that barely 18oz worth of ingredients equals 18 two ounce meals. 18oz of ingredients does not equal 34oz of food.
Hi Denee – please carefully re-read the recipe, I think you’ve just misread the ingredient amounts. There is 737g (1 pound, 10 oz) boneless protein. The recipe is correct as published.
I noticed you say 7 capsules of 500mg salmon oil then make the notation at the bottom that one capsule of the Natural Factors Wild Alaskan Salmon Oil is 1000mg. If using the 1000mg capsule how many capsules should be added to each batch?
We use 3-4 capsules of the salmon oil.
Hi there. I have to start feeing my cat a raw based diet hand made instead of store bought and has to be kangaroo. I was just wondering with the organs do you use that from kangaroo as well or can the organs be from any animal? Sorry if that is a silly question. Thanks in advance 😊
You can feed any organs, they don’t have to be from the same animal as the muscle meat. We usually feed chicken or lamb organs – they are smaller and easier to handle, but also easy to obtain.
This is fantastic, thank you.
Could you be kind enough to recommend the additions for kittens that are growing. Is this also safe to feed the adult cats until the kittens are say about 1 year I would presume.
This raw cat food recipe has now been updated to include the instructions for growing kittens. Essentially, you need to substitute the eggshell powder for freeze dried bone.
Why do they suggest eggshell powder for adult cats? Or can you also Use the freeze dried bone for adults? Thanks
You can use freeze dried bone for adult cats. Ground eggshell is often used because it’s an easily available and inexpensive option. For cats with kidney/renal issues eggshells are a better choice as they have less phosphorous and cats with compromised kidney function can’t remove excess phosphorous from their blood as effectively.
Kangaroo meat! Wow. I wonder how that tastes? (I’m in the U.S.) I’d love to start feeding my 4 feral cats more raw food. Thanks for your ideas here. I’ll give it a try. Take care!
I am a rotational feeder and include raw food sources too! I have primarily used prepackaged raw meats and freeze-dried raw protein sources, but I may try my hand at this recipe. Thank you for recommending iHerb to purchase taurine and other important supplements!
Thanks for this! I haven’t fed raw to my cats in a while, but when I was I followed a recipe from catinfo.org. It is pretty similar to this one. I’ve been wanting to get back into raw feeding, so I will save this recipe to refer to.
P.S. I didn’t know that kangaroos were eaten!
One of my sisters feeds her cats and dogs prepared raw diets, I’ll have to point this out to her as I’m sure it would save her a lot of money.
This is a great recipe for cat on a raw food diet. Supplements are important when feeding a raw food diet. You did a great job in making sure everything was step-by-step. Hey did I see a package of Kangaroo?
So great to find another raw cat food blogger! I have been feeding all home made raw for over a year and am very happy with the results. I would really recommend feeding real bone, the real thing rather than supplement it. But congrats to you for caring so much about your cat’s health 🙂
That looks pretty easy! I never thought about using eggshells for calcium. That’s really smart! I’m still not quite ready to make the move to raw, but this does make it intriguing.