When it comes to sorting through the brands and styles of cat food on the market, you might be a bit confused about which ingredients are essential in your cat’s diet. Dry cat food is a cost-effective and easily stored product compared to its wet counterparts, but how do you choose one that’s right?
Rather than mindlessly searching for a kitty-approved kibble that’s nutritious and delicious without breaking the bank, you could consider doing something bold: creating your own dry cat food! With these recipes, learning how to make dry cat food is so simple!
Of course, before becoming your cat’s chef, you should consult a veterinarian to ensure that the recipes you intend to use and the ingredients selected are ideal for your pet. After all, you don’t want to go through the trouble of producing a low-quality product like the few you can find in the pet store!
Once you’re in the clear with a vet, here are five of our favorite recipes your kitty can test out!
The 5 Homemade Dry Cat Food Recipes
1. Nutritious Salmon Dry Cat Food
Salmon Dry Cat Food Recipe
Equipment
- Oven
- Sheet pan
- Parchment paper
- Rolling Pin
- 2 bowls
- Sharp knife or pizza cutter
Ingredients
- 15 oz canned salmon
- 15 oz water
- 3/4 cup cornmeal
- 2 tablespoons vegetable oil
- 4.5 cups flour
- 1/2 cup brewer's yeast
- 1 cup wheat germ
- 1 cup dry milk fat-free
Instructions
- Preheat your oven to 350 F. Cover your baking sheet with parchment paper.
- In a large bowl, mix together your dry ingredients.
- In a second bowl, combine the salmon with the oils. Stir to break up and combine.
- Mix water into your dry ingredients using a wooden spoon or your hands.
- Add the salmon and oil to the mixture. Stir to combine until you have dough.
- Roll the dough out (using parchment paper if necessary) to about 1/4 inch thickness. Then cut into small squares.
- Spread your kibble on the baking sheet and place it in the oven. Bake for about 20 minutes, flipping once or twice.
- Remove the dry cat food from the oven and let it cool completely. Then serve it to your cat! Store the leftovers in an airtight container.
Notes
2. Tasty Cat Approved – Dry Cat Food Recipe
This recipe offers a simple guide to preparing a cat-approved kibble in a few short steps. Additionally, the author provides a few points to consider when preparing your cat food and the dos and don’ts of interchanging certain ingredients. That makes changing the flavors of this dry cat food an easy task your cat will surely appreciate.
3. Salmon or Shredded Chicken Cat Kibble Recipe
This is quite the comprehensive recipe as it includes all the critical components of a full-course meal. Since it’s packed with grains, meats, healthy cat fats, vegetables, and the slightest amount of dairy, your feline is sure to get a well-rounded meal!
The recipe makes approximately 12 cups of dry kibble per batch, depending on your feline’s portion sizes, and should last a fair amount of time. If you have more than one kitty, double up and store it in the fridge in an airtight container for 2–3 weeks.
4. Dry Cat Kibble Recipe
This recipe is bound to be a favorite for your kitty, and it combines dry kibble with a wet Chicken and Vegetable Medley. The author uses a variation of mackerel, kitty-friendly oils, and other ingredients to create 12 servings, which can be stored in your fridge for up to 3 weeks.
We should also note that each step is conveniently paired with a photo or video, which makes copying this recipe an absolute breeze!
5. Homemade Multicolored Cat Kibble
This recipe is included in a quick 4-minute video. The author gives you a simple description of what she believes her cat’s diet requires and how much of the prepared food she feeds to her cat daily.
The result is an array of kibble colors, which might be more fun for the owner than for the kitty! Either way, this is an excellent recipe if you are looking for a simple fishy kibble your cat will likely enjoy.
Since you invest a lot of time curating the perfect homemade recipes for your cat, it would only make sense to present it in a high-quality, modern bowl to match. Serve your cat in style with the Hepper NomNom Cat Bowl! Dual, stainless steel bowls are wide and shallow for optimum comfort and an elegant wide tray collects crumbs or splashes. Learn more about the NomNom Bowl here.
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Wrapping Up
When selecting a recipe for your cat’s food, you may find a dry kibble far more appealing than whipping up a wet or raw one. However, the most crucial part of creating their food is that you can ensure they are getting the proper nutrients and proteins they need to thrive without any harsh or unnecessary additives.
If you are committed to cooking dry cat food, we hope that you (and your kitty!) found one here that you love, considering it easy to learn how to make dry cat food. As we mentioned, before making any drastic changes to your feline’s diet, make sure you get the thumbs up from a vet! They may even consider altering a recipe to make sure it meets the dietary needs of your fuzzy buddy.
If you have a question about your cat's health or behavior, why not Ask a Vet for Free with Catster. Our veterinary team answers reader questions and provides trusted advice to help you better understand your cat.
Looking for more great recipes for your feline? Check these out!
Feature Image Credit: Pixel-Shot, Shutterstock
The 5 Homemade Dry Cat Food Recipes
4 Responses
Could you share some tips on introducing homemade food to a picky eater? I’d love to try the salmon recipe!"
"What would you like to know most about making homemade cat food? Let us know, and we’ll be happy to help!"
Thanks for your comments Afroja, please have a look at the following posts with some tips for you to try:
How to Get a Picky Cat to Eat: 9 Vet-Reviewed Tips: https://www.catster.com/nutrition/how-to-get-a-picky-cat-to-eat/
Taking Care of a Picky Cat: How Olga’s Eating Habits Have Changed:
https://www.catster.com/felines-weekly/taking-care-of-a-picky-cat-olgas-eating-habits/
We wish you good luck!
"I love the idea of making my own cat food, especially knowing exactly what's going into it. My cat is a
picky eater – does anyone have tips on flavor enhancers?"
"Have you ever tried making homemade cat food for your pet? What ingredients or flavors do they seem to love most?"
Thanks for your comment Afoja. Cat-safe bone broth prepared without onion, or garlic is a great flavor enhancer for many cats, but it depends on your cat’s preferences, each cat is different.