Why Should You Consider Making Homemade Cat Food?
We all love a homemade meal, and our cats aren’t much different! Homemade cat food is a great way to enrich your cat’s culinary life with different tastes and textures while keeping them healthy!
You want to make your cat some excellent homemade food and treats so, it is important to feed them a complete and fully-balanced diet as well. Either as dry kibble or wet food, bought from a reputable manufacturer to ensure they get all the nutrients they need, or as some well-researched homemade cat food.
Cats’ diets are different from ours, as they are obligate carnivores- they need to consume protein from meat, not plants.
If you wish to feed your cat solely on homemade food, the below-mentioned books are a great place to start. Consult a veterinarian specializing in nutrition to ensure your cat is still fed correctly, keep it full, healthy, and purring for many years to come!
11 of The Best Homemade Cat Food Cookbooks to Own
Purr-fect Recipes for a Healthy Cat: 101 Cat Food & Treat Recipes
This cat cookbook has been carefully researched and contains more than one hundred recipes that will make your cat’s mouth water. The book includes information on:
- Nutritional necessities- including breed-specific requirements
- Interview with dietary experts.
- How to slowly and effectively implement the new cat food
- Ingredients to avoid in cat food
Besides the above, it also contains healthy and complete recipes for cat food and treats, with specific tips in each one of them. In addition, the book also mentions the resources used, contact information, and websites of the products mentioned and discussed for clarity and transparency.
Even if you decide that cooking for your cat isn’t for you, this book will give you a great insight into cat nutrition nonetheless. Overall, this book with homemade cat food recipes is a great place to begin. The recipes in the book mostly contain few ingredients, and the recipes are easy to prepare for most cat owners. The book also nicely covers the basics of cat nutrition, which is very important.
The book also contains a chapter on diet as medicine for cats. Although this might be very useful, it can be very complicated to attempt to cook for a cat with known disease and should not be attempted without consulting a specialist. The author is not a veterinarian or pet nutritionist so, it is crucial to keep this in mind when reading.
Readers report that they generally enjoy the book and the recipes, but they sometimes find that the informative part of the “cookbook” is a bit too long. Here at ILVM, we find that to be positive! The book is well-written and a great book to read for any cat owner.
Facts
- Format: Kindle and Paperback
- Print length: 288 pages
- Publication year: 2011
The Healthy Cat Food Cookbook
This book is more like a real cookbook for homemade cat food than anything else, but also contains a lot of helpful information, including:
- An overview of your cat’s nutritional needs.
- The world of raw cat food.
- Pros and cons of homemade cat food.
As well as a collection of recipes for raw homemade cat food, meaning extensive cooking is rarely needed. The book also includes recipes for treats your cat may love!
This cookbook is a nice introduction to the world of homemade cat food. The author is not a nutritional expert but has done seems to have done her research on cat nutrition and cats’ needs. This book only supplements the information you need to find and research before feeding your cat a homemade diet, as much of it is very basic.
One very good thing about this book is that it also covers the topic of money. The author is honest about the fact that homemade cat food is often significantly more expensive than pre-made cat food— an important thing to remember.
Readers report that the book is quite basic in its information, but the recipes are a fine place to start. A few readers seemed dissatisfied that the recipes mainly consist of raw diets. All in all, this is an enjoyable cookbook to start with if you’re looking to make your cat some raw meals and treats.
Facts
- Format: Paperback only
- Print length: 124 pages
- Publication year: 2016
Homemade Meals for Cats and Dogs: 75 Grain-Free Nutritious Recipes
This cookbook is not only for your cat; your dog can also enjoy some homemade food made with love! This book contains information on making fresh, balanced meals at home, with up to 75 recipes that should keep both your dog and cat happy.
The book is written by a veterinarian and a pet food safety advocate. They have completed proper calculations throughout the book to ensure that your cat or dog is getting the nutrients it needs. However, all recipes are grain-free. Grain-free food, even if homemade, has been associated with heart diseases, especially in dogs, which is something to keep in mind before hitting the kitchen.
Readers say that the book is easy to read and that the recipes are easy to make. Here at ILVM, we like that the professionals made the book. However, grain-free diets are contraindicated, in many cases, for dogs, and as this book is for both cats and dogs, it is something to keep in mind.
Facts
- Format: Kindle and Paperback
- Print length: 264 pages
- Publication year: 2020
Dr. Becker's Real Food for Healthy Dogs and Cats
If you are looking for a book that will tell you exactly what you need to know to make a homemade food plan for your dog and cat, this is the book for you. Besides the recipes, it also contains:
- A rotation plan
- Information on the ancestral diets of dogs and cats.
With lots of information on the appropriate levels of vegetables, fruits, and supplements, the book ensures that your furry friends stay full, as well as happy and healthy. Whether you’re planning on cooking all their food for them or just making them a nice treat, this book has you covered. This book is more aimed toward the dedicated all-inclusive meal planner.
The book was written by a veterinarian and used NRC guidelines, with lots of tables within the book, to ensure that all recipes contain all the nutrients and supplements your dogs and cats need. The authors also point out that it is imperative to read all the information within the book to ensure the correct nutritional contents at all times. A big plus for the book!
Some readers find that the book is quite disorganized. With several of the recipes, you have to “jump back and forth” within the text to finish the recipe. This might not be very clear to some readers. We worry that important information might be forgotten when you have to go back and forth, but this book is generally a lovely cookbook to have at home.
Facts
- Format: Kindle or paperback
- Print length: 188 pages
- Publication year: 2018
The Ultimate Pet Health Guide
Are you looking for a cookbook that is so much more than just that? Then this is the one for you. The book contains some recipes, but also:
- A multifaceted approach to health, known as integrative medicine
- Descriptions of complementary care and conventional veterinary medicine
- A holistic approach to health
If all those descriptions seem a bit much, it can be summarized as a comprehensive approach to keeping your pets happy and healthy, including how nutrition plays a significant role in the health of dogs and cats. The book also spends quite a bit of time discussing commercial foods and supplements and raw and cooked recipes for cat and dog food- so many options!
The book is written by a veterinarian, Dr. Gary Richter, who’s spent a lot of time researching all the information present in the book, generally making it a pretty trustworthy source of information regarding pet health. It covers both traditional medicine from other cultures and conventional veterinary medicine, with recommendations for quite a few diseases.
Reviews of the book are generally quite positive, but some readers also find the book to be way too complex. Here at ILVM, we think the book is a fine place to start when looking for veterinary health and nutrition information. The truth is that it is a very complex matter, and all owners should take care when cooking their homemade cat food.
Facts
- Format: Kindle or paperback
- Print length: 432 pages
- Publication year: 2017
Homemade Cat Food Recipes
This book is an easy read for everyone who wishes to cook their cat some excellent homemade meals now and then, without wanting to turn them entirely to homemade food. There’s a recipe for almost every cat, with a collection of 25 easy recipes and tasty raw treats.
The author, Rachel Rayner, is not a veterinarian, nor does the book mention a lot of research into the nutritional balance of the recipes. Therefore, it should primarily be considered a pleasant and tasty supplementing meal to spoil your cat now and then.
This book is nice to have at home if you’re already well-known in the universe of homemade cat food and know your nutrients and balances. Readers enjoy it but find the book a bit bland, and the information is generally a little lacking compared to other books on this list. Therefore, it is not recommendable to use this book as your only source of information!
Facts
- Format: Kindle or Paperback
- Print length: 79 pages
- Publication year: 2019
Feline Fine!: Homemade Cat Food & Treat Recipes
If you are looking for a simple cookbook that contains the recipes you need to make your cat some delicious treats and meals, this one does the job just fine. It is not very long, but it contains recipes that utilize high-quality protein from chicken, liver, and beef. The book has recipes for:
- Main meals
- Biscuits
- Treats
The recipes generally include simple ingredients like egg yolk, cottage cheese, oatmeal, vegetables, and grains.
The book is written by a professional chef and contains some information on making balanced and nutritious meals for your cat (as well as some delicious snacks). It does, however, have very few dietary explanations and should be considered a supplement to other books.
Readers tend to like the book and find that the recipes help them make their cats lovely homemade meals from time to time. We like the book because it contains some nice recipes. However, it should not be used as the only source of information if you wish to feed your cat solely on homemade cat food.
Facts
- Format: Kindle or Paperback
- Print length: 97 pages
- Publication year: 2019
Dinner PAWsible: A Cookbook
Written by the same authors as the Homemade Meals for Cats and Dogs: 75 Grain-Free Nutritious Recipes book, this one will show you a host of recipes for both dogs and cats. All recipes are based on the National Research Council’s requirements for dogs and cats. As an example, some of their recipes for homemade cat food:
- Turkey meatloaf.
- Fish salad.
- Steak & Eggs.
With many more to please your dog and cat, making homemade cooking possible!
The cookbook is written by a veterinarian and a pet food advocate, which is positive and means professionals wrote it. However, the book contains quite limited information on the general cat (and dog) health and nutrients needed, which is a little disappointing when you consider the authors.
Readers and we here at ILV generally like this book, but a few do report that some of the ingredients can be pretty expensive to buy. Also, with limited information on health and nutritional balances, this book should only be considered as a supplement to feeding your cat and dog. Not as your sole source of information if you wish to provide solely homemade cat food for your cat.
Facts
- Format: Paperback
- Print length: 224 pages
- Publication year: 2015
Cooking For Cats: The Healthy, Happy Way to Feed Your Cat
If you are a feline fanatic, like the author of this book, who wants to spoil your cat with twenty different recipes for some healthy, and inexpensive meals, this cookbook is an excellent match for you. It includes:
- An indispensable larder section
- Everyday treats
- Advice on how to best feed your cat
As well as recipes for dishes for special occasions. Many of these are possible to make in batches! The book even contains some home-craft projects, like making a fishing-pole toy, a scratching post, and a cardboard cat playhouse. Even a few tips on how to train your cat!
The author is a pet enthusiast and journalist. The book is mainly written to be a fun and excellent supplement to feeding your cat and should not be used as the only source if you wish to provide your cat solely homemade cat food.
Readers like the book and find it a pleasant and humorous addition to the cat lovers’ bookshelf, albeit with not that many recipes- considering it’s a cookbook. We like the book, but it lacks research on cat nutritional balances- but with some good and easy recipes!
Facts
- Format: Kindle and Hardcover
- Print length: 112 pages
- Publication year: 2020
The Healthy Homemade Pet Food Cookbook
Despite being the “oldest” on our list, this book has not lost its touch! This is another cookbook that focuses on the benefits of a holistic approach to feeding our dogs and cats, meaning that providing them organic and sustainable food will improve their health- as well as ours. The book includes 75 recipes for homemade dog and cat food, as well as:
- Nutritional information for every life stage, our puppy and kitten will encounter
- Snacks and treats recipes
- Suggestions to supplement store-bought food with homemade ingredients
The ingredients used are wholesome and healthy for both dogs and cats in general. The book is full of recommendations for switching your pet to homemade food and comes with breed-specific considerations to keep in mind. The fact that it also guides you towards supplementing store-bought food also makes it very useful for most owners!
The author is not a veterinarian or pet nutritionist but seems to have done extensive research into the nutritional needs of both dogs and cats. The book focuses on using organic and seasonal ingredients as well, with the idea that if that’s the best thing for us, it will also be for our animals. It gives the readers a great introduction to the world of homemade cat food!
Readers generally enjoy the book, with some veterinarians even recommending it as well! We like it here at ILVM as it spends a lot of its pages looking into how owners should put proper nutrition together. However, it does spend a lot of time arguing for a raw diet, which isn’t suitable for all dogs.
Facts
- Format: Paperback
- Print length: 176 pages
- Publication year: 2013
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This book calls itself the book for beginners and comes with a good number of recipes for feeding your cat some nice homemade meals, as well as:
- An introduction to homemade cat food
- Recipes for treats and kibbles
The recipes are basic and easy enough to make for almost every cat owner. However, some contain dairy, which is not something we recommend adding to your cat’s diet without consulting a veterinarian, as most cats are lactose intolerant.
There’s very little information to be found about the author. We assume he is neither a pet nutritionist nor veterinarian as there seems to be little thorough, scientific, peer-reviewed research behind this cookbook.
Readers tend to enjoy the book and the recipes, with a few noticing the lack of scientific backing. It’s a fine enough supplement to your bookshelf at home but should not be used as your primary information on how to feed your homemade cat meals.
Facts
- Format: Kindle and Paperback
- Print length: 136 pages
- Publication year: 2018
The Key Takeaways
We’ve looked at quite a few cookbooks for making homemade cat food to spoil your furry friend! It’s no secret that many cats (and dogs) would probably love a homemade meal now and then- especially if their favorite person makes it.
However, making homemade cat food is not as easy as it may seem. Cats are complex animals physiologically, and it takes both time, energy, and a lot of research to ensure that they are receiving all the nutrients, supplements, and calories they need to thrive. It is also often quite a bit more expensive to make homemade meals, something to keep in mind.
Another option to solely homemade cat food is, of course, to supplement their store-bought food with some lovely homemade treats and meals. Just make sure not to make too many of them! Obesity is an increasing issue with our pets and a severe threat to their health, so remember to make treats in moderation.
Nonetheless, if you are ready to take on the challenge of homemade cat food (or just some treats and a few meals), some of these books are great places to start! Our favorites here at I Love Veterinary Medicine were:
It might be the nerds in us, but both books cover precisely what cats need (and don’t need) with lots of excellent suggestions and recipes throughout them. The second one is perhaps a tad bit more complex, but it covers cat nutrition very nicely- with the first one possibly being a bit more for everyone.
One last note from us before you (or your cat!) dig in: Always consult a veterinarian about the nutritional needs of your unique cat if you are in any way in doubt. Together, we can all keep our cats happy and healthy for many years to come!
| # | Preview | Product | Rating | Price | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |
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Healthy Homemade Cat food & Treats Cookbook: Raw… | 50 Reviews |
$11.20 |
Buy on Amazon |
| 2 |
|
Homemade Meals for Cats and Dogs: 75 Grain-Free… | 80 Reviews |
$14.44 |
Buy on Amazon |
| 3 |
|
HOMEMADE CAT FOOD RECIPES COOKBOOK: 40 Healthy… |
$11.99 |
Buy on Amazon | |
| 4 |
|
Dinner PAWsible: A Cookbook of Nutritious,… |
$14.99 |
Buy on Amazon | |
| 5 |
|
DIY HOMEMADE CAT FOOD COOKBOOK: A complete book… |
$11.99 |
Buy on Amazon |
