Homemade Wet Food for Cats: A Nourishing Routine They’ll Love

These cats are enjoying some homemade wet cat food.

Dry kibble may be convenient and budget-friendly, but it’s not ideal as the sole diet for our feline companions. I usually buy mine in bulk or by weight from a nearby agri-vet shop, but I make sure to balance it out with something more nourishing.

Three times a week, my cats get a special treat: homemade wet food. We call these “Wet Food Days,” and trust me, they get worked up leading to this day. Although I occasionally buy canned wet food, I often prefer to make it myself. It’s more economical, and I get full control over the ingredients.

My Go-To Wet Food Recipe

Here’s the batch I typically prepare, portion, and freeze:

3 pcs chicken breast, diced
¼ kg ground beef
¼ kg ground pork
½ kg squash, cubed
125 g chicken or pork liver (whichever is available) - although rich in Vit A, cats can't have too much in their diet
1 can tuna in water (save the water - my cats love drinking it!)
4 eggs (a natural source of taurine)
1 packet Knox unflavored gelatin (adds collagen and helps the mixture gel when cooled)
Taurine and Lysine supplement (LC Vit Plus, dosed per leaflet instructions)
Fish oil supplement (optional, added per cat’s weight)

Cooking Instructions

Combine all ingredients in a pot except the vitamin supplement and fish oil.
Add just enough water to cover the ingredients, no salt or seasoning!
Simmer for about 30 minutes until fully cooked.
Blend in batches until smooth.
Portion into containers and freeze.

When it’s time to serve, I thaw a container in the fridge, break it up with a spoon, and add the appropriate dose of vitamins and fish oil based on each cat’s weight. Ensuring that you have all the essential nutrients when preparing homemade wet cat food can be a bit tricky, so the addition of a cat-specific vitamin formula is recommended.

Optional Toppers

To make it extra special, I sometimes add:

Lickable treats (like Churu)
Freeze-dried chicken
Bonito flakes specifically made for cats

These little extras make Wet Food Days even more exciting for my cats. Please note that I am not claiming to be an expert in feline nutritional needs, and I offer this as a single meal of the day, three times a week, as a treat for my cats. Consult a veterinarian if you are going to drastically change your pet's diet.