Cats are obligate carnivores, meaning they have nutritional requirements that are naturally met by animal-based foods. A good diet should provide plenty of quality animal protein along with the essential vitamins, minerals, fatty acids and amino acids cats need.
At Greenpet, we favour a natural, minimally processed approach to feeding, with fresh meat and appropriately prepared whole foods forming the foundation of the diet.
A raw diet can be a suitable option for some cats, provided it is properly balanced. Commercial wet or dry foods can also be formulated to meet a cat's nutritional requirements, so the most important consideration is the overall nutritional quality and suitability of the diet.
The Basic Fresh Food Ratio
As a general guide for a fresh food diet for adult cats, approximately 90% can consist of animal-based foods, including:
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Fresh meat
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Organ meats
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Raw meaty bones or an appropriate calcium source
The remaining 10% can include small amounts of suitable vegetables, sprouts or other plant foods.
These ratios are a general guide rather than a requirement to measure every meal precisely. Nutritional balance over time is more important.
Fresh Meat
Suitable meats include chicken, rabbit, turkey, duck, kangaroo, lamb, beef and pork.
Include a variety of meats and appropriate amounts of fat to provide different nutrients and flavours.
If feeding minced meat, choose fresh products without unnecessary preservatives or additives.
Where appropriate, include some larger pieces of meat to encourage natural chewing.
Organ Meats
Organ meats provide a range of important nutrients and can include:
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Liver
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Kidney
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Heart
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Tripe
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Other suitable organs
Variety is important because different organs provide different nutrients.
Raw Bones
Raw meaty bones can provide calcium and other minerals and give cats an opportunity to chew.
Appropriately sized chicken necks, wings or suitable minced bones may be included, depending on the individual cat.
Always choose bones that are appropriate for the cat's size and chewing ability, and supervise your cat when feeding them.
Never feed cooked bones, as they can splinter and cause serious injury.
If your cat cannot safely eat whole bones, a properly formulated calcium source can be used instead.
Vegetables, Sprouts and Microgreens
Cats do not require large amounts of plant food, but small quantities can be included in a fresh food diet if well tolerated.
Suitable additions may include finely minced or puréed:
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Broccoli sprouts
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Leafy greens
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Suitable herbs
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Other low-starch vegetables
Cooked and mashed pumpkin can be useful for adding variety and is often accepted by cats that are reluctant to eat raw vegetables.
Never feed onions, leeks or chives.
Optional Extras
Small amounts of other whole foods can be offered occasionally as variety or treats.
Eggs
Free-range eggs can be offered occasionally if your cat enjoys them. They are not essential when the main diet is already nutritionally complete.
Fish
Fresh or lightly cooked fish can be offered occasionally, with bones removed where appropriate.
Small fish such as sardines and pilchards can also be included when suitable.
Fish should complement the diet rather than make up the majority of it.
Coconut
Small amounts of fresh coconut can be offered occasionally if your cat enjoys it, although it is not an essential part of a feline diet.
Nuts and Seeds
Cats do not need nuts or seeds as a nutritional requirement. If offered, they should only be given in very small amounts and should be finely ground to reduce the risk of choking.
Goat's Milk and Dairy
Goat's milk may be useful for kittens in appropriate circumstances, but milk is not necessary for healthy adult cats.
Some cats tolerate small amounts of plain natural yoghurt or cottage cheese, but dairy should only be offered if it agrees with the individual cat.
How Much Should You Feed?
The amount your cat needs depends on their age, size, activity level, metabolism and body condition.
As a general starting point, adult cats may require approximately 2–4% of their ideal body weight in food per day.
For example, a 5 kg adult cat may require approximately 100–200 g of food per day, depending on their individual needs.
This can be divided into two or more meals.
Kittens have higher nutritional and energy requirements while growing and need a diet specifically formulated to support healthy development. They generally need more frequent meals than adult cats.
Always monitor your cat's body condition and adjust the amount as necessary.
Preparing Fresh Food for Your Cat
Vegetables and sprouts can be finely minced or puréed in a food processor before being mixed with fresh meat.
If you don't have a food processor, suitable vegetables can be lightly steamed and mashed.
Fresh meals can be prepared daily or made in batches and divided into individual portions for freezing.
If freezing meals, thaw the following day's portion in the refrigerator rather than leaving raw food at room temperature.
Good food-handling and hygiene practices are particularly important when preparing raw food.
Variety Is Important
Try to vary the types of meat and other suitable foods you feed your cat.
Cats can become very attached to a particular food, so introducing variety from an early age may help prevent them becoming overly selective.
The diet does not need to be perfectly identical at every meal, but it should provide appropriate nutrition consistently over time.
Introducing Raw Food
If your cat has never eaten raw food or raw meaty bones, introduce changes gradually.
Start by adding a small amount of the new food to their familiar diet and slowly increase it as they become accustomed to the new taste and texture.
For cats reluctant to eat raw meat, lightly cooking the outside can sometimes make the food more appealing. Cooking can then be reduced gradually if you wish to transition towards raw feeding.
Never cook bones before feeding them.
Fussy Cats
Some cats can be extremely particular about food, particularly if they have been eating the same commercial food for many years.
Try introducing new foods slowly and avoid changing everything at once.
A small amount of a tasty topper can also encourage a reluctant cat to try a new meal.
Greenpet options include:
Use treats and toppers in moderation so they don't displace nutritionally important foods.
Nutritional Supplements
Depending on the foods included, some homemade diets may require additional nutrients to ensure they are complete and balanced.
Greenpet Essentials provides a range of nutrients that can complement a natural diet.
Green Tripe Powder and Greenpet Tripe Meal Topper can be used as meal toppers, particularly for fussy cats.
Promise Beef Liver Sprinkles can also be sprinkled over meals.
Cold-pressed oils such as Greenpet Cod Liver Oil or Salpet Salmon Oil can provide additional dietary fats when appropriate.
When adding supplements, consider the nutrients already provided by the diet to avoid unnecessary supplementation.
Convenient Natural Food Options
Preparing fresh food every day isn't always practical. There are also convenient minimally processed options available.
Kiwi Kitchens Raw Freeze-Dried Cat Food is a convenient freeze-dried option.
Ziwi Peak cat food is available in both air-dried and wet varieties.
Lenny's Kitchen can be combined with fresh meat as part of a homemade feeding approach.
MFM and Lifewise also offer prepared cat foods containing animal proteins and other ingredients.
When choosing a prepared food, check that it is complete and balanced for your cat's life stage where it is intended to be used as the main diet.
Feeding Routine
Cats naturally tend to eat multiple small meals throughout the day. Some cats prefer several smaller meals, while others are happy with two main meals.
Avoid leaving fresh raw food sitting out for extended periods, particularly in warm weather.
Remove uneaten food and refrigerate or discard it according to appropriate food-safety practices.
Is a Raw Diet Right for Every Cat?
A fresh food diet can be a wonderful way to provide variety and minimally processed nutrition, but there is no single feeding approach that is ideal for every cat.
Kittens, senior cats, pregnant or lactating cats, and cats with specific health or nutritional requirements may need a more carefully formulated diet.
If you are making your own cat food, it is particularly important to ensure that the overall diet provides all the essential nutrients cats require. Cats have some very specific nutritional needs, so simply feeding meat alone is not sufficient.
If you're unsure how to transition your cat to a fresh food diet or would like help choosing suitable foods, contact Greenpet for guidance.