The Complete Diet for Cats

This diet is designed to approximate the normal, natural diet that cats would eat if they lived in the wild. It is actually higher in nutrients than a wild diet and this helps with many stresses in a domestic environment. This diet is based on animal protein sources and has a low grain, high vegetable, carbohydrate ratio.  Suggested supplements are also included, but other regimens can be substituted.

The diet supplies all the basic requirements for a healthy cat. Fasting your companions one day every seven-to-ten days is also beneficial. Light, chicken broth can be fed several times on these days. 

The following recipe can be doubled, tripled, or made in any quantity necessary and then frozen. Keep the ratios the same.  The vegetables, cottage cheese and micronutrients should be added before serving and not before freezing. Cats do like variety, so varying your ingredients will appeal to most cats.  Remember that they are individual, however, and some cats will prefer one type of meat or vegetable for long periods, and this is okay. Some cats will resist the vegetables.  If they go outside, they will balance their own diet. Otherwise, a dehydrated vegetable product can be used to the coat the food.

• 4 UNITS PROTEIN:  Meat (poultry, beef, lamb, rabbit), Fish, Dairy (yogurt or cottage cheese), and eggs. (Eggs shouldn’t be fed more then twice a week) . One Unit can be organ meats such as liver, kidney or heart.  Raw meat is the optimum and the most natural, or you can sear the meat lightly. Organic is always preferable.
• 1 or 2 Units Carbohydrates
• 1 tbsp Olive or Canola Oil (extra virgin or cold pressed)
• Approximately 1200mg calcium (1/2 tbsp Bone Meal; or use calcium   carbonate, lactate, gluconate, or chelated calcium).

**Do not use Bone Meal with animals who have kidney problems. **
**Feeding RAW chicken wings and necks are a good treat. **
**Reduce or eliminate the calcium if your cats eat many bones.*

Feed the amount necessary to maintain your cat's normal weight.  If they leave food in the bowl, you are feeding too much. Feed daily amounts in one, two or three feedings, as to their preference. 

Micronutrients - give the following amounts daily:

• A multi-Vitamin, once Daily
• Salmon Oil or other Fish oil, one-two capsules daily. Mix in food. Sardines, Salmon or Tuna can be substituted.

Optional Daily Supplements - especially for cats that stay indoors:

• Vitamin C - 250mg
• Vitamin E - 100IU daily or 200 IU's every other day
• Nu-Pet Granular Greens or Barley Cat or "Grass for cats"

Equivalents - each amount below equals One Unit

Protein

Meat, Liver or Fish	55 Grams
Eggs	1 medium
Cottage Cheese	85 Grams (equals one unit of Carbohydrates also)
Yogurt	114 Grams  (equals one unit of Carbohydrates also)

Preferred Carbohydrates: Raw or cooked, chopped or blenderized.

• Green beans, broccoli, brussell sprouts, greens like spinach and kale, squash and zucchini, cabbage, cauliflower  - 1 Cup
• Carrots and fruits such as berries, bananas, and melon  - 1/2 Cup
•  Cooked Beans, Chickpeas, and lentils -  1/4 Cup

Unfavorable Carbohydrates: Feed as little as possible, or not at all.
Cooked Oatmeal or Barley are preferable. Rice, couscous, bread, millet or quinoa. 1/3 Cup

**When possible, the ratio of Protein to Carbohydrates should be maintained for every meal**

If your cat will eat them, certain raw vegetables can be increased in this recipe without adjusting the other ingredients. You can add extra spinach, lettuce, bean sprouts, broccoli, cabbage or cauliflower.

Cats need grasses to cleanse their system and get up hairballs. Grow your cat some grass!