BARF recipes for cats: healthy and species-appropriate feeding

Is your cat a foodie and you want to offer him a natural diet? Putting together BARF meals can be complicated and time-consuming.

With the right recipes and clear instructions, BARFing for cats is easy and ensures a balanced diet.

In this article, you will learn how to prepare tasty BARF recipes for your cat, which ingredients are suitable and what you should consider when switching.

BARF for cats: A natural diet

BARF stands for "Biologically Appropriate Raw Food" and is a diet that imitates the natural eating behavior of cats . Instead of processed dry or wet food, BARF gives cats raw meat and other fresh ingredients. This method is intended to ensure that cats receive all the important nutrients they need for a healthy life.

The benefits of BARFing are manifold and can have a positive effect on your cat's health. For example:

• Strengthening the immune system through a stable gastrointestinal environment.
• Better skin and coat condition.
• Reduction of allergies and obesity.

When BARFing, it is important that you put together the meals carefully to avoid malnutrition. A balanced BARF meal usually includes:

• High-quality muscle meat.
• Offal for vitamins and minerals.
• Bones or bone meal for calcium.
• Possibly supplements such as oils or vegetables for additional nutrients.

What does BARFing mean and what does it involve?

BARFing stands for "Biologically Appropriate Raw Food" and is a form of nutrition that is based on the natural food intake of cats. Raw meat and fresh ingredients are at the heart of this method. The aim is to offer cats a balanced diet that meets all of their nutritional needs.

A BARF meal consists of various components to ensure an all-round healthy diet . These usually include:

• Muscle meat as the main protein source.
• Offal such as liver or kidneys for essential vitamins and minerals.
• Bones or bone meal, which are important for calcium intake.
• Supplements such as oils or vegetables to broaden the nutrient spectrum.

When putting together BARF meals, it is important to ensure that the ingredients are balanced . A one-sided diet can quickly lead to nutritional deficiencies. Therefore, you should get thorough information before switching to BARF and make sure that all the necessary nutrients are included in the meals.

Suitable meats and ingredients for BARF

There are a variety of options when it comes to choosing the type of meat for BARFing your cat. Basically, almost any type of meat that is also intended for human consumption is suitable. Particularly popular and suitable are:

• beef.
• Poultry.
• Lamb.
• Rabbit.
• Fish (in moderation, because of its high thiaminase content).

In addition to muscle meat, offal is an indispensable part of BARFing. They are rich in important nutrients and should therefore be fed regularly but in moderation. Suitable offal includes:

• Liver (maximum 5% of the total feed)
• kidneys
• Heart (can be considered muscle meat)

To round off the BARF menu, other ingredients can also be added that provide additional nutrients. These include, for example:

• Eggshell powder or bone meal as a source of calcium.
• Linseed or fish oil for essential fatty acids.
• Taurine, a vital nutrient for cats.
• Vegetables such as carrots or zucchini, finely pureed to aid digestion and provide fiber.

Learning BARF: A Guide for Beginners

You want to start BARFing and are wondering how best to get started? Don't worry, the process is less complicated than it first seems. First, you should familiarize yourself with the basics of BARFing : What exactly does BARF mean and what nutrients does your cat need? It is important that you understand why a balanced composition of meals is so crucial to prevent nutritional deficiencies.

The key to success is careful planning and preparation. You need to know which types of meat and offal are suitable, how much and how often your cat should eat, and which nutritional supplements are necessary. Good preparation also means having all the ingredients available in the right quantity and quality. Be prepared for the fact that you may have to experiment to find out what your cat likes and tolerates best.

Switching to BARF: How to make it work smoothly

Transitioning your cat to a BARF diet should be done gradually to give their digestive system time to adjust. Start with small amounts of the new food and mix it into their usual food. Gradually increase the proportion of the BARF menu over several days or weeks until your cat is completely switched over. This gentle transition will help avoid digestive problems and ensure that your cat accepts the new food.

It can be helpful to add desirable ingredients to make the new food more attractive. Here are some ideas of what you can use:

• A small spoonful of quark or yoghurt.
• A few drops of salmon or linseed oil.
• Some pureed vegetables for additional vitamins and fiber. These ingredients can make the BARF food more palatable and increase acceptance by your cat.

Observe your cat closely during the transition period and look for signs of intolerance or allergies. Every cat is different and you may need to adjust certain components of the BARF diet. If you notice that your cat is not accepting the food well or is experiencing digestive problems, take a step back and adjust the amount or ingredients. If in doubt, it is advisable to consult a veterinarian or an experienced BARF consultant.

Simple BARF recipes to make yourself

Do you want to feed your cat a species-appropriate and healthy diet? DIY BARF recipes are a great way to offer your four-legged friend a natural diet . The great thing about making your own is that you know exactly which ingredients are going into the bowl and you can tailor the meals to your cat's individual needs.

You don't need much to start with: high-quality muscle meat, offal and bones or bone meal are the basis. Add to that important supplements such as taurine and vitamins. With a little practice, you can put these basic ingredients together to create a meal that your cat will not only love, but that will also provide it with all the nutrients it needs.

Here are some simple steps to start BARFing:

• Choose fresh and high-quality meat.
• Cut the meat into cat-friendly pieces.
• Supplement the meal with offal and bone meal for the necessary minerals.
• Add the necessary supplements .

BARF recipes for kittens: Promote healthy growth

Kittens require a special diet to support their growth and development. BARF recipes for kittens are designed to be rich in energy and high-quality proteins. The recipes also contain more fluids, as young cats need up to 50 percent more of them than adult animals.

When preparing BARF meals for your kitten, make sure you use easily digestible muscle meat and gullet meat. These are rich in high-quality protein. It is also important that the meals are balanced and contain all the nutrients a growing kitten needs.

The BARF basic recipe for cats

A basic BARF recipe is the perfect starting point for developing your own BARF routine. Start with 70 percent muscle meat, 10 percent offal and a bone content of around 5 to 10 percent. This mixture forms the basis for a balanced BARF meal.

To these ingredients you then add supplements that provide essential nutrients. These include taurine, vitamins and minerals such as calcium. You can use ready-made mixes or add the supplements individually as needed. It is important that you stick to the recommended amounts to avoid over- or under-supply.

Here is a simple basic recipe to get you started:

• 200g raw muscle meat (e.g. chicken or beef).
• 30g offal (e.g. liver).
• 20g pureed vegetables (optional).
• Supplement with bone meal and necessary supplements.

Nutrient additives in BARF: What is essential?

When feeding cats a BARF diet, it is crucial to pay attention to nutritional supplements to prevent deficiencies. While raw meat and offal provide many essential nutrients, there are certain vitamins and minerals that must be supplemented. Taurine , for example, is an amino acid that cats cannot produce themselves, but is essential for their health.

In addition to taurine, calcium and vitamins are also important nutritional supplements in BARF. Calcium is found in bones, but can also be added in the form of bone meal or calcium supplements. Vitamins, especially vitamins A and D , should also be included in the BARF plan, as they are not present in sufficient quantities in meat.

It is possible to use ready-made supplement mixes or to put together the supplements individually. For a balanced diet, it is important to supplement the right amounts. An overdose, especially of vitamin A, can be harmful, so it is advisable to stick to the recommended guidelines or consult an expert .

Preparation and storage: How to handle BARF correctly

BARF meals should be prepared with care. Meat and offal must be thoroughly cleaned and cut into cat-friendly portions . Supplements can be mixed in directly, although oils such as salmon oil should be added fresh. For efficient preparation, you can prepare several meals and freeze them in portions .

When storing BARF, it is important to freeze the meals at at least -18 degrees to preserve the quality. Before feeding, the food should be slowly thawed in the refrigerator to minimize the formation of bacteria. The food should be warmed to room temperature before serving, as cats avoid food that is too cold and this is not good for their stomachs either.

Frequently asked questions about BARF for cats answered

When feeding cats raw food, many questions often arise that are not always easy to answer intuitively. It's not just about choosing the right meat, but also about the composition of the meals and supplementing them with vitamins and minerals. To ensure that your cat gets all the nutrients it needs, it's important to be well informed and, if necessary, seek expert advice.

Many cat owners are unsure whether and which vegetables they can give their cats. Vegetables are a valuable addition to the BARF menu and, in the right quantities and types, can promote your cat's health and well-being . Not only does it serve as a source of fiber and vitamins, it can also help improve digestion .

Which vegetables can be included in BARF?

Vegetables are an important part of the BARF menu for cats because they provide vitamins and fiber. However, not all vegetables are suitable for cats. Vegetables that are safely tolerated include:

• Carrots (raw or cooked).
• Parsnips (raw or cooked).
• Boiled potatoes.
• Broccoli (cooked, in small quantities).
• Zucchini (raw, pureed or steamed).

However, there are also vegetables that you should not feed your cat. These include:

• All types of cabbage.
• Legumes such as peas and beans.
• Nightshade plants such as raw peppers, tomatoes and eggplants.
• Alliums such as onions and garlic.

Flappie: For a clean home and healthy cats

Flappie offers an innovative solution for cat owners who value a clean home. Flappie's smart cat flap ensures that your cat does not bring prey such as mice or birds into the house. This not only means less cleaning for you, but also keeps your cat healthy by not consuming prey caught outside at home.

The advantages of the Flappie cat flap are manifold:

• Selective access control prevents cats from entering the house with prey.
• A camera with AI technology reliably detects prey.
• The Flappie app informs you via push notification about what is happening at the flap and offers you videos and statistics about your cat's hunting behavior.

The Flappie cat flap is easy to use and can be easily integrated into your everyday life . With the Flappie app, you can conveniently control the cat flap settings from your smartphone and thus always remain in control of your cat's comings and goings. Flappie ensures a safe and clean home while supporting your cat's natural instincts.

Frequently Asked Questions

Which vegetables can be included in BARF for cats?

Vegetables are an important part of the BARF menu for cats because they provide vitamins and fiber. Vegetables that are safe for cats to eat include carrots (raw or cooked), parsnips (raw or cooked), boiled potatoes, broccoli (cooked, in small amounts) and zucchini (raw, pureed or steamed). However, there are also vegetables that you should not feed your cat, such as all types of cabbage, legumes, nightshades such as raw peppers, tomatoes and eggplants, and alliums such as onions and garlic.

How do I switch my cat to BARF?

The transition to a BARF diet should be gradual. Start with small amounts of the new food and mix it into the usual food. Gradually increase the proportion of the BARF menu over several days or weeks until your cat has completely switched. This gentle transition helps to avoid digestive problems and ensures that your cat accepts the new food. It can also be helpful to add desirable ingredients to make the new food more attractive, such as a small spoonful of quark or yoghurt, a few drops of salmon or linseed oil, or some pureed vegetables.

Which meat is suitable for BARF for cats?

Almost any type of meat that is also intended for human consumption is suitable for BARFing your cat. Beef, poultry, lamb, rabbit and fish (in moderation, due to the high thiaminase content) are particularly popular and suitable. In addition to muscle meat, offal such as liver (maximum 5% of the total amount of food), kidneys and heart (can be considered muscle meat) are an indispensable part of BARFing and should be fed regularly, but in moderation.