Homemade cat food
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.
- Difficulty
- Easy
- Time
- 30 min
- Makes
- About 10 small portions
🧺 Ingredients
- 90 g cooked herring, skin and bones removed, flaked
- 1 tbsp cooked, mashed peas
- 1 tbsp plain cooked mashed potato, to bind
👩🍳 Method
- Poach or steam the herring in plain water until it flakes easily and is cooked through, then cool.
- Remove the skin and carefully pick out every bone from the flesh.
- Mash the cooked peas and potato together into a soft base.
- Fold the flaked herring through the pea-and-potato base to a soft, spoonable mince.
- Serve a small spoonful at room temperature and keep the rest refrigerated for up to two days.
Nutrition: Herring is an oily fish rich in omega-3 EPA and DHA and vitamin D, and as a less common protein can suit cats trialling a novel ingredient, while a little pea adds fibre and plant protein.
📝 Notes
Use plain cooked herring with no salt or smoking, and double-check for bones. Introduce any novel protein slowly and, for a true elimination diet, only under veterinary supervision. Offer as an occasional treat, not a complete meal.
⚕️ Before you cook for your cat
- Homemade food must be balanced. Cats need taurine, and deficiency causes heart and eye disease.
- Treat recipes are supplements to a complete diet, not a replacement for it.
- Check any new ingredient against the toxic-foods list, and ask your vet before switching diets.