Lots of cat parents want to know how to make raw cat food because more of us realize that processed cat food is bad for cats.
Processed cat food is high in carbohydrates, mystery meats, and it’s cooked to death.
I’ve learned this the hard way over and over with my cats who all ate dry food. Diabetes, liver disease, cancer, CKD, and the list goes on.
This is exactly what pushed me to raw feed my cat Jericho.
Because a fresh, raw cat food diet is made with real ingredients that nourish our cats from the inside out!
Overweight cats lose weight naturally, senior cats get their energy back, behavior and litter box issues improve, and our bond gets stronger with our best friend.
This is exactly why I recommend raw cat food as a pet nutritionist.
Here’s how to make DIY raw cat food:
- Create a DIY raw cat food plan
- Upgrade your cat’s processed food
- Choose a premix or a complete cat food recipe
- Buy ingredients and meal prep supplies
- Make your first batch of cat food and take notes

Disclaimer: I earn a commission if you purchase through affiliate links below. No additional cost to you.
Create a DIY raw cat food plan
First, you need to create a DIY raw cat food plan to prevent stress and overwhelm.
Stress and overwhelm hold us back and don’t give us progress. But a PLAN – woooo girl! A plan is your best friend.
Here’s my DIY raw cat food plan:
- Switch from processed kibble or canned food to premade raw first. This makes the switch much easier and less stressful for you. This could take a few weeks or a few months depending on what your cat eats now.
- Make time to play with your cat. Playing with your cat daily (especially before mealtime) helps you have more fun with your cat during the transition.
- Keep track of what’s working and what your cat prefers. Knowing what your cat prefers helps you do more of what works.
- Research and learn about cat nutrition. You’ll have to know what your cat needs and doesn’t need to understand which recipes are good enough for your cat.
- Choose whether you will use a raw food premix or a recipe first. I highly recommend using a premix for beginners because this is much easier and helps you and your cat get used to DIY gradually.
It is a lot of upfront work. But that’s because you’re learning and doing something completely new to you!
Making DIY raw cat food does get easier and easier with time as you learn and practice. Just like anything that’s new to your daily routine.
I have suggestions in this guide to make it easier for you. But just keep in mind that this is a journey and not a race. Patience pays off very well, and it’s what your cat prefers and deserves.

Upgrade your cat’s processed food
Upgrade your cat’s current diet with healthy treats, toppers, and fresher food. This makes the switch to DIY raw MUCH easier.
Cats are cautious (not picky!) about new food they’ve never had before. This is a survival instinct that all cats have. On top of that, cat food is addicting! It’s high in carbs, and companies put flavor enhancers in it. Cats get addicted to these things, and it makes switching their food difficult.
If your cat is eating kibble and/or canned food, switch to premade raw first.
I don’t want you to go through the work of researching, choosing a premix or recipe, buying ingredients, making the food… And then your cat doesn’t eat it because your cat has zero fresh food in his diet.
Switching to premade raw is easier because it’s already complete and balanced. Focus on upgrading your cat’s current diet to a complete and balanced raw first so that when you do the work of making raw cat food, your cat actually eats it.
My switch to premade raw plan includes 4 months. You could try to do this faster, but I’ve found that cat parents get stressed and overwhelmed trying to do too much at once.
Use my how to switch to raw cat food guide and then come back to the next step here when your cat is eating 100% premade raw.

Choose a premix or a complete cat food recipe
Your first step is to choose whether you will use a premix or a complete cat food recipe. Then choose which one you will start with.
I suggest choosing one and testing that one first. Choose a protein that your cat currently eats and enjoys.
I also suggest starting with a raw food premix for beginners. I’ll cover raw food premixes first and then include complete and balanced recipes after that section.
Raw food premix options for DIY cat food
A raw food premix is a supplement powder that you add to the ingredients listed on the supplement (usually it’s just plain boneless meat), and it makes the meal complete.
I highly recommend that you start with a premix because this makes it very easy for beginners. This is exactly how I started DIY Raw. All you need is the premix, water, and the ingredients listed on the premix.
This easy approach helps you get used to making DIY raw gradually. This gradual upgrade eliminates stress and overwhelm for you. I’ve included raw food premixes that I’ve used below.
Alnutrin raw completer premix
You can buy all of the ingredients from Hare Today. Create an account and you’ll earn discount points on your purchases.
Hare Today raw cat food recipe:
- Meat, bones, and organs chub
- Alnutrin for meat and bone supplements
- Fish oil supplements
There is a small Alnutrin bag that mixes with 5 pounds of food and a large bag that mixes with 35 pounds of food.
Do not use the “+ calcium” option since you are using a meat mix that includes bone.
Instructions for mixing are on the supplement bag and the product page. You will add fish oil supplements fresh at mealtime according to the instructions on the bottle.
This is a very easy option, but you will pay more shipping fees. This option works best for people who live near PA and OH.
Buy all of your ingredients on Hare Today.
TC Feline raw completer premix
You can buy TC Feline on Etsy and Amazon.
NOTE: TC Feline sells 3 different supplement mixes.
- Original without liver – does not include liver, recipe requires fresh liver
- Plus chicken liver – already includes liver, do not add liver
- Plus beef liver – already includes liver, do not add liver
TC Feline raw cat food recipe:
- 1/4 cup premix mixed with 1/2-1 cup water
- 2 raw egg yolks (optional)
- 2 lbs raw boneless meat
- 3.5 oz raw liver (only add fresh liver if you’re using the original premix without liver)
You do not need to add a fish oil source because krill is included in the TC Feline mixes. TC Feline mixes also include a bone source.
Buy TC Feline on Etsy and Amazon.
Know Better for Cats raw completer premix
You can use Know Better for Cats premix for raw or cooked homemade cat food.
Know Better for Cats raw cat food recipe:
- 2 lbs. boneless meat
- 1 1/2 cups water
- 1/2 cup Know Better for Cats premix
You do not need to add anything else!
You can buy everything that you need on Raw Feeding Miami. Get 10% off your first purchase when you use that link. Create an account and earn discount points.
Or buy Know Better for Cats premix on Amazon and buy ingredients locally.

Complete raw cat food recipes
It’s important to choose a recipe that is complete and balanced. That means that it provides all of the nutrients your cat needs. Be aware that most free recipes online (even “vet-approved” recipes) are not complete!
Always make sure a nutritional analysis is included, and it clearly states whether or not the recipe is complete and balanced.
I’m including complete and balanced recipes created by Dr. Karen Becker and me below.
DIY raw cat food recipes created by Dr. Karen Becker:
Dr. Becker’s recipes above require you to buy vitamins and minerals separately.
Premixes and Dr. Becker’s recipes are good for beginners. But you may feel that your cat has a lack of variety and too many supplements. Plus Dr. Becker’s recipes include veggies which are not part of the cat’s natural diet.
That’s exactly why I’ve created my own complete and balanced raw cat food recipes!
My simple raw chicken cat food recipe and mouse cat food recipe are complete and balanced for healthy adult cats.
If you want something simpler, you can start with my healthy skin and coat topper recipe. This is not a complete and balanced cat food recipe. But it’s a simple topper and treat that you can make to start out.

Buy ingredients and meal prep supplies
Now that you’ve chosen your premix or recipe, it’s time to buy ingredients and meal prep supplies!
Each premix and recipe comes with a list of ingredients that you need. Follow this ingredients list exactly so that you are making the recipe as intended.
You can buy ingredients online or locally. My favorite place to buy DIY raw ingredients online is Hare Today because they have a lot of protein variety, and you can get different cuts either ground or whole.
My favorite place to buy ingredients locally is at the farmers market. Check out my where to buy cat food ingredients guide if you need more options.
Meal prep supplies that you need depends on the premix or recipe that you’re using. Don’t feel that you have to go crazy and buy an expensive meat grinder. I’ve been feeding raw for 8 years and do not own a meat grinder.

If you’re using a premix, all you’ll need is a digital scale to weigh ingredients, a big bowl to mix everything, and some measuring cups for the premix.
For a boneless recipe, you’ll need the above-mentioned products, and you can use a food processor to blend ingredients together. I like this method because you can grind it down to pate texture or pulse to have larger chunks for your cat to chew on.
If you want to use a recipe that includes raw meaty bones, the best option is to feed the bones whole as long as they are appropriate for cats.
Or you will have to buy a meat grinder. Just keep in mind that most meat grinders are not designed for bones. Some people report in the reviews that they can use the grinder for chicken bones, but that’s it.
I also like to use a large silicone food mat when I meal prep. Everything goes on the food mat which makes clean up very easy!
Check out my meal prep supplies list on Amazon to buy what you need: US, CA, UK.

Make your first batch of cat food and take notes
You’ll learn so much each time you make cat food. Taking notes will make batching future recipes easier and faster!
Follow the instructions on the premix or recipe that you’re using. Raw feeding safety comes down to proper hygiene and education.
Thaw raw food in the refrigerator. Do not thaw food on the counter at room temperature. Wash your hands, surfaces, utensils, containers, etc. with hot water and soap.
It’s basically the same as when you prepare food for yourself except you aren’t cooking it.
I like to weigh Jericho before I prep his food so I know if he’s still at an ideal weight. This helps me understand that the amount I’m feeding is the right amount.
Meal prep notes that I take:
- Jericho’s current weight
- Ounces he’s eating daily
- How many days I made
- How long meal prep took
- Current ingredients in Jericho’s diet
- Current additions to his diet (supplements, treats, etc.)
- Any notes on what worked and what didn’t work
This will help you fine-tune a meal prep routine that works for you and your schedule. Being organized like this makes meal prep more predictable and this helps you stick with it in the long-run.

Making homemade raw cat food FAQ
What are the best ingredients for cat food?
The best ingredients include meat, bones, and organs because cats are carnivores. Look for recipes that include hard-working muscles like thigh and heart (a muscular organ), bones or a calcium replacement, secreting organs, and other whole food ingredients.
80 10 10 diets are a great start, but they are not complete and balanced. So you will have to use whole foods and some supplements on top of meat, bones, and organs.
It’s important to note that plain meat (like a turkey thigh) is not complete and balanced for cats. The goal with raw cat food is to mimic the cat’s natural diet: whole prey. Whole prey provides muscle meat, bones, and secreting organs.
Check out my guide on best cat food ingredients to learn more.
Is homemade cat food cheaper?
It depends on what you’re feeding now. Healthy food does cost more than crappy kibble. But think about the long-term savings you could have on expensive vet bills if your cat is eating healthy food.
If you’re comparing healthy commercial cat food and homemade cat food, yes, homemade cat food is cheaper. You’ll always pay more for someone else to make the food for you.
Homemade cat food is cheaper because you control the ingredients and how it’s made. Check out my cost of homemade cat food guide to see my comparison to every type of cat food.

Is it worth it to make your own cat food?
Yes, it’s worth it to make your own cat food because you have complete control over the ingredients, the quality, and how it’s made. Therefore you have more control over the cost and quality.
It’s also worth it in the long-run because fresh food is healthier for cats.
Processed food may be cheaper up front. However, feeding dry food only to cats can cause overeating and weight gain which leads to obesity.
Obesity alone puts your cat at a much higher risk for diabetes, liver disease, cancer, urinary issues, and shortened lives. You’ll end up spending more money, time, and stress going to the vet more frequently and on potential medication.
I’ve worked with many diabetic cats who required insulin shots twice daily. Other cats with kidney issues require fluid injections daily. This is very stressful for both you and your cat.
So it’s worth the investment to make healthy cat food because your cat stands a chance at living a healthier, longer life.

Can I feed my cat homemade food every day?
Yes, you can feed your cat homemade food every day as long as your cat’s homemade food is complete and balanced.
Cats need specific nutrients from specific foods. So we need to make sure homemade recipes are complete for our cat’s life stage.
The best way to get a complete recipe is from a nutritionist or to formulate it yourself inside a food formulator.