Do you want to make your own raw cat food? This is the homemade raw cat food recipe we used when we first switched our cats to a raw diet, and it’s the same one we continue to use and recommend today.
It’s important to follow the recipe carefully, because cats have very specific nutritional needs and even small imbalances can cause problems over time. That’s why we’ve included not only the recipe, but also step-by-step instructions, guidance on supplements, and tips to make the whole process easier. By the end, you’ll see that making healthy, balanced raw meals for your cat is easier than you might think.
Note: This recipe is nutritionally balanced for adult cats. If you are raw feeding kittens please follow the instructions to adjust the recipe.
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Contents
Equipment for raw cat food recipe
Because this is a raw cat food recipe without bones, you don’t need a heavy-duty grinder. A basic meat grinder or even a sturdy food processor will do the job of mincing the protein and organ meats.
We don’t recommend using pre-ground mince or pet food mince from the butcher or supermarket. Pre-packaged mince carries a higher risk of bacteria, and grinding the meat yourself is both safer and fresher for your cat.
Here’s the equipment we find most useful when preparing this DIY raw cat food recipe:
- a large chopping board (a red one is handy if you’re squeamish about raw meat)
- stainless steel mixing bowls (we use ones like these with non-slip bases and lids)
- small kitchen scales for accurate measuring
- sharp knife for cutting muscle meat and organs
- fork and tongs to make handling raw organs a little less messy
- spatula for scraping the bowl and mixing throroughly.
Having the right tools ready before you start will make the process smoother and much less stressful, especially the first time you prepare raw cat food at home.
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 you use eggshell powder as the calcium source, this homemade cat food recipe is balanced and complete for adult cats only. If you’re making this recipe for kittens, you must replace the eggshell with calcium hydroxyapatite (freeze-dried bone).
* One capsule of Natural Factors Wild Alaskan Salmon Oil contains 1000mg. For each batch of raw food, use 3-4 capsules.
How to make ground eggshell powder (adult cats)
Finely ground eggshell powder is an excellent calcium substitute for adult cats, and the good news is that it’s easy to make at home.
Save and clean your eggshells. Rinse them thoroughly to remove any egg white, but leave the thin inner membrane in place, it contains extra nutrients.
Dry and bake. Once the shells are completely dry, place them on a baking tray and bake at 150 °C / 300 °F for 10–15 minutes. They should feel dry and brittle when ready.
Grind into powder. Place the baked shells into a clean coffee grinder (a NutriBullet works too) and pulse until they become a fine, flour-like powder.
Store safely. Let the grinder sit for about 10 minutes before opening, so the fine dust settles. Transfer the finished powder into a clean glass jar and store it in a cool, dry place such as the pantry.
Vitamin mix for raw cat food recipe
You’ll need to add ½ teaspoon of the vitamin supplement mix to every batch of homemade raw cat food. This step is essential, it’s what makes the recipe nutritionally complete and balanced. The 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 make the mix, place all the supplements (gel caps included) into a clean coffee grinder or NutriBullet and pulse until everything is finely ground. Let the grinder sit for a few minutes so the dust can settle before opening it, then transfer the powder into an airtight glass jar.
Where to buy vitamin supplements
We purchase the supplements for this raw food recipe directly from iHerb, as they offer a convenient service and fast worldwide shipping. We’ve used them for years and personally recommend the supplements and service.
For your convenience, you can click the product links below to add the items directly to your cart. If you’d like to save a little extra, use the code GSP403 at checkout for 5% off your order.
Note: If you’re preparing this raw cat food recipe for kittens, you must use Calcium Hydroxyapatite (freeze-dried bone) instead of eggshell powder.
Step-by-step guide: easy raw cat food recipe
This DIY raw cat food recipe is straightforward once you get into the rhythm. Based on a 55g (2 oz) portion size, one batch makes about 18 individual meals. This is enough to feed an adult cat for nine days based on feeding two meals per day.
Here’s exactly how we prepare this raw cat food recipe at home.
Set up: Preparing your workspace
Before you start, it helps to have everything ready and within reach. This makes the process smoother and less messy. It’s also a good idea to pop your cats in another room, otherwise you may find extra paws on the counter wanting to help.
We use a sturdy plastic chopping board with an absorbent kitchen cloth underneath. The cloth helps keep the board steady and soaks up any meat or organ juices, which makes cleanup quicker and less messy.
Make sure you’ve already prepared your eggshell powder and vitamin supplement mix so you don’t need to pause mid-recipe.
Step 1: Cut meat and organs
Cut the raw boneless muscle meat and organs (heart, liver and kidney) into small pieces that will fit through your meat grinder. Mince everything and transfer to a large stainless steel mixing bowl.
Chicken heart, liver and kidney are often the easiest organs to find but you can use any mix of organs when making this raw recipe.
Tip: Cutting organs is often the messiest part, so we do it first to get it out of the way. A carving fork and long-handled tongs make the job much less ‘icky’ if you’re not keen on handling raw organs.
Step 2: Add salmon oil and egg yolk
Pierce the salmon oil capsules with a push pin and squeeze the oil over the minced meat and organs, then add the egg yolk.
If you prefer, you can place the capsules in hot (not boiling) water to soften and then add the melted oil and water directly into the mixture.
Step 3: Add eggshell powder and vitamin mix
For adult cats, add the finely ground eggshell powder and vitamin supplement mix to the homemade raw cat food to ensure the recipe is nutritionally complete and balanced.
Combine the ground eggshell and vitamin supplements in a clean glass jar, then give it a good shake so they’re well mixed. Sprinkle the powder over the minced meat and organs, and stir through. If the mixture looks a little dry, add a splash of water to help the supplements blend evenly throughout the raw food.
Alternative calcium for kittens
Kittens have higher calcium and phosphorus needs to support healthy bone and teeth development.If you’re making this recipe for kittens, replace the eggshell powder with 26 capsules of Calcium Hydroxyapatite (freeze-dried bone). This small change makes the recipe safe and complete for young cats.
Step 4: Mix and package raw food
Stir the mixture thoroughly with a fork or spatula until the raw cat food recipe is evenly combined. Spoon into meal-sized portions and pack into zip-lock freezer bags, pressing out as much air as possible before sealing.
Tip: Label each bag with the protein source using a permanent marker (K = Kangaroo, C = Chicken, T = Turkey, B = Beef). This makes it much easier to rotate proteins from the freezer.
If you’re preparing large batches or feeding multiple cats, you may prefer freezer-safe containers or glass jars. Some people also freeze smaller amounts in ice cube trays for easy portioning.
Step 5: Defrost raw cat food and serve
Place a meal sized portion in the fridge for 12 hours to defrost. We usually take 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.
Forgot to defrost? No problem, just place the sealed zip-lock bag in a bowl of warm (not hot) water for 10-15 minutes to bring it to ‘mouse body’ temperature.
Never microwave raw cat food – it can destroy essential nutrients.
Why we recommend this raw recipe
There are many homemade raw cat food recipes available online, but this one stands out for it’s balance and simplicity. It was developed by Laurie Goldstein and Carolina Lima, founders of the Raw Feeding for IBD Cats Facebook group and creators of Food Fur Life’s premix supplement for homemade raw cat food, EzComplete. We’ve used this recipe for years, and are sharing it here with their permission.
To see the full nutritional breakdown go to the original ‘Balanced Raw Food Recipe with Nutritional Analysis‘ page on the Raw Feeding for IBD Cats website.
Raw recipe questions
You can ask questions in the Raw Feeding for IBD Cats Facebook group, where experienced raw feeders are always willing to help.
