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.
Disclosure: This post includes affiliate links. If you click one and make a purchase, we may earn a small commission, at no extra cost to you.
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
While comments are now closed on this article, many common questions have already been answered below. You can also ask questions in the Raw Feeding for IBD Cats Facebook group, where experienced raw feeders are always willing to help.
🐾 Raw meals are just the beginning. For more, check out our Complete Guide to Raw Feeding Cats.
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.