How to Make Homemade Cat Food | Pure Living for Life (2025)

Today I am going to share the recipe I use for raw, homemade cat food. I have been making my own cat food for over five years now (the lifetime of my cats) and they seem to thrive on it. It also is surprisingly affordable if your other options are a high-quality kibble or high-quality canned food.

First off… why do I feed my cats a raw diet?

I feed my cats a raw diet because this is what they eat in the wild. Cats are carnivores and eat meat. I am not willing to let a live rodent run free in my house for them to catch so the next best thing is making their food myself. Like with myself, I take a very preventative approach to their diet. I would rather pay now than pay later.

My cats have been eating homemade cat food ever since they were born. They are four years old now, both have excellent energy, silky coats, and seem overall healthy. Of course that’s what most pet owners say about their pets, but I feel I am giving them the best diet I know of.

I have created a YouTube video covering in detail why I feed my cats a raw diet. The target audience of the video is for those that own Bengal cats specifically, but the information is the same. This dietary information is similar for all cats.

What’s wrong with kibble?

Many cat (and dog) owners feed their pets dry kibble. A lot of times this is what is advertised to us and even what some vets recommend.

According to veterinarian Lisa A. Pierson, veterinarians have little training in school regarding nutrition, and what is taught, is often taught by representatives of large pet food companies or curriculum is heavily influenced and sponsored by the commercial pet food industry. This would be a conflict of interest. Draw whatever conclusion you’d like from this! Three reasons kibble is not ideal are:

1. Water content is too low.

I have read that since in the wild, cats get most of their water from their food (meat) that they don’t drink a lot of extra. So take away the raw meat, and a lot of cats develop urinary tract issues (especially males) because they aren’t getting enough water. I had a scare with my young male cat, so I pay close attention to this.

2. Carbohydrate load is too high.

Too many carbohydrates in a cat’s diet can possibly predispose them to diabetes, obesity and diseases. Also, it is water-depleted and processed so highly that the food looses many nutrients (much like heavily processed human food).

3. Not enough animal-based protein.

The majority of kibble has a lot of plants and grains and cats are carnivores so this is not the ideal diet for them.

There are other dangers associated with a kibble-based diet and if you are interested further or have questions, I recommend reading this paper on catinfo.org for more of a scientific explanation.

How to Make Your Own Cat Food Using This Homemade Cat Food Recipe

Supplies

Waring Pro Meat Grinder

This is the one I have been using for 5+ years. It is affordable and I can say that I have had zero problems with it. This may be a good starter grinder. It’s also brand-name so most replacement parts can be found online.

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Cleaver

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Powdered Taurine

Buy this one, not any that are in tablets or capsules for reasons stated in the “tips and tricks” section.

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Vitamin D Drops

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Vitamin B-50 Complex

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Vitamin E Drops

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Pump-Style Salmon Oil

Buy the one in a pump, not the capsules, your future self will thank you!

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Pump-Style Salmon Oil

Buy the one in a pump, not the capsules, your future self will thank you!

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Immoplex Glandular Supplement

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Lite Salt (With Iodine)

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Homemade Cat Food Recipe

Here is a link to the homemade cat food recipe. This recipe is very thorough with notes and explanations. I don’t want to summarize it because it is lengthy and I might miss something.

If you want more information, I’ve heard that the book is a great resource for homemade cat & dog food although I have not yet felt the need to purchase it.

Tips & Tricks to Make the Process EVEN EASIER

I’ve been making this for five full years and every year it seems that I learn a new trick to make the process easier! With a partner, we’re able to make three full chickens’ worth of food in just under an hour. I hope to help make this process as seamless as possible for you… unlock the tips and tricks using one of the buttons below!

Pictures of The Process

And here are pictures of the cat food making process!

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How to Make Homemade Cat Food | Pure Living for Life (13)
How to Make Homemade Cat Food | Pure Living for Life (14)
How to Make Homemade Cat Food | Pure Living for Life (15)
How to Make Homemade Cat Food | Pure Living for Life (16)
How to Make Homemade Cat Food | Pure Living for Life (17)

Like I said, I have been doing this for two years and it really isn’t THAT bad. It does help if there are two people so it goes quicker and the mess is cleaned up sooner. This may not be the best solution in every way for every pet-owner, but this works for me and my kitties. If you have any dietary concerns, please speak with your veterinarian.

How to Make Homemade Cat Food | Pure Living for Life (18)

What do you feed YOUR pets?

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Alyssa

I am an aspiring homesteader on a journey to become self-sustainable and free. In my past, I've worked corporate jobs to make ends meet and get ahead a little; it didn't make me happy or confident in my future. Since taking the leap to self-employment and living a more simple life, my happiness levels have increased greatly and I've never felt more alive. I finally understand what I want in life and how to get there, and that is what this blog is all about.

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