Cat’s are finicky creatures. One day they may enjoy gobbling down a bowl of chicken-flavored wet food; the next, they may turn their nose up at it like it’s the most disgusting thing they’ve ever seen.
Take it from me, a seasoned cat lady with two of these pretty kitties at home: Siamese cats are picky. One of the pickiest breeds you’ll ever meet. And I say this with love! Their quirky personalities keep me on my toes and entertain me daily.
While on my mission to find a reputable brand and tasty flavor for my Siamese cats, I came across a blog telling me all about how homemade food was better for cats.
At first, I was skeptical, but after reading into it more and trying out a few recipes with my kitties, I uncovered a handful of benefits, both health and personality-wise!
That’s why I decided to write this blog today, sharing with you my favorite homemade cat food recipes for Siamese cats, as well as a few key things you’ll need to know if you do decide to make your own.
Is homemade food better for cats?
If you decide to make your cat’s food at home, there are quite a few things you’ll have to consider to ensure the safety of your feline. That being said, homemade food tends to be better than your regular pet shop food as you can control all of the ingredients that go into it.
Most of the cat food you’ll find on shelves contains a handful of unnecessary fillers and ingredients. These low-quality ingredients can cause health issues and even weight gain when consumed too often.
Making homemade cat food allows you to cut out artificial flavors, colors, and preservatives. If you’d like your Siamese to go grain-free or organic, that’s totally up to you.
If your Siamese has any dietary sensitivities or food allergies, making the food by hand can be a great way to avoid any of their triggers. If your Siamese is sick, they may even begin eating again if you present them with some homemade food.
Benefits of homemade cat food
A lot of time and effort goes into making cat food compared to simply buying it at the store. However, there are quite a few things that your Siamese can benefit from if you do decide to go the extra mile.
- Natural ingredients
While it may seem like a good thing that your wet and dry cat food stores for so long, the reasoning for this is due to the artificial preservatives and extra processing that goes into it. It’s relatively common for many felines to be allergic to these chemical flavors and preservatives without showing any outwards signs of a reaction.
Homemade food, however, contains far more natural vitamins, minerals, and nutrients. While it may not last as long, your Siamese will digest the food quickly and retain all that natural goodness.
- Pure protein
Wet food contains around 8-10% protein, whereas dry food contains 30-40%. Meat and eggs make up a large amount of this protein, but it isn’t uncommon for manufacturers to add bean and soy products to help bump up the percentage. These kinds of products aren’t good for all cats, and they can quickly develop allergic reactions to soy, lentils, and peas.
- No extras
There’s a huge list of unnecessary ingredients that go into cat food. Grains, seeds, and plant-based oils are all a part of this list. These are put into the food to serve as an alternative source of fats and carbs and can potentially cause your Siamese various health problems if they aren’t digested properly.
- Better litter box habits
If you’ve ever had your Siamese on an all-dry food diet, you may have noticed that they’ve had some bad bathroom habits. Diarrhea and urinary tract issues are two main side effects of low-quality commercial cat food, typically due to the low moisture and unnecessary fillers.
On the other hand, Homemade cat food is made with ingredients that are easy for your Siamese to digest, leaving them with healthier (and frankly stink-free) poop.
So, your cat can digest their food well, resulting in a better stomach and absorption of all the good nutrients, and you don’t have to clean a smelly bathroom – it’s a win-win!
- Increase in energy
Did you know that over half of the felines in the US are overweight? And no, it isn’t because indoor cats are lazy and have less room to run around (believe me, my Siamese kitties have energy for DAYS); it’s actually due to dry food and a heavily processed diet.
Instead of making your Siamese nice and full, many of these commercial cat foods contain ingredients that promote weight gain and hunger. And while you may think an extra two pounds don’t count for much, being two pounds overweight could actually class your Siamese as obese!
Homemade food is packed full of high moisture, healthy fats, and essential nutrients, providing the right energy for your Siamese.
Essential nutrients in a cat’s diet
So, what makes up a good set of ingredients for your Siamese cat’s diet? Check out some of the essential nutrients all Siamese cats need in order to meet their nutrition goals.
- Protein
Before you begin making homemade cat food, you first have to figure out how much protein your Siamese needs. Age and health condition play an important role in this; however, an adult Siamese needs at least 25% of protein in their diet as a guideline.
The older your Siamese gets, the more protein they will require within their meal. The best protein sources come from raw meat (turkey, rabbit, chicken, beef), so try and include enough of that into the homemade food.
- Taurine
Taurine is one of the most critical aspects of your cat’s diet. It is a type of amino acid that acts as the building blocks of all proteins.
Taurine is critical for your Siameses digestion, vision, immune system, heart function, and fetal development throughout pregnancy.
Fish and meat are excellent sources of taurine, and these days, all commercially made cat food contains the recommended amount of taurine.
Since taurine is found in meats and fish, Siamese cats who are eating vegan or vegetarian diets are at a high risk of a taurine deficiency. This is why, when feeding your Siamese a homemade diet, you have to ensure they’re intaking the right amount of taurine.
Cats can’t store a large amount of taurine in the body; therefore, if you do plan to feed your Siamese a homemade diet for an extended amount of time, you should consult with a vet to double-check the amount of taurine you’re giving them is correct.
- Fiber
Fiber is an essential part of your cat’s diet to support healthy metabolism and digestion. One of the things you have to figure out when making homemade food is where the source of fiber will be coming from.
Some kitties enjoy eating fruits, while others prefer to snack on vegetables. To weed out the foods that will cause side effects such as diarrhea, constipation, and gas, you’ll want to speak to your vet.
You can also opt for some animal-based fibers such as cartilage, bones, ligaments, and tendons. If you find your Siamese is allergic or sensitive to both animal and plant-based fibers, you’ll be better off sticking to wet cat food.
- Carbs and fats
While too many carbs and fat can quickly lead to feline obesity, a controlled amount is important when absorbing minerals and vitamins and creating energy. Fat and carbs also absorb fatty acids, which play an important part in wound healing, reproduction, and healthy skin and coat.
An adult Siamese needs around 5 grams of fat each day. Carbohydrates, however, should be kept to a maximum of 15%, with some vets recommending as little as 5% of your cat’s diet.
Meat contains both carbs and fat, so this is something to remember when feeding your Siamese a homemade diet. Some cats may be prone to obesity, and if that’s the case, try and stick to lean meats such as turkey or chicken. If your Siamese looks like they need pluming up, try feeding them fatty pieces of meat.
- Vitamins
Estimating how many vitamins are in homemade cat food can be tricky. So, it would be a good idea to know which vitamins make up a good diet:
Your Siamese may lack some vitamins more than others, so it’s a good idea to talk to a vet to figure out which vitamins are essential to your specific kitty.
- Minerals
Again, monitoring the minerals within homemade cat food can also be tricky business therefore, you should speak to a vet to ensure your Siamese is getting all the minerals they need:
What homemade food can I feed my Siamese cat?
Since Siamese cats are carnivores, you’ll have to ensure that any homemade food you make for them is packed with good-quality fats and protein. Omega 6 and 3 fatty acids also benefit your Siamese.
Avoid adding too many Carbohydrates to your Siamese cat’s meal since they only require around 10-15%.
On average, Siamese cats weigh around 5 – 10 pounds and have very slender bodies. So, a well-balanced diet is essential to meet all their nutritional needs.
Siamese cats are also known for their sensitive stomachs, so any homemade food must contain easily digestible ingredients.
Ingredients to avoid
While it’s important to know what you need in order to make your Siameses diet effective, it is just as important, if not more, to know which ingredients need to be avoided. As I already mentioned, some manufacturers add ingredients and fillers to their food which is neither necessary nor healthy.
Best homemade cat food recipes: raw
Now onto the exciting part, the recipes! All the recipes listed here are ones I have tried with my own Siamese cats.
That being said, note that all cats are different, and what works for mine may not work for yours. Please consult a vet if you have any concerns about your cat’s health or the nutrients they should be consuming.
- Raw salmon and chicken liver
Now I know what you’re thinking; yuck! While this combination may sound off-putting to you, one sniff of this meaty meal will have your Siamese going crazy.
Chicken liver is a fantastic source of nutrients; vitamin A, B, minerals, protein, and iron. This is also a great meal for Siamese kittens who are going through a growth spurt!
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2. Grain-free raw chicken
If your Siamese is anything like mine, it can be a tricky situation when it comes to feeding them their supplements. Fret no more! This sneaky little recipe contains all the essential supplements, designed behind tasty chicken and giblets.
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Best homemade cat food recipes: cooked
The same rules for the raw food recipes apply; check with your vet beforehand!
- Veggie Omelette
Outdoor cats get every opportunity that they can to chew on some grass. Not only does this help with their digestion, but it is also a good source of vitamins and nutrients! Try out this classic veggie omelet. Try out this classic veggie omelet if you want to incorporate more veggies into your Siamese cat’s diet.
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2. Beef Oatmeal
Want something quick and easy yet delicious for breakfast? Try this beef oatmeal, packed full of yummy goodness for your Siamese.
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Additional tips and tricks
Before you completely switch up your kitties’ diet, do as much research as you can. While I have packed together a lot of good information here, there is still tons to learn about homemade cat food.
Talk to your vet and ask them about any nutrients your Siamese kitty may be lacking, as well as ingredients that they should avoid in cases of allergies.
If you do decide to switch them to a homemade diet, ensure you do it slowly. Sudden changes to your Siameses diet (especially one this big) can cause an upset stomach and digestion issues. Slowly transition them over the span of 10 – 15 days. If you’ve chosen a raw food diet, you may want to extend this transition period to be on the safe side.
Never miss an annual check-up at your vets. When feeding your Siamese a homemade diet, it is important to keep tabs on their health, so you know they’re getting all the right things.
Can cats live on homemade food?
As long as you ensure your Siamese is getting all the required ingredients and nutrients, such as protein, minerals, and taurine, there is no reason why they can’t live a healthy life on homemade food.
Keep in mind that homemade food is a lot of work for you. You have to track their daily carb and fat intake, monitor their vitamins and make sure you’re staying away from ingredients that make cause an allergic reaction.
That being said, I do believe that feeding your Siamese a homemade diet is beneficial. I’ve found my Siamese kitties to thrive when given homemade food (granted, they don’t get it all the time), but when they do, they sure thank me for it!
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