With the cat food shortage, is anyone making their own?

[hamsterjill]

Just curious if anyone on here makes homemade cat food and has any insights, recipes, shortcuts, etc.

The shortage is starting to really upset things for our rescue. We are finding food thankfully, but many of our older ones have specific favorites and we can’t always get those.

Thanks in advance.

[Beatlelvr]

1. We don't have a shortage (yet) in So Cal

May I send some food to the rescue? I would be happy to do that.

[hamsterjill]

9. We would gladly accept a donation.

We are a valid 501(c)(3) located in Texas that does mostly Trap-Neuter-Return. We don’t have a website. Will you please send me a DM? I appreciate your offer.

[Beatlelvr]

25. Okay, a little embarassed

How do I do a DM msg?

[hamsterjill]

31. No worries.

I sent you a message. Check your inbox.

[multigraincracker]

2. When I run out, I use a cheap can

of tuna. Both are picky eaters, but never turn down tuna.

[piddyprints]

3. At the risk of restarting the cat food wars,

We’ve been feeding ours raw food since 2005. There are places online that ship it frozen. In a pinch, we buy chickens from the grocery store and grind them in a high-powered meat grinder. We do add taurine and a few other supplements.

Depending on how many cats your rescue has, it can be expensive and/or a lot of labor.

I hope you find something that works for you.

[hamsterjill]

10. Would you mind telling me which grinder you have?

I’m thinking of getting one but I understand that only certain ones are powerful enough to grind up bones, etc.

Thank you.

[piddyprints]

16. I recently bought

2000 Watt STX with foot pedal from Amazon. I replaced something else I’ve had for years that still works but is getting tired. This one is great.

[hamsterjill]

19. Thank you.

Appreciate the info

[happybird]

4. Here is a link from a vet that does raw feeding

https://catinfo.org/making-cat-food/
Lots of info, recipe about half way down

Here’s general cat nutrition info which, imho, all cat owners should read.
https://catinfo.org/

[hamsterjill]

11. Thanks.

I will check this out.

[piddyprints]

17. She got me started

When my then-7-year/-old Aby was dying from IBD. He lived to be 18.

[hamsterjill]

23. That website is awesome! Thank you.

n/t

[Jilly_in_VA]

5. Not having problems here in NW VA

but I order from Chewy. Our shelter is also not experiencing problems.

[hamsterjill]

12. We are in Texas and use Chewy a lot.

Prices have skyrocketed. I love Chewy but even they have issues with certain varieties right now.

[Karadeniz]

6. When we couldn't get Science Diet from our vet, they recommended we try Chewie's. The

suggestion to look on the internet is good. Basically, you want cats to get about 50% meat protein. If it's a temporary diet, the other 50% could be oatmeal or rice. I always added smashed peas and canned pumpkin.

Also, get a small bag of nutritional yeast (no additives, like garlic) and see which cats love it. Then you can use it to flavor whatever food you can obtain and they'll probably eat it since it has the beloved yeast on it. My cats would kill for nutritional yeast!

[FarPoint]

8. Good information....

I didn't know about 50% protein. ...

[Karadeniz]

30. Actually, a Swedish study showed that a whole mouse was about 60% protein, so you have

flexibility! I know my cats don't get 60% protein from the odd lizard or bird that gets into the screened catio. They usually eat the head and leave the rest! Foraging for themselves, at that rate they'd never get enough protein!!!

[hamsterjill]

13. I've never heard of using nutritional yeast.

Thanks for the insight. Any particular brand you use and where is the best place to get it?

[Karadeniz]

28. Oh, Lord! I can't remember the name. I used so much, I started ordering the 10 lb. bag which

doesnt have a label. I have to order it over the Internet... Amazon...because our little health store only carries it with garlic and my cats don't like their nutritional yeast tarted up! I could ask our store to order it, but it's easier to do it myself.

[hamsterjill]

32. I will find some. Thanks.

Amazon has Braggs. They have good apple cider vinegar, so I may try their yeast first.

[FarPoint]

7. I am feeding them .....

Costco Kirkland canned chicken....it is actually cheaper too...they love it, no spit up....I still have my dry food of Science Hill for them...

[hamsterjill]

14. I do the rotisserie chickens about once a week.

I also have used the canned chicken. I keep it in supply for the times when one will not eat.

Thank goodness for Costco!!! We’ve been able to get the Friskies multi-packs still most of the time.

[niyad]

15. Fortunatly, my store seems to get a shipment, albeit limited, when I need it. The

Petco does not seem to havve a problem, but my guy does not like most of it. Fortunately, he adores poached chicken and turkey, and tuna in th puches, so that helps.

[SheltieLover]

18. I'm on autoship with Chewy.

[hamsterjill]

20. We are on several things.

Chewy is awesome! But even they have been out of the fancy feast tender beef for months.

[SheltieLover]

21. My kitty only eats FF Classic pate beef & chicken

No shortage of it so far from Chewy. Maybe give it a try?

[hamsterjill]

22. We have every variety.

Thanks!! I am well versed in Fancy Feast!!! LOL. We feed over 50 cats.

The prices have all gone up tremendously infortunately.

[SheltieLover]

26. 50?

Do you have a rescue? I only have 1 senior who is perpetually overweight, & a couple of ferals.

[hamsterjill]

33. Yes. We are a rescue.

We go through a lot!!!

[SheltieLover]

36. Wonderful! Ty for what you do!

[hamsterjill]

37. Appreciate that.

Some days I want to chuck it all. But I love doing it. These kiddos have saved my life during the pandemic, etc.

[Paper Roses]

24. My kitty will eat only Fancy Feast Medley's shredded Chicken.

Chewy is now and has been out of stock for ages. My last order from them is getting low and I'm concerned. In my area of Mass, no stores have this in stock. The situation is bad and I notice that what little cat food that is available is mostly brands that I never saw before.

In my case, this dear old (15) kitty is a very finicky eater. I've tried to stretch her food with a little cooked chicken breast mixed in. No go. None of the pet food stores have this either. I made the rounds to 4 grocery stores and 2 pet food stores on Saturday. No luck, just a lot of gas used.

[SheltieLover]

27. Try Target?

Sometimes well stocked.

[hamsterjill]

34. Exactly.

We have some older ones in the rescue. One likes Fancy Feast Tender Beef pate and Chewy has been out of it for months. It’s strange how the shortage seems to be affecting certain parts of the country and not others - OR, perhaps the DU’ers on here who haven’t had a problem just haven’t had a problem YET.

Since I’m in Texas, it would seem logical that a “beef” flavor would be available. But it isn’t.

[Random Boomer]

35. Cat food shelves getting bare in West Virginia

We've been making the rounds of Martin's grocery, Weis and Pet Stop with fewer and fewer cans of Fancy Feast at any of them.

I'd love to get stock from Chewy, but our attempts to order from them were a delivery nightmare. Over the course of a few months we ordered around 10 different shipments and only ONE of them landed on our porch. All the orders were either lost or delivered to a neighbor on another street entirely (and that poor woman lugged those boxes over in the middle of winter). FedEx ignored our complaints and Chewy just shrugged and basically said it was our problem, not theirs. Very disappointing.

We may need to supplement with some homemade food if the supply doesn't improve soon. Most of our cats (we have 6) will eat dry or at least nibble on a non-favorite brand, but one of our cats is insatiable and HE WANTS HIS FANCY FEAST!!!

[Emile]

38. My wife had 3 pounds of turkey hamburger in the freezer. She fried it up and

my girl loves it.