Cat Feeding Guide: Nutrition, Portions & Recipes
Keep your cat healthy and happy with expert nutrition advice and homemade treat recipes — updated with a fresh tip every day.
Feeding a cat well comes down to four things: enough animal protein, the right number of calories, plenty of moisture, and strict limits on treats. An average 4–5 kg indoor adult cat needs about 200–250 calories a day across two measured meals.
Cats are obligate carnivores, so meat should be the first ingredient in their food. Treats must stay under 10% of daily calories, and several common human foods are toxic and must be avoided entirely.
💡 Today's Feeding Tip
⚠️ Foods That Are Toxic to Cats — Never Feed These
- Onions & garlic — destroy red blood cells
- Chocolate & caffeine — cardiac and nervous system toxin
- Grapes & raisins — acute kidney failure
- Xylitol / artificial sweeteners — liver failure
- Raw dough & alcohol — dangerous fermentation in stomach
- Lilies — even touching the pollen can cause kidney failure
- Raw fish in large amounts — thiamine deficiency
- Macadamia nuts — neurological effects
🍴 Homemade Cat Recipes
All recipes are vet-safe and made from whole ingredients. Always introduce new foods gradually.
Tuna & Egg Protein Treat
A quick baked treat packed with protein and omega-3s. These keep for five days in the fridge and most cats go wild for them.
View Full Recipe →Chicken & Pumpkin Bowl
A gentle, digestive-friendly meal combining lean chicken with pumpkin's natural gut-soothing properties. Great for cats with sensitive stomachs.
View Full Recipe →Salmon & Sweet Potato Mash
A silky, nutrient-rich mash built around fresh salmon — one of the best natural sources of omega-3 for cats. Beautiful coat condition in a bowl.
View Full Recipe →Turkey & Carrot Mince
A lean, low-fat mince that's perfect for weight-conscious cats or those with digestive sensitivities. Turkey is one of the most hypoallergenic proteins for cats.
View Full Recipe →Beef & Liver Patties
Rich, iron-dense patties combining beef and liver. Liver is a nutritional powerhouse for cats — but must be limited to avoid vitamin A toxicity.
View Full Recipe →Sardine Snack Bites
The fastest treat on this page. Three ingredients, no oven required if you use a microwave. Sardines are one of the most nutrient-complete fish available.
View Full Recipe →Prawn & Pea Purée
A luxurious protein-rich purée that cats find irresistible. Prawns are a lean, high-protein treat — and peas add folate and gentle fibre.
View Full Recipe →Lamb & Courgette Mince
A novel protein recipe — ideal for cats with suspected chicken or fish allergies. Lamb is rarely found in commercial cat food, making it an excellent allergen-elimination option.
View Full Recipe →Chicken Liver Pâté
A smooth, spreadable pâté made entirely from whole ingredients. Looks fancy, cats obsess over it. Works beautifully as a meal topper to encourage picky eaters.
View Full Recipe →Mackerel & Oat Cookies
Crunchy little baked cookies built around omega-rich mackerel and gentle oats. They bake up firm, store well, and the smell alone will bring your cat running.
View Full Recipe →Chicken Bone Broth Hydration Cubes
A gentle, unsalted chicken broth frozen into cubes — the perfect way to boost water intake in cats who don't drink enough, or to tempt a fussy or recovering appetite.
View Full Recipe →Baked Chicken & Catnip Training Bites
Tiny, firm, single-ingredient-plus-catnip morsels that hold together in your hand — the ideal high-value reward for clicker training, nail trims, or teaching a cat to come when called.
View Full Recipe →Pumpkin & Oat Hairball-Support Cookies
Soft, fibre-rich little cookies built around plain pumpkin — a gentle, natural way to help hair move through the gut and support the digestion of a cat prone to hairballs.
View Full Recipe →Steamed Cod Flake Treats
Nothing but gently steamed white fish, flaked into soft, aromatic morsels — an ultra-simple, low-fat treat or food-topper that tempts fussy eaters and cats recovering their appetite.
View Full Recipe →Chicken & Blueberry Bites
Soft, protein-rich baked morsels of chicken studded with a few antioxidant-packed blueberries — a wholesome, grain-free treat most cats find irresistible.
View Full Recipe →Chicken & Catnip Training Treats
Firm, pea-sized bites made to hold their shape for training and reward-based play — with a pinch of dried catnip to make them extra motivating.
View Full Recipe →Whitefish & Pumpkin Dinner
A light, gentle cooked meal built around flaky white fish and gut-soothing pumpkin — easy on sensitive stomachs and naturally low in fat.
View Full Recipe →Salmon & Yogurt Frozen Bites
A cooling summer treat: creamy plain yogurt blended with cooked salmon and frozen into tiny cubes for hot days and hydration-boosting fun.
View Full Recipe →Chicken & Egg Omelette Bites
Soft, protein-rich baked egg bites with shredded chicken — a gentle, easily digestible treat that suits fussy eaters and cats recovering their appetite.
View Full Recipe →Tuna & Catnip Crunchies
Crisp little baked biscuits scented with tuna and catnip — a crunchy training reward that helps scrape a little plaque from your cat's teeth as they nibble.
View Full Recipe →Turkey & Pumpkin Meatballs
Lean baked turkey meatballs bound with pumpkin — a hearty, fibre-supported treat that's especially handy for cats prone to hairballs or a sluggish gut.
View Full Recipe →Sardine & Sweet Potato Mash
A soft, aromatic mash of sardine and sweet potato — a moist, omega-rich topper that tempts poorly cats to eat and adds a little variety to a bland day.
View Full Recipe →Gentle Chicken & Rice Congee
A soft, soupy chicken-and-rice porridge — the feline comfort food for a cat recovering from an upset stomach or a poor appetite.
View Full Recipe →Tuna & Pumpkin Fibre Cakes
Little baked cakes of tuna and pumpkin — a tasty, fibre-rich treat that supports smooth digestion and healthy hairball management.
View Full Recipe →Beef & Spinach Power Mince
A hearty, iron-rich mince of lean beef with a little wilted spinach — a warming, protein-packed topper for an active or fussy cat.
View Full Recipe →Rabbit & Pumpkin Gentle Mince
A soft mince of lean rabbit with a spoonful of pumpkin — a novel protein that often suits cats whose stomachs object to chicken and fish.
View Full Recipe →Chicken Heart Taurine Nibbles
Poached chicken hearts sliced into bite-sized pieces — one of the richest natural sources of taurine, and a treat most cats find irresistible.
View Full Recipe →Cod & Courgette Light Flakes
Steamed white fish flaked with a little soft courgette — light, low in fat and easy on the stomach, useful for cats recovering their appetite.
View Full Recipe →Salmon Oil Lick-Mat Topper
A smooth, spreadable blend of plain wet food and a few drops of salmon oil, designed for a lick mat — slow, soothing and good for the coat.
View Full Recipe →Turkey & Egg Yolk Baked Bites
Firm little baked morsels of lean turkey bound with cooked egg yolk — sturdy enough to carry in a pocket for training, and rich enough that most cats come running.
View Full Recipe →Chicken & Carrot Dehydrated Jerky Strips
Wafer-thin ribbons of chicken breast dried slowly with a whisper of carrot until they snap — a shelf-stable, single-ingredient-style chew with nothing added at all.
View Full Recipe →Plain Sardine & Rice Balls
Tinned sardines mashed through soft white rice and rolled into small, soft spheres — a five-minute treat with a smell no cat in the house will fail to notice.
View Full Recipe →Chicken Broth Gravy Pour-Over
A slow-simmered, completely unseasoned chicken broth thickened just enough to cling — the single most reliable trick for coaxing a fussy cat back to a full bowl.
View Full Recipe →Plain Scrambled Egg Weaning Mash
Softly scrambled egg loosened with kitten formula into a warm, spoonable mash — a gentle first taste of solid food for a kitten learning to eat from a dish.
View Full Recipe →Duck & Pumpkin Mince
Rich minced duck cooked down gently and softened with pumpkin purée — a novel protein worth trying when chicken and fish have stopped impressing.
View Full Recipe →Chicken & Courgette Summer Bites
Light, high-moisture treats built around poached chicken and grated courgette — useful in hot weather, when many cats go off richer food entirely.
View Full Recipe →Turkey & Liver Senior Mash
A very soft, strongly aromatic mash aimed at older cats with dental disease or a fading appetite, where smell does most of the work of persuasion.
View Full Recipe →Salmon & Egg Coat-Conditioning Topper
A spoonable topper built on cooked salmon and egg yolk, for cats with a dull coat or dry, flaky skin.
View Full Recipe →Chicken Broth Summer Ice Pops
Frozen cubes of unsalted broth with a fleck of chicken suspended inside — part hydration, part hot-weather enrichment.
View Full Recipe →Beef Heart Taurine Bites
Small baked bites built around beef heart, one of the richest natural sources of the amino acid cats cannot manufacture for themselves.
View Full Recipe →Salmon & Parsley Dental Bites
Crunchy baked bites built around salmon and fresh parsley. The firm texture gives teeth a little workout and the parsley helps freshen breath.
View Full Recipe →Turkey & Cranberry Wellness Bites
Lean turkey bound with egg and a whisper of unsweetened cranberry — a soft, savoury treat many cats find hard to resist.
View Full Recipe →Poached Whitefish & Carrot Flakes
A gentle poached-fish topper with soft grated carrot — light, low-fat and ideal for fussy eaters or cats recovering their appetite.
View Full Recipe →Chicken & Apple Training Nibbles
Tiny, firm chicken nibbles with a hint of apple — bite-sized and low-calorie, made for clicker training and reward-based play.
View Full Recipe →Chicken & Spinach Iron Bites
Lean chicken with a small amount of iron-rich spinach, baked into soft bite-sized morsels. A savoury treat with a nutrient boost.
View Full Recipe →Prawn & Courgette Light Bites
A light, low-calorie treat pairing sweet prawn with gentle courgette. Ideal for cats watching their waistline.
View Full Recipe →Turkey & Blueberry Antioxidant Bites
Lean turkey studded with a few antioxidant-rich blueberries. A colourful, wholesome reward most cats find irresistible.
View Full Recipe →Mackerel & Pumpkin Omega Mash
Omega-rich mackerel blended with gut-soothing pumpkin into a soft mash. Great for coat health and gentle digestion.
View Full Recipe →Duck & Sweet Potato Mince
A rich, novel-protein mince pairing duck with a little sweet potato. A tasty change for cats who enjoy variety.
View Full Recipe →Whitefish & Egg Poached Bites
Delicate poached whitefish folded through soft egg into gentle, low-fat morsels. Easy to digest and mild on the stomach.
View Full Recipe →Venison & Pumpkin Novel-Protein Mince
A gentle single-protein meal built around venison — a meat most cats have never eaten before, which makes it invaluable for working out whether a food allergy is behind chronic itching or upset digestion.
View Full Recipe →Quail Egg Kitten Custard
A soft, spoonable custard designed for kittens making the awkward jump from milk to solid food, and equally useful for elderly cats who have lost teeth or find chewing uncomfortable.
View Full Recipe →Tuna & Nori Taurine Flakes
Crisp, savoury sprinkle-flakes built around two of the richest natural sources of taurine — dark tuna meat and seaweed. Scatter over meals to tempt a fussy or convalescing cat back to its bowl.
View Full Recipe →Goat Milk & Chicken Smoothie
A thin, lappable smoothie for cats who are off their food or need extra fluids — goat milk is far easier on the feline gut than cow's milk, and blended chicken makes it a meal rather than a drink.
View Full Recipe →Salmon & Flaxseed Skin & Coat Bites
Small baked bites loaded with omega-3s, aimed squarely at dull coats, dry flaky skin and the winter dandruff that appears when the central heating goes on.
View Full Recipe →Turkey & Carrot Senior Soft Loaf
A soft, sliceable loaf for older cats — no chewing required, easy to portion, and gentle enough for a cat with sore gums, missing teeth or a diminished appetite.
View Full Recipe →Green-Lipped Mussel Joint Bites
Treats built around New Zealand green-lipped mussel, the shellfish behind many commercial joint supplements — a useful daily extra for stiff, older cats who no longer jump onto the windowsill.
View Full Recipe →Chicken & Pumpkin Lickable Purée
A smooth, squeezable purée in the style of the lickable treat tubes cats go mad for — brilliant for hiding medication, rewarding at the vet, or getting fluids into a cat that will not drink.
View Full Recipe →Pork Loin Novel-Protein Mince
Pork is the forgotten meat in cat cookery, which is precisely what makes it useful — a cat that has reacted to chicken, beef and fish all its life has usually never met it, and a protein the immune system has never seen cannot yet be allergic to it.
View Full Recipe →Chicken Gizzard Chew Strips
Gizzards are the muscular grinding stomach of a bird, and they dry into a tough, chewy strip that gives a cat something to actually work at — closer to the connective tissue a wild cat would spend real time on than anything that comes out of a packet.
View Full Recipe →Beef Kidney Mineral Mince
Liver gets all the attention among organ meats, but kidney carries a different mineral profile entirely — more selenium, more B12, and considerably less of the vitamin A that makes liver something you have to ration so carefully.
View Full Recipe →Sardine Bone Calcium Crumble
The bones in a tin of sardines are soft enough to crush between finger and thumb, which makes them one of the few genuinely safe ways to get calcium into a homemade cat diet — the mineral that home-cooked feeding most reliably gets wrong.
View Full Recipe →Pumpkin & Psyllium Fibre Mash
A soluble-fibre topper for the cat that strains in the tray — psyllium draws water into the stool and pumpkin adds bulk, and between them they solve a great many mild constipation problems without anything from the pharmacy.
View Full Recipe →Goat Milk Kefir Probiotic Topper
Fermenting goat milk into kefir consumes most of the lactose that makes dairy such a bad idea for cats, and leaves behind a live culture that is genuinely useful after a course of antibiotics or a bout of loose stools.
View Full Recipe →Catnip & Chicken Lick Mat Spread
A spreadable paste built for a textured lick mat, which turns thirty seconds of eating into ten minutes of licking — and licking is one of the few reliably self-soothing behaviours a cat has.
View Full Recipe →Egg Yolk Hairball Paste
A mild, food-based paste for a long-haired cat that coughs after every grooming session — lecithin from egg yolk and a little oil help hair move through the gut instead of gathering in it.
View Full Recipe →Salmon & Quinoa Skin-and-Coat Bowl
A glossy-coat supper built around omega-rich salmon and a little cooked quinoa for slow-release energy. Ideal for cats with dull or flaky coats.
View Full Recipe →Venison & Blueberry Antioxidant Mince
A novel-protein mince for cats with chicken or fish sensitivities, lifted with a few antioxidant-rich blueberries. Lean, gentle, and different.
View Full Recipe →Goat Milk & Quail Egg Kitten Custard
A soft, gently-set custard for weaning kittens and convalescing seniors. Goat milk is easier on feline stomachs than cow milk, and quail eggs are rich and tiny.
View Full Recipe →Bonito Flake & Kelp Taurine Topper
A no-cook savoury topper for fussy or convalescing cats. Dried bonito flakes (katsuobushi) are pure aroma and protein, and a tiny pinch of kelp adds trace minerals to sprinkle over a normal meal.
View Full Recipe →Duck Heart Taurine Nibbles
Gently poached duck hearts, diced into bite-sized nibbles. Heart muscle is one of the richest natural sources of taurine, the amino acid cats cannot make enough of themselves.
View Full Recipe →Sardine & Egg Omega Mash
A quick, soft mash of tinned sardines and a little cooked egg — rich in omega-3 oils for a glossy coat and packed with the smell cats find irresistible.
View Full Recipe →Rabbit & Liver Taurine Bites
Lean rabbit blended with a little liver and gently baked into firm bites — a novel protein for sensitive cats and a natural source of taurine.
View Full Recipe →Chicken & Carrot Broth Stew
A warming, hydrating stew of shredded chicken and soft carrot in unsalted broth — gentle on tummies and a good way to tempt a poorly or fussy cat to eat.
View Full Recipe →Whitefish & Pea Light Loaf
A lean, low-fat baked loaf of white fish and a scattering of peas — a lighter treat for cats watching their waistline, high in protein and gentle on calories.
View Full Recipe →Venison & Liver Iron Mince
Gently cooked venison mince with a little liver — a rich, novel red meat high in iron and B vitamins, ideal for cats needing a nutrient-dense pick-me-up.
View Full Recipe →Chicken & Cottage Cheese Recovery Mash
A soft, bland, easy-to-eat mash of poached chicken and a little cottage cheese — gentle on a delicate stomach and tempting for a cat that has been off its food.
View Full Recipe →Kangaroo & Pumpkin Novel-Protein Mince
A gently cooked mince of lean kangaroo — a genuinely novel, ultra-lean red meat — with a little pumpkin, aimed at cats with common protein sensitivities.
View Full Recipe →Chicken & Pumpkin Pill-Pocket Treats
Soft, mouldable little dough balls of chicken and pumpkin that you can press a tablet into — a homemade, additive-free way to hide medication in something your cat actually wants to eat.
View Full Recipe →Turkey & Pumpkin Gut-Soothe Purée
A plain, gentle purée of poached turkey and a little pumpkin — the kind of bland, easy-to-digest food a vet often suggests for a cat recovering from a mild tummy upset.
View Full Recipe →Cod & Pea Hydration Soup
A thin, lickable fish soup built around extra water — an easy way to sneak more fluids into a cat that does not drink enough, especially in hot weather or for cats prone to urinary trouble.
View Full Recipe →Rabbit & Courgette Sensitive-Tummy Mince
A gently cooked mince of lean rabbit — a novel protein many cats have never eaten — with a little courgette, aimed at cats with sensitive stomachs or suspected food intolerances.
View Full Recipe →Prawn & Egg-White Lean Bites
Feather-light little bites of prawn bound with cooked egg white — a very low-fat, high-protein treat for cats that are watching their waistline.
View Full Recipe →Beef & Pumpkin Recovery Mince
A richer, calorie-dense mince of beef with a little pumpkin, aimed at underweight cats or those rebuilding condition after illness — the kind of tempting, energy-packed food that helps put weight back on.
View Full Recipe →Turkey & Spinach Iron Loaf
A gently baked loaf of minced turkey with a little cooked spinach, offered as an occasional topper for cats that benefit from a richer, iron-supporting meal alongside their usual balanced food.
View Full Recipe →Salmon & Pumpkin Omega Loaf
A soft, moist baked loaf of cooked salmon and plain pumpkin, offered in small amounts as a skin-and-coat topper rich in the omega-3 oils that keep fur glossy.
View Full Recipe →Sardine & Spinach Iron Mash
A soft, savoury mash of tinned-in-water sardines and a whisper of cooked spinach, served as a small, iron-and-omega-rich topper over your cat’s usual food.
View Full Recipe →Duck & Egg-Yolk Coat Bites
Little baked bites of lean cooked duck bound with egg yolk, offered as a novel-protein treat rich in the nutrients that keep a coat soft and glossy.
View Full Recipe →Chicken & Sardine Omega Topper
A quick, lickable topper of finely shredded cooked chicken and a little mashed sardine, stirred into a smooth paste to tempt fussy eaters and boost omega-3s.
View Full Recipe →Mackerel & Egg Omega Flakes
Soft, aromatic flakes of poached mackerel bound with a little cooked egg — an omega-rich topper that tempts fussy eaters and supports a glossy coat.
View Full Recipe →Chicken Liver Senior Soft Mash
A smooth, spoonable mash of tender chicken and a little liver, thinned with broth — easy on ageing teeth and gentle enough to tempt a senior cat off its food.
View Full Recipe →Rabbit & Apple Sensitive Bites
Gentle baked bites built on novel-protein rabbit with a whisper of apple — a mild, single-meat treat for cats with food sensitivities to chicken or fish.
View Full Recipe →Cod & Sweet Potato Omega Mash
Flaked white cod folded through a little mashed sweet potato and a drizzle of fish oil — a light, hydrating meal-topper that is easy to digest.
View Full Recipe →Mackerel & Spinach Omega Mash
A soft, moist mash of flaked mackerel with a whisper of cooked spinach — an omega-rich meal-topper for cats that need a little coaxing to eat.
View Full Recipe →Chicken Liver & Pumpkin Training Bites
Tiny, intensely meaty baked bites with a little pumpkin for fibre — small and irresistible enough to make perfect rewards for clicker training.
View Full Recipe →Whitefish & Courgette Kitten Mash
An extra-soft, moist mash of gently poached white fish and a little courgette, sized down for weaning kittens and toothless senior cats alike.
View Full Recipe →Emergency Kitten Milk Replacer
A short-term homemade formula to keep an orphaned or unweaned kitten going for a feed or two until you can reach a vet and proper commercial kitten milk replacer — never cow's milk.
View Full Recipe →Single-Ingredient Chicken Jerky
Wafer-thin strips of pure chicken breast, slow-dried into a chewy, high-protein treat with a single ingredient and absolutely no salt, seasoning or preservatives.
View Full Recipe →Cod & Parsley Fresh-Breath Flakes
Gently poached white fish flaked with a whisper of fresh parsley — a lean, low-fat treat that many owners like to offer as an occasional fresher-breath nibble alongside proper dental care.
View Full Recipe →Duck & Pear Sensitive-Tummy Mince
A gently cooked novel-protein mince of duck with a spoonful of soft pear, aimed at cats with delicate digestion who may do better away from the usual chicken and fish.
View Full Recipe →Chicken & Cranberry Urinary-Support Bites
Soft-baked chicken bites with a hint of unsweetened cranberry, a treat some owners like to offer cats prone to urinary grumbles — always alongside, never instead of, veterinary care and plenty of water.
View Full Recipe →Turkey & Cottage Cheese Protein Bites
Soft, high-protein bites of lean turkey bound with a spoon of low-fat cottage cheese — an easy treat for cats who tolerate a little dairy, and gentle enough for fussy or convalescing eaters.
View Full Recipe →Mackerel & Sweet Potato Omega Bowl
A soft, moist bowl of oily mackerel flaked through a little mashed sweet potato — rich in the omega-3 fatty acids that support a glossy coat and supple joints, served as an occasional topper.
View Full Recipe →Chicken & Coconut Oil Coat-Conditioning Bites
Soft-baked chicken bites with the tiniest trace of coconut oil, a treat some owners like to offer for a little extra shine on the coat — always in moderation, and never a substitute for a balanced diet.
View Full Recipe →Chicken & Green Bean Light Bites
A low-calorie baked treat for cats watching their waistline. Green beans add gentle fibre and bulk with very few calories, so your cat feels rewarded without the extra weight.
View Full Recipe →Salmon & Broccoli Omega Bowl
Gently cooked salmon delivers a big hit of omega-3s for a glossy coat, with a small amount of finely chopped broccoli for antioxidants and fibre. A nourishing occasional meal topper.
View Full Recipe →Cod & Spinach Iron Flakes
Poached white cod with a touch of spinach makes a light, low-fat treat with a little extra iron. Gentle on sensitive stomachs and easy to portion.
View Full Recipe →Duck & Blueberry Antioxidant Bites
Lean duck breast baked with a scatter of mashed blueberries makes a rich, novel-protein treat with a little antioxidant boost. A good change of pace for cats bored of chicken and fish.
View Full Recipe →Sardine & Parsley Fresh-Breath Bites
Omega-rich sardines baked with a pinch of fresh parsley — an oily-fish treat that doubles as a naturally breath-freshening snack for fishy-smelling cats.
View Full Recipe →Chicken, Carrot & Ginger Tummy Bites
Gentle poached chicken with soft carrot and the tiniest hint of fresh ginger — a mild, settling treat aimed at cats prone to a slightly queasy tummy.
View Full Recipe →Chicken & Watermelon Hydration Cubes
Cooling frozen cubes of chicken broth and a whisper of seedless watermelon — a refreshing way to sneak extra fluids into a cat on a hot day.
View Full Recipe →Duck & Carrot Novel-Protein Mince
A gently cooked mince built around duck, a novel protein many sensitive cats tolerate well, softened with mashed carrot for a little colour and fibre.
View Full Recipe →Chicken Liver Iron-Boost Mince
A rich, iron-packed liver mince served as a small topper for cats that need tempting to eat or a little extra oomph in their bowl.
View Full Recipe →Turkey & Pumpkin Weight-Control Loaf
A lean, filling loaf that uses plain pumpkin to add satisfying bulk and fibre, handy for cats on a calorie-controlled plan.
View Full Recipe →Salmon & Egg-White Lean Bites
Light, high-protein baked bites made with cooked salmon and egg white — a lean training or reward treat.
View Full Recipe →Rabbit & Carrot Novel-Protein Stew
A gentle, soupy stew built on rabbit — a genuinely novel protein — for cats trialling a simplified diet with their vet.
View Full Recipe →Lamb & Pumpkin Novel-Protein Mince
A soft, warming mince built on lamb — a less-common protein — with a spoon of pumpkin to settle the stomach of a cat trying something new.
View Full Recipe →Cod & Pumpkin Flake Mash
A light, flaky white-fish mash softened with pumpkin — easy to eat for fussy or recovering cats who want something gentle.
View Full Recipe →Turkey & Apple Autumn Bites
Little baked bites of lean turkey with the barest hint of apple for a naturally sweet, seasonal treat your cat can crunch on.
View Full Recipe →Chicken & Oat Gentle Cookies
Simple two-ingredient-style baked cookies of chicken and oats — mild, sturdy and perfect for slipping in a training pocket.
View Full Recipe →Tuna & Pumpkin Bites
Soft baked bites of tuna and plain pumpkin — a little added fibre makes these a gentle favourite for fussy eaters.
View Full Recipe →Mini Salmon & Spinach Frittata
Tiny baked egg frittatas with cooked salmon and a little wilted spinach — soft, savoury and easy to portion.
View Full Recipe →Turkey & Pumpkin Training Treats
Firm, break-apart training treats of lean turkey and pumpkin, sized perfectly for reward-based games.
View Full Recipe →Mackerel & Egg Mini Omelette
A quick pan-cooked omelette of egg and oily mackerel — rich in flavour and ready in minutes.
View Full Recipe →Mini Chicken Liver Pâté
A smooth, spreadable liver pâté in tiny portions — intensely tasty, so a little goes a long way.
View Full Recipe →Turkey & Sweet Potato Mash
A soft, warming mash of lean turkey and gently cooked sweet potato — easy to eat and a comforting topper for fussy or senior cats.
View Full Recipe →Sardine & Oat Crunch Crackers
Crunchy little baked crackers of oat flour and mashed sardine — a fragrant, omega-rich treat cats go wild for.
View Full Recipe →Beef & Carrot Hearty Stew
A gently simmered stew of lean beef and soft carrot in a light broth — a warming, spoonable meal-topper for cooler days.
View Full Recipe →Prawn & Pumpkin Light Bites
Tender poached prawn folded through smooth pumpkin — a lean, low-calorie treat that feels like a luxury to your cat.
View Full Recipe →Chicken & Pumpkin Frozen Lick Cubes
Cooling, lickable cubes of chicken broth and pumpkin — a refreshing summer treat that also sneaks in extra hydration.
View Full Recipe →Mackerel & Parsley Fresh-Breath Bites
Omega-rich mackerel flecked with a little fresh parsley — a savoury treat that cats adore and that may leave their breath a touch fresher.
View Full Recipe →Turkey & Cranberry Urinary-Support Bites
Lean turkey with a whisper of unsweetened cranberry — a gentle, savoury treat with a nod to urinary-tract wellbeing.
View Full Recipe →Chicken & Broccoli Fibre Bites
Soft chicken bites with a little finely chopped broccoli — a gentle way to add a touch of greens and fibre to treat time.
View Full Recipe →Salmon & Carrot Omega Mash
Soft, spoonable salmon mashed with sweet cooked carrot — a bright, omega-rich meal-topper that tempts fussy eaters.
View Full Recipe →Beef Liver & Blueberry Training Bites
Intensely meaty liver bites dotted with mashed blueberry — tiny, high-value rewards for training or clicker sessions.
View Full Recipe →Turkey & Carrot Hydration Broth
A light, unsalted turkey and carrot broth that slips extra moisture into the diet of cats who do not drink enough on their own.
View Full Recipe →Prawn & Carrot Lean Bites
Delicately sweet prawn baked with soft carrot into low-fat little bites — a light treat for cats watching their waistline.
View Full Recipe →Sardine & Oat Omega Cookies
Sturdy, savoury little cookies packed with omega-rich sardine — firm enough to keep in a treat tin for training or fuss-free rewards.
View Full Recipe →Beef & Pumpkin Hearty Stew
A slow-cooked, spoonable beef and pumpkin stew — a warming, iron-rich meal-topper for cooler days.
View Full Recipe →Cod & Egg-White Lean Flakes
Feather-light poached cod tossed with fluffy cooked egg white — an ultra-lean, high-protein treat for fussy or overweight cats.
View Full Recipe →Rabbit & Pea Lean Loaf
A gently baked loaf of lean minced rabbit with a spoonful of mashed peas — a novel-protein treat that is easy on sensitive tummies.
View Full Recipe →Sardine & Pumpkin Fibre Bites
Soft little baked bites of omega-rich sardine and soothing pumpkin — a tasty way to slip a bit of gentle fibre into a treat.
View Full Recipe →Chicken & Sweet Potato Comfort Mash
A soft, warming mash of poached chicken and sweet potato — a comforting topper for fussy eaters or cats recovering their appetite.
View Full Recipe →Venison & Carrot Novel-Protein Loaf
A hearty baked loaf of lean minced venison flecked with soft carrot — a rich novel protein for cats needing a change from chicken and fish.
View Full Recipe →Chicken Liver & Heart Taurine Bites
Soft baked morsels of chicken heart and liver — two of the richest natural sources of taurine — for a nutrient-dense occasional treat.
View Full Recipe →Tuna & Pumpkin Hydration Jelly
A savoury, water-rich jelly of tuna broth and pumpkin set with gelatine — a gentle way to boost fluid intake in a fussy drinker.
View Full Recipe →Turkey & Carrot Baked Meatballs
Tender little baked meatballs of lean turkey mince flecked with soft carrot — a wholesome, low-fat treat that is easy to portion.
View Full Recipe →Chicken & Butternut Squash Gentle Stew
A soft, spoonable stew of poached chicken and sweet steamed butternut squash — warming, easy to digest and gentle on a fussy or recovering tummy.
View Full Recipe →Salmon & Chia Skin-and-Coat Bites
Little baked bites of cooked salmon bound with egg and a pinch of soaked chia — a tasty omega-rich treat aimed at a soft, glossy coat.
View Full Recipe →Trout & Sweet Potato Omega Flakes
Gently cooked trout flaked through soft mashed sweet potato — a mild, omega-rich topper for cats that turn their noses up at oilier fish.
View Full Recipe →Quail Egg & Turkey Kitten Custard
A soft, gently set savoury custard of quail egg and finely minced turkey — an easy-to-lap treat for weaning kittens and fussy convalescing cats.
View Full Recipe →Herring & Pea Novel-Protein Mince
Cooked herring flaked through soft peas and a little potato — an oily-fish novel protein for cats trying an unfamiliar ingredient under vet guidance.
View Full Recipe →Chicken & Papaya Digestive Bites
Gently poached chicken bound with a little mashed ripe papaya and egg — a soft, occasional treat pairing lean protein with a fruit cats can safely nibble in small amounts.
View Full Recipe →Ostrich & Sweet Potato Novel-Protein Mince
Lean cooked ostrich mince folded through a little soft sweet potato — a genuinely unusual red meat for cats trialling a novel protein under veterinary guidance.
View Full Recipe →Guinea Fowl & Pumpkin Gentle Mince
Poached guinea fowl flaked through soft pumpkin — a less common game bird that makes a gentle, unfamiliar poultry option for fussy or sensitive cats.
View Full Recipe →Pheasant & Pumpkin Game Mince
Poached pheasant flaked through soft pumpkin — a lean, unusual game bird that gives fussy or sensitive cats a genuinely novel poultry to try.
View Full Recipe →Bison & Sweet Potato Novel-Protein Mince
Gently cooked lean bison with a little soft sweet potato — an uncommon red meat that gives cats reacting to beef or chicken a fresh protein to try.
View Full Recipe →Green Tripe & Turkey Digestive Mince
A little prepared green tripe folded through gently cooked turkey — a pungent but highly palatable topper that tempts fussy eaters and supports digestion.
View Full Recipe →Sprat & Pumpkin Omega Bites
Small whole sprats mashed with pumpkin and baked into soft bites — an oily little fish packed with omega-3s that most cats find hard to resist.
View Full Recipe →Chicken Liver Training Crumbs
Baked chicken-liver bites crumbled small enough to reward tricks and vet handling — an intensely meaty treat cats will work hard for.
View Full Recipe →Salmon & Egg Frittata Fingers
Soft baked fingers of egg and flaked salmon, cut to a size a cat can hold and gnaw — a gentle, high-protein treat for fussy eaters.
View Full Recipe →Bone Broth Lick-Mat Topper
Unsalted homemade chicken bone broth spread on a lick mat — a hydrating, enriching activity that turns a drink into slow, soothing licking.
View Full Recipe →Chicken & Turmeric Golden Bites
Soft baked chicken bites with the merest pinch of turmeric — a gently golden, low-fuss treat for cats who could use a little variety.
View Full Recipe →Turkey & Pumpkin-Seed Crunch Topper
A savoury sprinkle of baked turkey crumbs and finely ground plain pumpkin seeds to scatter over dinner and tempt a fussy or off-colour eater.
View Full Recipe →Savoury Bone-Broth Egg Custard
A soft, wobbly savoury custard set from plain unsalted bone broth and egg — easy to lap and gently tempting for a recovering, senior or poorly eater.
View Full Recipe →📅 Recommended Feeding Schedule by Life Stage
3–4 small meals daily. High-protein kitten-formula food. Free access to fresh water. Do not give cow's milk.
2 meals per day. Mix wet and dry food. Measure portions — aim for 200–250 calories daily for a 4–5 kg cat.
Senior-formula food with joint support. Increased wet food for hydration. Vet check every 6 months.
🥗 Nutrition Tips
Wet vs Dry Food
Wet food helps with hydration (cats naturally have low thirst drive). Aim for 50–80% wet food for optimal kidney health.
Portion Control
An average adult cat needs about 200–250 calories per day. Overfeeding is the #1 cause of feline obesity.
Protein Priority
Cats are obligate carnivores — they need animal protein. Look for foods where meat is the first ingredient.
Fresh Water Daily
Change water at least once daily. Many cats prefer running water — consider a pet fountain to increase water intake.
Meal Frequency
Adult cats do well with 2 meals per day. Kittens under 6 months need 3–4 smaller meals.
Taurine is Essential
Cats cannot synthesize taurine themselves. Ensure their food contains adequate taurine — deficiency causes heart and eye problems.
Avoid Free Feeding
Leaving food out all day leads to overeating. Scheduled meals help maintain a healthy weight.
Transition Slowly
Switch foods over 7–10 days, mixing in increasing amounts of the new food, to avoid stomach upset and outright food refusal.
Warm It Slightly
Gently warming wet food to body temperature releases its aroma and tempts fussy or senior cats whose sense of smell has faded.
Mind the Treats
Treats should be no more than 10% of daily calories — the other 90% must come from a complete, balanced diet.
Cat Treats: The Complete Guide
The right treats in the right amounts make training easier and bonding stronger. The wrong ones quietly undermine your cat's health.
The 10% Rule — Non-Negotiable
Treats should never exceed 10% of your cat's total daily calorie intake. A typical adult indoor cat needs around 200–250 calories per day — that's just 20–25 calories from treats. Most commercial treats contain 2–5 calories each, meaning 5–10 treats a day is already your ceiling. Exceeding this regularly contributes directly to obesity, which affects over 50% of pet cats.
✅ When to Give Treats
Training & Reinforcement
The single best use of treats. Cats respond well to clicker training and reward-based conditioning. Use tiny pieces (quarter of a treat) to keep calorie load low during multiple repetitions. Timing is critical — reward within 2 seconds of the desired behaviour.
Hiding Medication
A small amount of a strong-smelling treat (like a Churu squeeze tube) wrapped around a pill is far less stressful than manual pilling. Check with your vet that the treat won't interact with the medication, and ensure your cat always consumes the full dose.
Building Trust & Bonding
Especially valuable with shy, fearful, or newly adopted cats. Hand-feeding treats — offered at arm's length, without eye contact — is one of the fastest trust-building tools available. Move the treat slightly closer each session to reduce fearful behaviour.
Enrichment & Puzzle Feeding
Hiding treats in a snuffle mat, puzzle feeder, or around the house turns treat time into foraging — engaging scent and problem-solving instincts. Far more satisfying than dropping treats straight into a bowl, and slows consumption naturally.
Post-Procedure Recovery
After a stressful vet visit, grooming session, or nail trim, a favourite treat helps reset the cat's association with the experience. Pair the treat with calm handling immediately after the procedure while the cat is still in the space.
When NOT to Give Treats
Never as a meal substitute. Never to stop unwanted behaviour (this rewards it). Never on an empty stomach before scheduled surgery. Avoid giving treats when begging — this trains the begging, not the cat. Treats from the dinner table quickly become a habit impossible to break.
✓ HEALTHY CHOICES
High-moisture, lickable puréed chicken or tuna. Minimal ingredients, no carrageenan in the standard range. Excellent for hydration and hiding medication. Beloved by even the fussiest cats.
Single ingredient: freeze-dried chicken breast, salmon, or tuna. No additives, preservatives, or fillers whatsoever. Extremely high protein. The transparency of the ingredient list is unmatched in commercial treats.
VOHC (Veterinary Oral Health Council) approved for tartar control — one of very few treats with independent dental efficacy evidence. Not the cleanest ingredient list but a legitimate dual-purpose treat for dental health.
Raw freeze-dried proteins — rabbit, turkey, duck. Single-source, grain-free, no additives. Small size is ideal for training. One of the few treats genuinely close to prey nutrition.
High-protein, grain-free squeeze tubes in salmon and chicken. Good moisture content and simple ingredients. A practical alternative to Churu with slightly wider availability in some regions.
Plain poached or baked chicken or turkey breast — no seasoning, no garlic, no onion — is one of the best treats you can offer. High protein, low calorie, no additives. Ideal for training. Freeze into small portions for convenience.
✗ AVOID OR LIMIT
One of the most popular brands — and one of the most problematic. Very high in carbohydrates (around 35% on a dry-matter basis), artificial flavours, chicken by-product meal, and salt. Cats find them irresistible precisely because of the artificial palatability enhancers. Occasional use is unlikely to cause harm; daily feeding of many treats is a genuine concern.
Often contain unspecified "meat and animal derivatives," cereals, sugar, propylene glycol (a preservative toxic to cats in quantity), and artificial colourings with no nutritional benefit. The ingredient transparency is extremely poor.
Propylene glycol is approved for use in dog treats but is unsafe for cats — it causes Heinz body anaemia. Always check labels. It appears as "propylene glycol" or "1,2-propanediol." Any treat listing it should be avoided entirely.
Crisps, crackers, cheese, cooked fish with seasoning, lunch meat, and other human snacks are almost universally inappropriate. Salt content alone can cause sodium ion poisoning. Many contain onion or garlic powder — both acutely toxic. The "just a small piece" habit is a difficult one to reverse once established.
Most adult cats are lactose intolerant — they lack sufficient lactase enzyme to digest dairy. Cat milk products (with reduced lactose) are safe in small amounts, but regular cow's milk, cream, or cheese causes digestive upset in the majority of cats. Contrary to popular belief, dairy is not a natural or appropriate treat.
Designed for dogs, occasionally marketed for cats. Rawhide poses a serious choking and intestinal obstruction risk for cats. Dried jerky treats often contain high sodium, onion powder, and preservatives. Neither belongs in a cat's treat rotation.
How to work out your cat's daily food portion
Cat food portions are based on calories, not cups. The method vets use is:
- Estimate your cat's daily energy requirement. For a neutered indoor adult this is roughly 45–55 calories per kilogram of healthy body weight.
- Read the calorie content on the food packaging — usually given as kcal per 100 g or per can.
- Divide the daily calorie target by the food's calorie density to get the daily weight of food, then split it across meals.
Treats are then capped at 10% of that calorie total, and their calories are subtracted from meal portions so the daily total stays the same.
Worked example: feeding a 4.5 kg indoor cat
The numbers
Bella is a 4.5 kg neutered indoor adult at a healthy weight. At 50 calories per kg, her daily target is 4.5 × 50 = 225 calories.
Her wet food provides 80 kcal per 85 g pouch, and her dry food provides 350 kcal per 100 g.
- Treat allowance: 10% of 225 = 22 calories — about 5–6 small treats.
- Remaining for meals: 225 − 22 = 203 calories.
- Two wet pouches = 160 calories, leaving 43 calories — roughly 12 g of dry food (43 ÷ 350 × 100) as a topper.
Result: two measured wet meals, a small dry topper, and a 5–6 treat ceiling — totalling 225 calories with no overfeeding.
Frequently asked questions about feeding cats
How much should I feed my cat each day?
A typical 4–5 kg adult indoor cat needs roughly 200–250 calories per day, split across two meals. Check the calorie content on the packaging and measure portions rather than free-feeding, since overfeeding is the leading cause of feline obesity.
Is wet food or dry food better for cats?
Both can be nutritionally complete, but wet food adds important moisture because cats have a naturally low thirst drive. Many vets suggest a diet that is at least half wet food, or dry food paired with plenty of fresh water.
How many treats can a cat have per day?
Treats should make up no more than 10% of daily calories — about 20–25 calories for an average cat. Since most treats are 2–5 calories each, that is roughly 5–10 treats a day at most.
What foods are toxic to cats?
Never feed onions, garlic, chocolate, caffeine, grapes, raisins, xylitol, alcohol, raw dough, or large amounts of raw fish. Lilies are also highly toxic. If your cat eats any of these, contact a vet immediately.
Can cats drink cow's milk?
Most adult cats are lactose intolerant, so cow's milk causes digestive upset. Fresh water is what cats need; if you want to offer a milk treat, use a reduced-lactose cat milk in small amounts.