Home-Made Cat Food Tips

Is there any way to economically make healthy home-made cat food? I want to feed my cats what is best for them, but I have a new baby, and money is tight. The recipes I have found for home made cat food are sometimes more expensive than what I eat for dinner myself. Should I give up the idea until I have a bigger income? I just feel bad feeding them typical cat chow where the first ingredient is "corn", and I would spring for the more expensive cat food but I wanted to first find out if there is a good way of making their food myself without breaking the bank. Thanks.

With all of the recalls on pet food all the time, I am becoming really sketchy as to if I should touch the stuff or not. I am also scared of making my own pet food because I want to make sure that my pets have all of the nutrition that they need! Can anyone help me here? I want to make home made pet food that I can trust! I have a Siberian Husky, Tuxedo cat, and a Ragdoll kitten. Thanks!

Our cat is a female, spayed, 18yrs old, lives indoors and has hyper thyroid. She is being given herbal medicine for treatment. She used to love food, now she's anorexic. She sleeps most the time, only gets up to drink water and pee...everywhere. Now and then she uses the litter box, but recently she's been doing it everywhere. She's barely eaten anything at all for a week. My parents can't afford the vet because they are extremely expensive out here in Long Island- $200 and that is without blood work! The last vet visit, which was 5 months ago, said that her health is fine- kidneys normal too, only the thyroid was the issue. The vets out here are inflexible and won't drop their cost regardless of money issues, which stinks. I'm going to be honest, is it possible that our cat is going to die? I know that if she doesn't get enough nutrients, she can starve or become malnourished...which is terrible. I tried offering different foods- wet, dry even home made chicken. She ate only a few pieces. We have no idea what to do about her?! There's nothing wrong with herbal medicine. It is a preventative, not a curative, in some cases. We refused doctor prescribed pills because the side effects were too great. We refused surgery because it's too tramatic and stressful for her. We refused radioactive iodine treatment because it's $3,000. The doctor himself said that there is nothing that he can do if we refuse his method of treatment. I suguested to my parents to try an appatite stimulant, which is safe and natural. I forgot to add, the herbal medicine did work for a good long while. I'm suspecting that it could possiblly be old age, since she does not present any of the hyper-t symptoms she once had...which was hungry all the time, running around the house and bellowing meows.

my cat feeds on dry cat food,boiled fish,it wont eat anything like chicke meat,beef,i want to feed my cat with a variety of foods,and that too home made foods.but she refuses to eat anything else,pl.help,how can i change her behaviour?i love her verymuch.

hi have 2 kittens that are just getting there teeth there mom cant feed them any more cause there hurting her so when ever i try to feed them our cat food they don't like it and when i feed them kitten food from a can they don't eat it and every time i try to feed them they don't like it i cant go feed them the caned kitten milk cause i want them to move to solid foods they will drink water but does any one know what solid food recipe i can make for them i don't want to go out and buy it i can make home made i just really need to feed????? and please leave instructions and things ill need thank you

I found several interesting recepies for both dog and cat treats that I thought might be a good addition to help expand my (currently small) dog walking business. and earn a little extra cash for myself. My idea is to make them all natural (I heard it'sall natural dog treats are popular) and make a few batches to offer to my current clients to sample for free, and then hopefully offer them at a cheap rate. The thing is I don't yet have a good handle on the costs as for te recepies I'm looking at, I haven't had to buy many of the ingrediants recently. so for example would the following recipie be cheat to make, than thus be able to sell relatively cheap to my clients? 2 cups brown rice flour 1 Tablespoon activated charcoal (find this at drugstores, not the briquets!) 3 Tablespoons canola oil 1 egg 1/2 cup chopped fresh mint 1/2 cup chopped fresh parsley 2/3 cup lowfat milk Also I know there must be laws about selling pet food or treats, can anyone point me to were I can find out more about them if there are any? I did some general pricing and for this particular recipie that came between $3-$5 per batch, less if I bargain hunt. I don't know yet how many treats this ill make, but I'm sure if I just make like 50 cents ontop of the cost of eat bag, I'd be doing pretty good, both profit and price wise :)

My cat recently had some kind of urinary defect...Crystal blocking is urethra or somethin like that.... Well I read he isnt supposed to eat hard food anymore, cuz it comes back easier, but I cannot afford that special wet, outta the can cat food. What can I throw together, cheaply.....

I am on WIC but I hardly use what they give me, especially what they give me for my son I just use the cereals. I make home made baby food so I was looking for people in need of jar foods. Well last night I was picking up all the jar foods, crazy amounts! 64 jars of fruits n veggies, and 31 of meats. Some one walked up beside me and she was young and going through the foods with me when I offered to give her my jars outside. We talked for a little bit and she mentioned she was also looking to rent a room and we exchanged numbers. I rent from my mom, she split her house like a duplex so we live completely seperate. I have three bedrooms on my side. I have a huge room, larger then a normal master bedroom, that I just throw extra crap in, so I would have a huge room for her. But the thing is, I don't know if I just offer it? It also needs a lot of work in that room, above the room is the attic and the attic floor needs to come down, so that would be the room's ceiling. I had my cats stay in there for a while so it is a little messy. I also have pets, 3 dogs and like 4 or 5 cats. So the house isn't always in the best shape. I would obviosuly need to fix the room up for her some how, but how would I go about doing that? I really don't have the money to do that... should I ask for first and last, that way I can make it decent? How should I get to know her better before offering it? Also, rent is supposed to be 100/wk per person, but my son's father left me so last month and the month before she still got 800, but now i can't pay so would it be fair to still charge 100/wk or 400/mo? We can easily add a cable box and stuff for her if she wanted... because one is in n out! omg, how many times am i gonna get bashed for receiving wic n giving it to ppl who need it? it wudnt b money in my pocket it wud go straight to my mom! i wud b helping the other girl out!!!!!!!

My cat brought home two very young birds yesterday. One was already dead, but I felt very bad for the other one and rescued it. His wounds aren't bad - he has a small chunk of skin ripped off his back, and a very little scratch on his leg and they both have already scabbed over, I've cleaned them multiple times with home-made saline solution and will continue to clean them multiple times a day to prevent infection. He has feathers growing in on his wings and small fluffy feather tufts growing along his spine, head, under his eyes, and where the wings connect to the body, so I'm guessing he's between 3~5 days. He has no fractures that I'm aware of and can scoot himself around by his wings. He's already made significant progress from last night -- I wasn't even sure that he would make it through, but he did. I've been feeding him water-soaked bread. He has been making regular.. bowel movements o_O. Going outside and looking for bugs and worms isn't an option at the moment, nor can I go out to the store and buy specialized food for him. Does anyone know if he can eat wet cat food, or any other sort of household food for either humans or cats that he can eat? And don't worry, he's plenty warm :3 It's 80 degrees in the room we're keeping him in plus I gave him a hot water bottle to lay on top of. Also, I have no idea what breed he is -- the feathers on his wings are growing in gray, and the fluffy feathers are light brown, though, if that helps any. Err, my cat is an outdoor/indoor cat, I can't stop him from going outside or else he gets depressed. -_- It's only a common bird, we have thousands of them. I asked a bird expert and gave her pictures and stuff and she said that it's definitely not some sort of rare species. In case you haven't noticed, cats naturally want to chase rats, mice, and birds, so don't effin tell me that none of it wouldn't have happened if I LOCKED MY CAT INDOORS. That is ABUSE to him, because he was practically raised outside. Not letting him out makes him sick, literally. If you're not gonna help me, then go away.

My mom and I found two stray kittens, they're about 5 weeks old. They are probably ready to be without formula, and we've been feeding them cat food. but they cry a lot almost as if they want their mom. So my mom and i r trying to find a make shift kitten bottle right now, since the vet isn't open. what could we use a substitute for a kitten bottle? and not a dropper.

So there is this cat that kind of adopted my sister and I, she comes around every night and lingers around our house. We are assuming she came from a house that burned down near us recently, they had 13 cats so we have a lot of strays running around now. But this one comes EVERY night and when I go on walks she follows me, and these are 3 mile walks, so she obviously is intrigued by me or something. She doesn't have a collar either, so we've been feeding her just regular packaged tuna. I know she isn't getting the nutrients she needs just from that, so is there anything I could give her that could boost the nutrients? Or could you recommend a cheap brand of canned cat food since she's not allowed in our house and our parents don't know about her and I'm only 16 and make minimum wage? Thankssss. :D

I have never owned a hamster before but I would really like one. I have a few questions: 1. What is the best type of hamster for a fist time hamster owner? I was thinking Teddy Bear hamster. 2. I have two cats, is this a bad idea to bring a hamster into my home? 3. My bedroom is in the basement and it can get pretty cold, is that bad for the hamster? 4. What kind of bedding could I get that would not smell? 5. What is a good kind of cage? I thought maybe a wire cage. 6. Food and water? 7. What are some toys? 8. If I were to make a home-made house or play-pen for my hamster, what would be the best/safest supplies to use? 9. How much money would all of this cost? Like for the hamster, food, water, cage, running ball, and anything else? If there is anything else that I need to know or that I forgot to mention, please tell me. thank you =)

PLEASE DONT LECTURE ME ABOUT SPAYING HER SHE DOES NOT BELONG TO ME BUT WILL BE SPAYED BEFORE GOING BACK OUT. There have been this cat out side for about 3 months, she seamed very nervous and did not want to be anywhere near people! Today we finally got her (in a home made cat trap because not 1 cat charity would even loan us a cat trap or come and even look at her)! I thought she may have needed worming several weeks ago as she was slender and very popped arounf the middle but we never managed to actually give her anything because she wouldnt eat anyfood with it on and we couldnt catch her. Anyway, we got her about 10am this morning and after letting her calm down she has finally allowed us to pet her and upon feeling her stomach I am 100% certian she is pregnant! Im not sure how far gone and the emergency vets wont see her as she is not "visably or apparently" harmed, so I have to wait till tuesday. I rang the RSPCA and was told let her go as she is probably someones cat Im 95% sure no-one is caring for her as she is slim(not emaciated), and she is moulting a treat like every stroke is a clump of hair she wont let us brush her yet. Anyway I will take her to the vet first thing tuesday. But I am trying to work out how far along she is! Her stomach is VERY hard and solid, she clearly has milk as her mammary glands are swollen, she dont eat huge amounts in one go but in 5 hours has eaten 2 tins of cat food so little but often. Also when will I know she is ready to give birth, I mena everything I have looked at on the internent is tempreture fixated and I dont want to be putting a thermometer in her bottom because I dont know what im doing! ANY TIPS OR ADVICE!!! I have rung all the charities that cover my area and none will help her! YEs you can feel kittens moving allthough they are squashed???? I know that sounds weird but the only way I can describe it is like they are trying to move around in a croweded place Im fairly sure that she is either lost or abandoned because he spent the winter under neath the car either mine or the neighbours car until we put an old broken rabbit hutch out the front then shed go in there and sleep most nights, but I dont want to let her go because I dont want anything to happen to her. I do intend to try to find her owner because as you say I would be devastated if 1 or both of my cats were taken in by someone and not returned so tomorrow I and my family have hand written "messages" and will carry on tomorrow morning, and post them and stick larger ones up around the community! and someone somewhere may know her owner especailly as she has a very distinct feature on her!

My cat name is Hammy (she was skinny when we adopted her and we named her because she was a ham) she was once a feral then I adopted her, ever since then she has been going through a cycle - Gain a lot of weight, turn weight into muscle, be lazy, gain a lot of weight, and so on and so on. Now that cycle has basically come to a complete stop. She is feed quality dry food and wet food, she is just lazy (and no she is not active at night. She sleeps on me and I would know if she gets up, she is so heavy she shakes the bed). She is short, everywhere. She weighs 10 pounds. She can't clean her belly and has trouble scratching her head (she manages). I have tried Science Diet and home made diets (my vet gave me the recipes I should use) but nothing works. I have tried walking her and taking her out with me, she does not like the walking but likes the car ride and sitting at Starbucks (or anywhere) with me. My cat did see a vet. They gave her some medicine. She was only suppose to take them for 4 months, she did, but it only worked for 5 months (including the time of taking the medicine). She went back and they said that she needs a special diet, she did that for a year (with many vet visits during this), did not work. Took her to the vet a month they are looking into surgery. I am giving her a break. She does not like the cold table and little room. She does play. She is spayed. She just does not like movement. She likes jumping around in the car and chasing birds in the yard. That is it.

My older cat-15 yrs old- has just been diagnosised with cancer--I'm having a problem getting info on diets (he may go thru chemo or radiation--although that may not be a possibility)--Hes still eating well--he's still social--I would like to make sure his diet is one of the things -that I can do to help him be around for a little longer and also let him feel well.. while hes here--Does anyone know any good commercial food or 'home-made' food that I could give him? (please keep in mind-hes not sporting alot of teeth)-Thanks!

Hello, I'm just out gathering information. I have a speicial kitty with Chronic Urinary issues who I've asked several questions about before. I have tried everything under the sun to make her feel better and am now turning to feeding her solely wet food. However there is so much conflicting information out there about what is the best wet food for kitty. I would love to make my cat's own food, since this whole epic struggle with her condition seems to boil down to the source of the issue being food and what it does to her. The Vets say Raw is bad. Hollistic supports say Raw is good. Some people say canned is bad, Some people say canned is best. There are recipies out there for you to make your own catfood, but some have added vitamins that other places say will harm kitty. Some people want you to throw grain into the mixes, others want bone and still others say no bones or grain. Is there some happy medium? If anyone who has had a history with a kitty who has Chronic Urinary issues, please respond! What worked for you? Raw? Cooked homemeals? I would love any advice in starting to feed my kitty home made recipies. Thanks! Just thought I'd add, I am currently feeding her Wysong Uretic and Wysong canned food. She did great for a while. Also thought I'd add that even the best vets in my area that I've talked to have been little help. Either saying that I have to feed her expensive perscription dry food or not giving me any advice when I ask. When I've mentioned raw food they've gotten angry and told me "Domestic cats are able to eat raw food anymore".

In early Jan of this year I took my (back then) 8 month old female DSH who surprised us with a huge belly!! Shes always been a very petite little girl. The vet thought she was about to have them, though I kept telling her no, that shes very petite and her belly looks huge because of that. During the surgical procedure the vet noticed she was barely going to half way in the pregnancy. As I thought. Anyways, shes been eating so much its ridiculous. It still seems like shes pregnant. Her belly is huge, you can see it popped out from the sides as she walks. I have tried to give her smaller portions and keep her active (more than what she is already) she cant hear any bag being opened bc she thinks its cat food. She cries around the house like we are not feeding her. & out of 4 cats shes the only that acts like this. I thought mb its still the swelling from the surgery but IDK anymore...her stomach wasnt like that after the procedure. She got like that from Jan to now. Shes almost a year and she looks preg. I give her Eukanuba weight control...its not working!!! Why is she doing this?!? PS: Js in case anyone wants to know before anyone gets upset...I am a huge cat lover. & the thought of 4 little lives that were going to be miserable out there with not a stable home made me look into this. I would have kept the kittens other wise but I already had 4 of my own (2 boys Neutered & 1 still pending due to illness & the girl) the world is over populated with cats that get killed every single minute in one place of the world or another. Cats arent likely to get a home as much as a dog will. & though it hurt me when I took her & I cried...I know deep down I did the right thing for her....she would have gone through a lot of complications even death because she was only 8 months at the time....js FYI btw ;( For those of you being supportive in the decision I made, thank you. I would rather have saved my LITTLE SISTER'S cat than having her dead. I read the information, the vet went down the list of the complications she would have been having being pregnant so young. More than a regular spay. Complications for young mothers are deadly. As to those that think I'm evil, evil is those that kill a 3mon. old at the shelters, those that beat up the stray cats, ran cats over. See a cat and dont care for them. I became a responsible owner than an irresponsible one who would of placed the kittens in a shelter where they would have been KILLED within 4 days of placement (per Governor's orders here in CA) Sad, so I do my part, rescuing strays & helping them. S&N them. It beats breeding them like some ppl who answered my question. Why breed an animal like a cat that has a much lesser chance of a home? Again, thank you for those supportive ones : ) You are true cat lovers <3

You are calling crying about a stupid cat, when I've lost my youngest son??? "Why don't you go into the basement, throw a rope around the rafters, and HANG YOURSELF, you selfish thing?" My brother who was the closest to me had passed 2 years before, but on Sundays she keeps a vigil for him - which means no talking to anyone, especially me, who live 500 hundred miles away from her. She is usually in speech as vicious and malicious as she can be, and calls me every name which could psychically wound the strongest of people. I have tried my best to forgive her and find out what her true rage is about, but she is unresponsive. She has told lies about me to others in order to isolate me more from anyone who may find me a friend. She's even turned the family against me because what she wants is total power and control over a daughter, I, who am not conventional and do not care to keep up with the hypocrisy of keeping up with the Joneses', as she and my other brother do. She tries to restore a brief state of friendliness to me, by making home made food. and sending it with my older brother who dislikes me. I refused to see them on Friday when they came to Wisconsin to help him move to a far away part of the country. I want to move too, but she'll say when you are ready to move and that means taking everything out of your house by yourself, then you can move...until then, you'll have no help from us. When I said I did not want anything from her as a better than nothing, only in her favour peace-pipe, she became so impossible she sent the stuff over anyway with my brother, and he pounded and pounded on the door, rang the doorbell and then stayed a while until he sensed I REALLY WAS NOT COMING OUT. Suffice it to say - that her peace-pipe food is still untouched, outside! What I would like to know d from you is how I can disengage from this mentally ill woman who hates me, for WHO knows what reasons exactly and leave her behind to devour her own self through all the rage she feels for me, and the AWFUL punishment I receive because of it, because she is both unable and unwilling to look at herself and get the help she needs, so that I am always the whipping girl in the pillory. I'd really appreciate any sensible help you may offer, for I have reached a point of such debilitation that I fear SERIOUSLY for my health which is in a downward spiral, thanks to this tyrant? How, what do I do to begin????? For I know now I am not going to survive. I thank you. Thank you people. You have no idea what I've had to go through as punishment for having been born female and having had my father claim, at my age of 2 weeks old, that my mother had given him the girl he'd always wanted! From then n I guess an innocent child of 2 weeks old became a rival to a woman of 20! All her other children, even her miscarriages had been boys!

The room was white and smelled like chicken nuggets. A young girl of approximately 10 years of age anxiously entered it. Sauntering past the hot lunch line, her murky brown eyes burned with envy as the conveyor belt of kids inched along, the lunch lady heaping piles of gloriously crusty chicken nuggets and splendidly slimy mashed potatoes onto red trays with robotic perfection. Glancing ruefully at the unwieldy metal lunchbox concealed in the crook of her arm, she sighed and slid into her usual seat. Sitting across from her at the table was a new student at Fry Elementary. The young girl was hesitant to unwrap the contents of her lunch in front of this dubious new acquaintance. She decided to postpone the sensitive issue until Kaitlyn, her friend, arrived. “Hi, I’m Allie. I’m Kaitlyn’s friend from White Eagle Elementary, maybe she told you about me?” Her initial wariness fading, the girl nodded and smiled at this amiable introduction as her hands slowly gravitated towards the latch of her lunchbox. “Actually, I forgot my lunch money. If there’s something you don’t want in your lunch, could I have it?” Allie asked eagerly, her eyes fixed upon the metal lunchbox. The girl suddenly felt her smile disintegrate and her stomach clench. “Yeah, sure.” She replied politely, for common courtesy had coerced her to do so. She unlatched the box with sweaty fingers and agonizingly unearthed her home-made lunch. First, she produced two warm, slippery rice patties with lentils, mustard seeds, and cooked greens embedded within. Next was a Tupperware container filled to the brim with a mountain of mushy potatoes, colored bright yellow from the turmeric, and floating in a gravy of glutinous spinach and onions. Her mother had thoughtfully filled an old water bottle with some buttermilk to pour over the spinach and potatoes in case the food became too spicy. As she opened the Tupperware, a sharp, piquant aroma permeated the air and her mouth began watering in anticipation. Allie, however, recoiled in horror, her features contorting into a hyperbolic, and somewhat affected image of utter disgust. She pinched her nose shut with one hand and tossed her long golden locks behind her shoulder with the other, as if afraid that some part of her might accidentally graze the seemingly inedible abomination that had wound up in some poor girl’s lunchbox. “Eeeeeeew. Oh my god, what is that! Sorry! It just smells really, um, weird. I mean, do you like that stuff?” She scrambled to cling to some vestige of civility despite her obvious revulsion. The unfortunate young girl tugged at a dark strand of her hair and squirmed awkwardly, mortification coloring her cheeks. “It’s Indian food. And I guess its okay. At least, I’m used to it.” She replied, her voice stretched thin by the weight of her discomfort. She quickly began to wrap the food back up, ignoring her rumbling stomach. “Oh sorry. I just get queasy really easily when I see slimy or sticky stuff. But do you know what’s even more gross? Did you know they eat cats in China? Just thinking about it makes me want to puke.” Allie rambled on, hoping to make up for her previous loss of composure. The girl listened in stoic silence. “What’s that food called? The Indian food in your lunchbox?” Allie suddenly inquired. “Well the rice patties are called ravaa idli, and the potatoes are called aloo saag” “Raa-vuh-dli? Did I say it right? ” “ Yeah I guess” “Raa-vuh-dli. That’s a funny name.” “Yeah, I guess it is.” Interpreting her companion’s rapid agreement as shared sentiment, Allie beamed and presumed herself forgiven. The conversation once again lapsed into silence, and the girl began to aimlessly bounce her lunchbox in her lap to fill the uncomfortable void. Just then, Kaitlyn arrived toting a red tray laden with the Monday cafeteria special. “Thank god! I’m starving!” Allie exclaimed, plucking a crusty, stale chicken nugget from her friend’s plate, shoving it in her mouth, and chewing with the reckless abandon of a person who has never tasted a morsel of good food before in her life. Upon viewing this scene, the young girl ceased fidgeting with her cumbersome lunchbox. She got up, dumped its contents into the trash, and headed to the end of the lunch line at last. That evening, her mother indicated that they needed to do groceries. “What do you need for your dubba?” the mother asked of the girl. “You mean my lunch?” “Yes, your lunch. You knew what I meant. Do you want me to prepare the aloo saag again, or do you want aloo matar?” “Actually, can I just have a peanut butter and jelly sandwich?” she asked. “But I thought you loved aloo saag? Today you finished every last bite of it!” “All I want is peanut butter and jelly.” The girl’s mother obliged, and from then on her metal lunchbox was hastily opened, and her PB&J readily shared. The glorious scent of stale chicken nuggets wa

My brothers friend is unable to take care of his ferret, so he's giving him to us. My brother has enough for the food and whatnot. My parents don't know about it, since they would never let us get one. So for the cage, until we can buy one, we have this really long plastic tub that we've poked airholes in all over, and we're going to put mesh squares in it. Keep in mind that this is only temporary. For bedding, we have a bunch of cat litter, so we're going to use that and put something soft like a blanket over it, or some old t-shirts. We have tubs that we can use for food/water, and we can make some homemade toys that I've googled. I've thoroughly researched it, and there are a few things I have questions about. For one, do you really have to brush it's teeth? And how often? And about clipping it's nails, can you really use normal nail clippers? And any tips on how to do that? Is there anything else that you think I should know? And please, no "you shouldn't do this if your parents don't know about it" answers cause I'm stubborn as heck and I'm not backing out of it. The only way they'll know is if Nut gets sick, and they have to take him to the vet. They won't be happy, but they wouldn't turn down a sick animal. If it comes to that, I would rather him be healthy and given away or sold than dead. So just tips, no 'tell your parents' crap, please. I'm responsible enough to take care of this ferret with my brother. Oh, and does anyone have any easy home-made toy ideas? We've got a few but we want our little Nut to be happy and content. :3

Does anyone know how to make a balanced, healthy dry food that can last for a while? i am making the change from commercial foods to home-made...my cat really likes chicken, and tuna, though for some reason only likes to drink the juices from the can, not the meat. i don't quite know how that's going to work out...but the recipe i need has to be fairly easy to make, and i'd like to be able to substitute different meats so that she can have a little variety, maybe i could mix a few different meats together, i dont know. this food also needs to be able to last for a while. just a month or two. i do not plan to cook this food each day, so the food definately needs to last at least a month, preferrably 2. thanks...and can you grate veggies and cheddar cheese, for instance, and put that in the food? i don't know if my cat likes that, but i should think that she needs more variety than just meats, right? Also, the ingredients need to be pretty cheap, but i won't care so much about the price as the nutritional value. i just dont want any crazy prices for anything.

he isn't eating and theres no treasure in the litter-box department (but there is quite a lot of pee). hes very lethargic and sleepy, but otherwise he seems fine. this has been going on for about 3 days (ever since he had some vaccines) but im starting to get a little anxious... he is unentered because he is still a bit to young. i will get him neutered when he is 6 months old (right now he is 5 and a half) we are taking him to the vet on thursday to check things out! His diet includes: Whiskers kitten pouches (with dry food mixed in) home-made Tuna and Egg mix (with a tiny drop of olive oil) Tinned chicken in gravy (cat food) Tinned tuna in gravy (cat food) The odd sausage (he deserves a treat, right??) Water, of course We have reduced his meals to 3 a day because the vet said he was a little on the fat side... any suggestions?? =D

I was thinking maybe I'd save a little $$ making it myself,it's costing me .43 cents a day to feed him the store bought. Maybe it would be healthier for my cat too. I feed him Whiskas Poultry.One packet a day. On the dry side he gets Purina One Indoor Advance,all he can eat. It's helped tremendously with hairballs.I think he's only had one since he started getting that food.And that was at the beginning, months ago.

my cat is basically allergic to all kinds of fish and meat except rabbits, plus she's also allergic to corn and wheat, so i decided to cook food for her at home. however the rabbit meal i cook for her doesn't smell like the stinky commercial canned food that she likes, so i had to add in a little crushed Hill's prescription D/D dry food to get her eat a bit. I was wondering what makes the canned food stink so much and how i can make my home-made food smell like that. thank you~ she's on Hill's prescription diet D/D rabbit and green pea dry food at the moment and i don't think they make a canned version of that. i heard enough bad things about feeding cats dry food that's why i'm trying to slowly switch to home cooked meals. i'm not sure about raw diet because i heard mixed opinions, i'm very worried about my cat getting worms from raw meat.

my dearest cat has passed away after 7 days of giving birth of two kittens. since that time I'm taking care of them by feeding them milk ever 4-5 hours. Now they are 1 month old I want to know when to start giving them food? and what kind of food to give them? (Home made food) by the way they are Persian I need you help cause this is my first time to take care of small kittens thanks in advance

Are they good brands? Why? Why not? I live in Dubai and we have a very limited choice of cat food. In fact, I haven't come across any place that sells some of the well-known cat foods like Wellness, Innova, Feline Instincts, etc. I have been feeding my cat home-made recipes instead and I'm starting to get worried about her diet. I'm at a dilemma and have no idea where to find good food. Therefore, if anybody (Dubai residents) has any idea where to find good and healthy cat food. Please let me know where with specific details if possible. Your feedback is greatly appreciated.

And feed it a more natural diet of meats etc. Does anyone else feed their cats & dogs home made food instead of prepared tinned/bagged food. If you do then what do you feed it. I would appreciate all feedback! Thanks

Hi I have an almost 3 yr old cornish rex (bald cat breed) cat. And all she eats is, fancy feast can food, and fancy feast dry food. Im aware that there are better cat food such as Wellness, but its kind of difficult living in recession. I want to make natural healthy meals for my cat, from chicken, rabbit, sometimes a lil fish. I tried preparing these home made meals in small amounts before, and my cat refused to eat it. Its like she is addicted to junk food, and even tho chicken smells better and taste better, she will not go near the bowl for the whole day until that food becomes dry and full of micro bacteria, and then I have to throw it out. Any food tips on how to make my cat eat healthy? If you got some simple recipes and you dont mind posting then please go ahead. Thanks

I have two large breed dogs who eat alot. I currently have them on Diamond Naturals lamb and rice but I would maybe like to start making my dog food on my own instead of buying it from a pet shop. Ive read alot of bad things about dog food and whats in it and I dont like the thought of it when I feed it to my dogs. I haven't heard too many bad things about the food Im currently feeding them other than it was recalled a few years back for cross contamination and ended up killing a few cats a dogs. I would like to know how much it would cost me monthly to feed 2 large breed German Shepherd mixes if a were to make the food on my own.

Hello, Iknow this topic has been done to death but we seem to have tried all the hints and tips and nothing seems to work! We have two gorgous kittens, Max and Millie. They are just about to turn 6 months and we got the from the RSPCA when they were about 2 months old. When we got them they were both fully litter trained and happily used the tray. The move seemed to upset Max most, he used to hiss at us and hide a lot while Mille was just content to be in a different room. As times gone on they both seem very settled and Max amazingly is the biggest fuss pot ever! he loves cuddles and will follow me and my boyfriend around as we move around the house, quite happily and they both seem very settled. Except max has now developed toiletting issues! When we first had them we designated the dining room as their area, filled it with toys a litter tray each lots of bedding and boxes for them to play with. We put the fact that we used to come home to urine and faeces on the floor down to his young age and the stress of the move, but he doesnt seem to have gotten any better. We had the throw out all the bedding and the boxes as he ruined them all as well as a bookcase and and few books! We though maybe he was just hanging his bum over the edge of the litter tray as sometimes it would be fairly near...so we got them each a covered litter tray which Millie uses everytime (as far as we know...we have caught him in the act of urinating or defecating in the dining room many times, but never her!) So far i have tried, lemon juice, vinegar, using bilogical washing powder solutions, the home made odour eliminators, pepper, moving the littler tray, moving his food, changing the litter, having him neutered and sprinkiling food on the floor where he likes to go...but with no joy at all! The odd thing is we have now taken to locking them in the kitchen during the day, which is a shame as its a smaller area for them to run around in but he NEVER goes on the floor in there, ever! I have watched him when im in there making dinner quite content to go in and out of the box, although after hes done his business he does scratch outside the box sometimes. During an evening we move the litter tray into the living room so we can closer the dining room off and he always usues it fine and happily. I know moving the tray doesn't help, but he uses it no problems as long as the dining room is not accessible to him. I mop the floor everyday and try to keep him out of there but as its in the middle of the house its difficult and if hes in there for just 2 minutes hes off. And I swear he knows hes doing wrong, if I watch him from the other side of the room he'll look at me then hide under the curtains, or the table before doing his business. The final straw came last week when he used my boyfriends football boots!! He has been checked out by the vet and is all clear. I love him to bits but we live in rented accomodation i dont know how much longer we can live with this! We don't have many visitors only really family that they are well accustomed to on the odd occasion as we tend to go out to meet our friends. Any hints and tips would be greatly appreciated, thank you! Becky

I have an 8 year old Mini Doxie (10 lbs.) and a 13 year old mutt (60 lbs) and i am switching them off of natures recipe to a better food (i did not know better). i am kind of in a toss up between a few brands: Merrick, Orijen, Fromm, Blue, Innova, and wellness. Also i have 2 2 year old cats (currently on nutro) i was wondering if anyone had a good food choice for them. i plan to feed dry. possibly wet/dry mix. no raw diets or home made...i would love too but i live in a tiny apartment and have little free time and it would just not work out :) i need something easy and yummy and good!! i want opinions not websites...ive been searching websites all night. pros and cons would be amazing!!!! thanks all!

What do you feed your rats/mice? Do you buy lab blocks or make your own rat food? What brand of blocks/what is in your home-made food? Here is my recipe: Amounts can be stretched and chopped down, depending on the number of rats. The recipe is for about two weeks for 6 rats. (Treats and fresh foods excluded) It turns into a kind of paste, you can bake half of it (or all, I suppose) into ratty-cookies and alternate to avoid “mushy poop” or whatever. Keep in mind all ingredients should be organic. 2 lbs of fruit and (steamed) veggies: Assorted berries Grapes Melon Apple Peas Greens – spinach, chard, turnip greens Broccoli Bok-choy Kale Sprouts Tomato Parsley Corn Squash Carrot Assorted beans ______________________ 1500 mg – liquid calcium with vitamin D 1700 mcg – chromium picolinate (the dose is based on their metabolism, not their weight) ¾ cup – Total cereal (or cereal of same nutritional value) ½ cup – Benevo Vegan dog/cat food 1 lb – (cooked) packaged soft tofu ½ cup – shelled raw sunflower seeds ½ cup – flax seeds ½ cup – raw oatmeal 4 teaspoons – pearled barley 4 teaspoons – millet 3 tablespoons – cooked brown rice 4 tablespoons – toasted wheat germ 2 ½ tablespoons – nutritional yeast flakes (5.6 g) 2 tablespoons – blackstrap (dark or full flavor) molasses ½ pound of cooked lean beef You just blend it all up and bake half (or all) into ratty-cookies and let your rats enjoy. "Rats and mice can and do very well on plain old kibble dog food" Is that supposed to be a joke? How long do your rats live? You do know that rats and mice have completely different nutritional requirments than dogs. I cant believe you think that is healthy, rats are omnivores, like us, how would you like eating nothing but dog food? That is just retarded.... Sorry everyone =P

what all can my ferret eat like include fruit veges meat and ect... thanks and what is a good home made diet i could feed them they dont eat any kind of ferret food or cat food

my cat is now 1 year old and she's been hoome fed since 7-8 months old (Chartreux breed) I'd like to know if there are any other cat owners out there who's experienced in providing home-cooked meals for their cats. If so I'd like to know some nutrition balanced recipes. the ones online are not very accurate. At the moment I feed my cat cooked chicken meat (no bones) or minced beef, mixed with carrots with broccoli and chicken liver and whole grain rice. the meat is mostly 85% I think. I still wonder if that's enough nutrition for her? she seems to love it a lot though. thanks for any feedbacks!!

Okay, I have 3 cats, and they all eat a dry food in the evening, that will not change very quickly (as one needs the sensitive system type). This question is not about raw diets (too much work on a daily basis). I want to be able to cook up the soft food that they currently eat in the morning, as it costs me about $2/day for the good stuff. I may move them onto an all-homemade diet in the future... but I need to transition slowly... so I need something that they can eat along with the dry food. Something I can freeze and make a month at a time would be nice.

Being a guy I mean. The other day I made a cheesecake for my girls' homecoming after she was away for a week, just to show I could survive without her and I could actually cook. I mixed up all the stuff and things were going really well until I went to get the cheesecake out of the oven....only to find it had disappeared completely. All I found in the oven was the sparkling clean cheesecake platter.....no cake. I glared at her cat who was currently lazing on the kitchen counter. For some reason her cat finds me fascinatingly interesting....but it always wins in a staring match and I blinked first as usual.....besides, then it immediately ate a whole can of Whiskers cat food to celebrate its stare-down victory, so that was a pretty solid alibi for any alleged cheesecake thief, I thought. I checked all the shelves and even the ceiling of the oven...just in case it had risen a bit too much....but still no cheesecake. That's when I noticed how amazingly similar the oven looks to the darned dishwasher. Are shop bought cheesecakes any good and could I pass one off as home-made? . So you think she would marry me if I begged?

I just got to learn that feed a cat with dry food is not a good "option" for his/ her nutrition (wonder why she's already 9 pounds at 8 months old!); what are the best brands and how much should I feed her per day? Can I mix it with homemade food and which one should I cook for her? Thanks

That you know child doesn't like? I've just made myself a simple home made curry and as always, anytime I am eating anything up come the 3 kids, the dog and the cats to investigate what it is I have on my plate. Not one of them likes curry lol. I know it sounds cruel but I'm glad they don't like it. I've finally got a meal and nobody wants a bit! (well if i finsh fast enough before the other half comes home that is!) So Parents, Do you enjoy making foods just for you that the kids won'r eat and you know you can sit down and enjoy it? Kids have already had their dinner at their Nana's by the way just so nobody thinks I made dinner for me and not them lol

I know, this is not nearly ideal. I've posted on my Mom's cat previously, and since doing so, my intentions of bringing her back to New York City with me have been refused. I will be visiting my Mom in a couple days however, and I do not have many choices besides making as many changes to the cat's diet under the radar- while I am there- as I can. Basically, I will be going there for a week, with about six months of supplies for the kitty in tow. At least I have the comfort of knowing my Mom won't turn down free cat supplies. But two weeks after I leave, my Mom will be leaving the country for two weeks, and leaving the cat at an okay boarding place associated with a pet hospital that doesn't store home-made food. Unfortunately, again, all I can do is provide supplies, not actually bring the cat home with me. So I need to find good canned food for her that people have found that their cat will actually eat. Any advice would be appreciated. Please suggest brands and flavors. Again, first-hand experience, please. I can google the websites that list these products on my own.

I was wanting a new dog so my mom took me to the pound to look around. When we went we had to watch 18 dogs go and get put down to sleep because the dog shelter had no more room or enough food to keep all of them.. cuz shelter only get so much ya no. We were looking at animals and the man got one out and put him aslide the building, my mother asked him were he was going because we had not none that day was when they put them to sleep. His tail was wagging because he thought he was going to go play. When the man said hes getting put to sleep my mom cryed and so did I. Dogs shouldnt be put down not even having a chance to live. So me and my mom are going to start selling home made dog treats, ect, and donate all the money to the shelter. none will go to me. Dogs need a chance just like us. & so do cats! i need to no some more ways to earn money. oh & im only 14 so try to keep this my age level haha : )

I have heard that pet food might contain the remains of poisoned shelter cats, chemicals, roadkill, et cetera, and am looking for alternatives for my cat, as she is old. Has anyone tried a healthier home-made option for their cat, that they think may be beneficial ? You do not have to be some sort of medical "expert" to respond, all suggestions are welcome

I have a manx cat with late stages of megacolon I cant afford the surgury since monday 06/01/09 vet has him on stool softer script laxative and benefiber in water. He was cleaned out on 06/01 I have to keep his stool runny he wont touch the dulcolax ive tried pill down throat he coughs it back up dissolved it and put in food sniffs it and walks away the script laxative he fights but have been able to get that down him he hasnt eaten much since monday only a few bites here and there and he has not gone either since ive had him to vet was wondering if there is any kind of home made cat food I can make that would promote keeping his stool runny or very very soft any help greatly appreciated Ive been crying for a week with guilt that I cant afford this expensive surgical proceedure to help my baby manx

I was given a recipe for home made weight loss cat food and am thinking about doing it for my fatty and the other two not so fatty. Here are the ingredients. Are there other things I should be adding so that they aren't missing something vital like taurine. Meat, Rice, Veggies or bran, Oil, Calcium, Bone meal or eggshell powder. Then it says Cat Vitamins. Not sure if it means those are the Bone meal or if I have to find them somewhere. Please help and thank you in advance for any advice you may have.

She's been vegan for 5 years and always believed that animals (Dogs, cats etc) should eat meat, now her bf doesn't agree with that and has switched her 7 year old border collie from normal meat dog food to home made veg. It's getting no extra Iron or protein or anything, just mushed veg, and it doesn't even like it. I tried pointing out that if you really want to force your dog to be vegan at least buy the vegi dog food, but she wasn't allowed to answer, her bf told me to 'fcuk off and mind my own business' i'm really worried about her and the dog. He's violent to both of them and she's only with him cos he's the only vegan she knows. But i know it'll be her taking the blame when the dog gets ill. and what'll happen when this guy decides that the dogs no fun to torment anymore? How can someone like that be vegan and call me evil to animals just cos i eat meat, when he won't even get proper vegi dog food? And how can she sit back and let him, surely if you're strong enough to change 16 years of eating habits to save animals, you're strong enough to tell someone to stop attacking your dog? sorry if i'm rambling, i'm really worried, just cos i eat meat doesn't mean i want to see a dog with malnutrition and cuts and bruises. No animal that is born to eat meat can survive without the nutriants in meat, hence the special vegi dog food. It's already looking fragile after 2 months. I am going to ring RSPCA, but when i rang police they said that she refused to give a statement, so theres nothing they can do.

I currently am taking care of my eldest daughter's elderly Maine Coon Cat (her BF's dog may not be cat friendly). He is approximately 14 years old, has had FIV all his adult life (adopted as a stray), has recently developed hyperthyroidism-he is currently under the care of a vet who treats cats exclusively.....the vet says he's in great shape all things considered, even his teeth! The problem is, the cat has food allergies and finding a cat food he doesn't re-act to is difficult...we've found three that he will eat but not that enthusiastically so my question is, since he LOVES people chicken (boned, skinned & cooked of course) if I stew chicken legs with just water to cover and with a little fresh carrots, peas and a tad bit brown rice, cool it, bone. shred, skin the chicken, mash the peas, carrots, and wee bit of brown rice, return it to the broth, would that be nutritionally sound for him? I was thinking of adding it to the commerical cat foods I have found that he can eat without allergy re-actions ( he can have NO corn or wheat, we have narrowed the allergy down to that) I know it won't hurt him, and since he drives me nuts with begging when I make & eat chicken soup for our two legged family members (he can't have because of the onions & garlic) I think having his own chicken soup may help him to put on some weight. If anyone has any other recipes for home made cat meals containing lamb or beef....share please? He's a sweet old cat who deserves to be pampered for the remaining few years he has left....thanks. Thanx but before I make any real dietary changes for him I will have to consult his vet, especially when it comes to an FIV positive elderly cat whose immune system is already compromised by the disease, raw meat might NOT be a good idea since he has the feline version of Aids.....was just wondering if anyone actually cooks for their cat...as I have a crockpot, tossing the ingredients in the crockpot in the morning and letting the appliance do the cooking is no trouble at all, in fact I love to cook reguardless of who it's for......my Mom's doxie had serious problems with bloat & digestive disorders so her vet had her cooking for her dog...he lived for 17 years so it can work, and I'm familiar with it, just that dogs & cats have different dietary needs.

Aaaalright. I've posted a billion times about my cat Jezebel who was throwing up.. we took her to the vet... then she was throwing up green bile... then she seemed better.... So. I'm trying really hard to find the source - the vet didn't feel any obstructions and I'm hoping not to get an x-ray (I'm in college... I don't exactly have money - I'd have to borrow, steal, or beg to pay for that). Anyways, I have a clip-on toilet cleaner in my bathroom. I keep my toilet lid down at all times because my cats sleep in there and the box says to keep animals away from it. Sometime last week.. or possibly this week... I can't remember, my mom cleaned out the litter box before I was awake and I guess used my toilet too because the lid was up (Even though she knows to keep them down since she has a clip-on in her bathroom too). I'm wondering if this is what is ailing Jeze - because she was super affectionate this morning, not lethargic at all. I let them out of the bathroom around 5 this morning while I was studying and she spent all morning curled up with me - and even did her kneading routine where she kneads the bed, purrs, and stares at me with loving eyes and yells at me if I stop petting her. She really seemed better! She sniffed her food, still didn't want to eat, but she didn't throw up when she smelled it. And she was able to keep water down. DIDN'T THROW UP ALL DAY, which is why I didn't take her back to the vet. Then... our handyman came over to stick a kitty-door in our kitchen door, leading to the garage so I can get that litter box out of my bathroom.... I was gone for a few hours, came home, greeted the cats, and within 5 minutes of being home Jeze puked all over the floor. This stuff smells worse than diarrhea... I didn't know something so nasty could come out of that beautiful face. I went into the bathroom and saw that the handyman had put the toilet seat up (both parts of it, ick) ! I was infuriated... not at him, just at the situation. Okay, all this to say... if the chemicals from the cleaner is what's ailing my kitty is there something I can do (other than getting rid of the stupid clip thing) to help her - besides another vet visit (that's obvious, i hate when that's the only advice people give). This could totally not even be it, but I'm considering anything at all right now. Thank you :-) More home-made tummy-help suggestions would be appreciated - as soon as this monsoon stops outside I'm going to try to find the oils someone was talking about and possibly the yogurt, though she won't even eat the hairball medicine she loves... ... that's what I said - BESIDES removing the cleaner. I've already done that. Kia - thanks. I'll try that. I reeeeeally hope this is it - it's a lot harder watching an animal suffer than suffering through it yourself!!

to healthy pets only. are they fat? i would like to choose1 but it uses the word raw which is dangerous

Chocolaty or fruity candy? Soda or juice? Pink or purple? Cat or dog? Grape or Strawberry jelly? Chunky or creamy peanut butter? iced tea or lemonade? any cheerios or special k? fast food or home made? For me: Candy fruity juice Pink Cat Grape creamy peanut butter lemonade fruity cheerios home made

I'm getting my first cat (not a kitten) in a week and I want my cat to be healthy. I know my cat will be healthy, but I want to boost her health also with some food. I've heard store bought dried cat food is not that good. I read that you can feed your cat cereal, rice, carrots and lots of fruits and vegetables-is this true? If I feed my cat cereal-how much more food must I give her for the day? Can I make meals for her each day-like a salad for the day? And...is there any way around meat? Thanks guys.