Many slow cooker cat food recipes are available on the Internet. Some are simple and can be made in an hour or two, while others take a lot more time to finish cooking.
If you have one, you should try it out for your cats. They will certainly like it.
There are reasons to make your cat food in a slow cooker. The low cooking temperature will not destroy the nutrients in the raw ingredients, making them healthier for your cats.
A slow cooker allows you to cook at low temperatures over long periods. This helps tenderize the meat while retaining moisture, which adds to the overall health benefits of slow cooking.
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What is slow cooker cat food?
It is raw or cooked meat that you make in your slow cooker.
Why should I make slow cooker cat food?
Your pet will get more nutrition from the ingredients when it comes to preparation for human consumption. The low cooking temperatures ensure that the nutritional value of the ingredients is not destroyed.
In addition, there is less chance of overcooking the ingredients, which can decrease some nutritional value. Also, your pet will love the tender meat from slow cooking.
Slow cooker cat food
The recipe is almost foolproof, but you should be careful not to overcook it. Programmable slow cookers automatically switch to a ‘warm’ setting when the food inside them has been cooked thoroughly; however, if you own one without this particular function, you need to keep checking it regularly.
If you’re using a slow cooker with a programmable setting, you need to set the cooking time according to your cat’s age and size. If your pet is still growing, you should use a shorter cooking time; otherwise, they would not be able to get all of the nutrients from their food properly.
It takes about six hours to cook cat food in a slow cooker with a programmable setting; however, many recipes will take longer than this. It would help make sure that the recipe you use is suited for cooking it safely inside the slow cooker.
As mentioned earlier, most people who try out making their cat food buy a basic slow cooker for this purpose. You can always use it to make other things, such as soups and stews, which means that you won’t be spending more money on the device.
Recipe for slow cooker cat food
If you want to experiment with making cat food at home, try out a few recipes before deciding if it’s right for you and your pet.
There is no definite guide on the Internet that will tell you everything about making your slow cooker cat food, so trial and error is your best method of finding out if this process works well for you.
Slow Cooker Cat Food Recipes – Here are some recipes to try:
Method-1:
Ingredients:
- 1/4 cup raw chicken,
- cut into pieces 1/4 lb.
- raw beef or lamb,
- cut into pieces 1 cup of water 2 cups of organic chopped vegetables (carrots, green beans and peas)
Directions:
1. Place the meat and water in a slow cooker pot.
2. Cut up the vegetables, add them to the pot, and cook the mixture on a low setting for 5 hours.
Method-2
Ingredients:
- 1 can of tuna in water,
- drained 1/2 cup cooked chicken, diced 1/4 cup raw beef or lamb,
- cut into pieces 2 cups of organic peas and carrots,
- mixed 1 cup of water
Directions:
1. Place the meat and water in a slow cooker pot.
2. Drain the tuna and add it to the pot with the other ingredients, stirring them well. Cook for 7 hours on a low setting or until fully cooked.
Method-3
Ingredients:
- 1/4 lb raw chicken,
- Cut into pieces 1/2 lb raw beef,
Cut 1 cup of water and 2 cups of organic chopped vegetables (carrots, green beans, and peas) into pieces.
Directions:
Place the meat and water in a slow cooker pot. Cut the vegetables, add them to the pot, and cook the mixture on a low setting for 6 hours.
Method-4
Ingredients:
- 2 tbs. of organic beef or chicken stock, 1/2 cup cooked liver,
- chopped finely 1/4 lb raw chicken,
- cut into pieces 1/4 lb raw beef or lamb,
- cut into pieces 2 cups of organic peas and carrots, mixed
Directions:
1. Place the meat and water in a slow cooker pot. Add the stock and chopped liver to everything, stirring them well.
2. Cook for 7 hours on a low setting or until fully cooked.
So, making your cat food is not a difficult process after all! It will take a while to prepare the ingredients and cook them properly in a slow cooker, but the only thing you’re getting is full of nutrients.
It will cost less than buying commercial cat food and will be healthier for your pet in the long run.
Crock-Pot 7-Quart Oval Manual Slow Cooker | Stainless Steel
Benefits of slow cooker cat food
Affordable, nutritionally balanced food
The most important thing about homemade cat food is that it’s healthy for your pet. The recipes are easy to follow, and you can get all the nutrients your pet needs by cooking their food in a slow cooker.
While some people may say that making food at home takes more time, the energy you save from not running around for a while after work can be used for other things. Slow-cooker cat food is affordable and easy on the pocket, too!
Cat owners making their cat food at home have noticed some benefits. One of them is that their pets don’t show adverse reactions, and some people even say that their pets have become more lively than ever!
You can also rest assured knowing that your cat is eating organic food. Slow-cooker cat food does not contain artificial ingredients, which means that you’re doing something right for your pet’s well-being.
Also Read: Top 5 Easy Steps How to Make Your Own Dry Cat Food
How to make a batch of slow cooker cat food at home?
Making slow-cooker cat food is easy! Just follow these simple steps to get started.
1) Purchase ingredients from a pet supply store or organic food mart. You can even buy them online at prices pretty much the same as what you’d find in the grocery store.
2) Shop for meat and vegetables that are good for your pet. Please ensure they’re organic, too, so you can get rid of all the chemicals in them.
3) Arrange everything neatly in the slow cooker pot and add some water. You may also add stock or liver if you want to, but consider making more than what’s needed so you still have some leftovers for other meals.
4) Follow the slow cooker cat food recipe you’ve chosen and let it cook on a low setting for about 6-7 hours. Store the extra portions in containers and freeze them until you need them.
5) You can also cook two different recipes at once. Just ensure the ingredients are compatible, or you risk getting an upset pet who may have problems digesting certain foods.
How to know if slow cooker cat food is safe for your pet?
1) Your pet should not show signs of adverse reactions even after eating homemade cat food. The recipe should have been made properly, and you should always check the ingredients list to ensure no added chemicals or preservatives.
2) Your pet’s fur should also be soft and shiny after a month or so of eating slow cooker cat food. Loose stools and vomiting are signs that your pet may not be digesting the food properly, so you should try to give them something else for dinner on those days.
Cats are likely to have more problems with digestion when you introduce new foods into their diet. You can feed them leftover slow cooker cat food that they’re already used to eating, but if possible, introduce at least one new recipe per week.
3) It is also a good idea to take your pet to the vet for routine checkups to monitor its progress. If you’re doing everything correctly, there should be no problems within 1-2 months.
Tips when doing homemade slow cooker cat food
1) Avoid overcooking or undercooking the meat and vegetables in the slow cooker pot. You can test the food with a fork to see if it’s soft enough for your pet and add more water if it gets too dry.
2) Buy organic ingredients to eliminate all the chemicals in them. Please ensure they’re fresh, too, so you don’t have to worry about your pet getting sick.
3) You can also make a batch of food using a pressure cooker. It takes less time to cook, but you have to be very careful when doing this as they may suddenly start spewing out hot steam at any moment.
4) Consider cooking two recipes once for a backup plan if your pet doesn’t take to the newest meal. Just ensure the ingredients are compatible, or you risk getting an upset pet who may have problems digesting certain foods.
5) Try making a larger batch of slow cooker cat food instead of small portions every day. This way, you can store some in the freezer and save them for later.
6) If you’re making food using a pressure cooker, you should never fill up more than half of it with ingredients. You can use a slow cooker pot with about an inch or less of space left on top to reduce the risk of them exploding during cooking.
7) Before cooking, Get yourself some pet-proof goggles, a hand towel, long sleeves, and closed-toe shoes to prepare for any accidents. Keep your kids and other people away from the kitchen so they don’t get hurt or accidentally contaminate your ingredients.
The Bottom Line
Slow cookers are a great way to create savory and delicious dishes without the hassle of constantly monitoring your food. They can also be used for more than just soups, stews, and roasts.
We hope this article has been helpful and look forward to your feedback. If you want more information or advice, please comment below!
Hi there! My name is Koushik; I am a cat lover. I specialize in writing about pet care & food. I have a wealth of knowledge on cat food niches and related subjects. I have worked in the pet industry for over 5 years and am passionate about helping cat owners provide the best care for their furry friends. With knowledge of cat food and nutrition, I aim to share their insights and help cat owners navigate the world of cat food niches. I enjoy playing with my two cats, reading, and exploring new cat food brands in my free time.
I have two cats one is a big Ginger the other is a Torto shell. I adopted the ginger one and the other adopted me. I love them to bits. the ginger one is a big boy and torto shell is much smaller and very different in temperament. I also have a dog whom I cook for and providing I have put the liver in (I have forgotten once) he refused to eat it I had to make another batch then mixed them together before he would eat it.
I have tried to give the cats homemade, but they would not eat it so, at the moment I am feeding commercial to them which I hate doing I am going to try all of your recipes and hopefully they will like it. I had thought that it was the liver that put them of, but I won’t really know until I try out again. I hope it works. and thank you for the recipes.
Thank you for your feedback.