11 Nourishing Homemade Cat Foods for Senior Cats

As our feline friends advance in age, their physical condition and appetite begin to speak a different language.

The foods that usually caught their attention may no longer serve their needs due to reduced appetite, slower metabolism, and decelerated digestion.

If you’re caring for a cat in their senior years, we strongly recommend that you prioritize their eating routine and what you feed them.

With the right homemade cat foods for senior cats, you can now customize the meals to suit your feline’s specific health concerns.

Continue reading this guide for our best 11 homemade cat food recipes for senior cats, and a few tips on elderly cat care.

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Why Homemade Food for Senior Cats is Important

As cats age, a noticeable shift in their dietary needs occurs that calls for a thoughtful review of their food intake.

This is to provide a new nutritional regime with suitable levels of protein, healthy fat, carbohydrates, and vital micronutrients as well as optimal digestibility.

Much like aging humans, senior cats are likely to develop physical hindrances that can make it difficult to benefit from commercial foods.

This is where making the best food for cats at home is such an invaluable asset to senior cat care tips.

Not only can it grant complete control over ingredients used in meals, but it also gives owners control over addressing special needs due to health conditions.

Keeping your senior cat energetic and healthy is possible by feeding them homemade food that is richer in protein and healthier fats.

Scientific research has affirmed that cats develop food allergies and intolerances to preservatives and fillers found in commercial cat food.

In contrast, homemade food can be prepared to provide true, bioavailable nutrients with clean proteins, fresh vegetables, and added supplements.

Senior cats who may have a hard time chewing because of dental issues are better suited to feed on softer wet foods with small pieces.

If your elderly cat has a declining sense of smell or taste, you may also want to boost the meat content to enhance flavor and aroma.

When starting on homemade foods, it’s always a good idea to do it gradually as you observe your cat’s reaction to the new diet.

In case your cat’s appetite continues to decline or they become too picky with age, it’s wise to ask your vet for solutions as you explore alternative cat food recipes.

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Wet vs. Dry Food for Senior Cats

You should always consider your cat’s health conditions, taste preferences, and your vet’s recommendations when deciding between wet or dry foods for cats.

Most aging cats are generally okay with wet homemade foods, especially if they have dental issues or don’t take enough water.

The major highlights of wet cat food are its softness, and the fluid consistency which makes it easier to chew, especially for cats with a decreasing sense of taste.

On the other hand, we have dry homemade cat foods which score major points on their dental advantage and ability to reduce plaque buildup.

If you’re feeding your elderly cat homemade dry foods, make sure they get enough water in plenty for proper hydration.

Most pet parents are good with the idea of balancing wet and dry foods for cats, but make sure to go with what works best for your senior feline friend.

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The Best Appliance for Making Pet Food at Home

Giving your furry friend nutritious DIY foods is fabulous on paper, until the reality of hours spent dicing, browning, and cooking sets in.

Well, we now have the ChefPaw Pet Food Maker, which comes to turn that page. This attractive countertop device eliminates the fuss and uncertainty of pet food recipes.

All you have to do is load in fresh ingredients, press the button, then walk away and let the machine do all the work for you.

Before an hour is over, ChefPaw pet food maker returns perfectly cooked and nutritious food that’s specifically formulated for your pet’s dietary requirements.

It’s the simplest solution for eliminating commercial kibble from your pet’s diet without having your kitchen left in a huge mess every time you do the cooking.

With the in-built recipe directions, you don’t need expert knowledge in pet nutrition for your furry friend to enjoy well-balanced meals.

And with no fillers, preservatives, or secrets in the mix, it’s something your pet will thank you for.

We’ve secured an exclusive $50 discount just for our readers. Enter code FURSNPAWS at checkout to enjoy this exclusive deal!

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11 Homemade Cat Foods for Senior Cats

1. Turkey & Greens for Older Cats

Ingredients:

• 1 pound 85% lean ground turkey
• 2 tablespoons coconut oil
• 1 cup homemade bone broth
• ½ teaspoon omega-3 fish oil
• 2 tablespoons holistic senior cat premix (about 15 grams)

Instructions:

1. Melt coconut oil in a large saucepan over low to medium heat.
2. Add in the ground turkey and cook slowly, stirring constantly, for 8–10 minutes or until it is fully cooked through without becoming brown.
3. Pour in the bone broth (or liquid of choice) and stir to combine.
4. Mix in the senior premix and fish oil when the food is warm and not hot.
5. For optimal texture, particularly for cats with oral health concerns, blend the mixture with a handheld blender or food processor to a soft, even consistency.
6. Let it cool down entirely before serving or storing.

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2. Chicken & Tuna Paté for Senior Cats

Ingredients:

• ½ cup plain cooked chicken breast
• ½ can of tuna in spring water with a small amount of olive oil
• 1 tablespoon cooked sweet potato or pumpkin

Instructions:

1. Cut the prepared chicken into bite-sized portions.
2. Mix chicken, tuna, and sweet potato or pumpkin that have been cooked in a bowl.
3. For cats with mouth or dental sensitivity, purée all ingredients into a soft, creamy paté in a food processor or blender.
4. Serve fresh.
5. Keep leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator for a maximum of 3 days or freeze them in portions for a maximum of 3 weeks.

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3. Zesty Tuna & Chicken Mash

Ingredients:

• 1 cup cooked chicken breast
• 1 can of tuna in spring water with a drizzle of olive oil
• 1½ tablespoons finely chopped zucchini

Instructions

1. Boil, bake, or grill the chicken, using no oil, salt, or seasoning at all.
2. Let it cool down first, then chop it into smaller pieces.
3. Put the chicken, tuna, and zucchini into a food processor.
4. Pulse the mixture until it has about the same consistency as canned cat food—smooth, rather than watery.
5. Allow food to cool entirely before serving.

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4. Salmon & Organ Meats for Cats

Ingredients:

• 350 g cooked salmon, flaked
• 50 g cooked chicken kidney or heart
• 2 teaspoons salmon oil
• ¼ cup mashed peas (optional)
• 1 teaspoon glucosamine supplement
• 1 teaspoon calcium supplement
• ¼ teaspoon taurine supplement

Instructions:

1. Cook salmon and chicken organs slowly until they are finished, with no seasoning or oil added.
2. Flake the salmon and cut the organs into soft, bite-sized pieces.
3. Mix in a bowl the cooked meats with mashed peas, if desired.
4. Add salmon oil, and stir in glucosamine, calcium, and taurine supplements to distribute them evenly.
5. Allow to cool down to room temperature before serving.

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5. Chicken & Potato for Older Cats

Ingredients:

• 3 ounces cooked dark meat chicken, lamb, tuna, or salmon
• ⅓ cup cooked barley (replacing white rice)
• ⅕ cup cooked potato (mashed or diced)
• ¼ teaspoon fish oil or olive oil
• 1 scoop of a balanced vitamin and mineral premix for cats

Instructions:

1. Prepare your meat by baking, boiling, or steaming—do not salt, oil, or season.
2. Cook the barley as well as the potato until tender, then let all ingredients cool down slightly.
3. Put the cooked meat, barley, and potato into a mixing bowl.
4. Include the olive oil or fish oil and stir well.
5. Stir the vitamin-mineral supplement into the mixture uniformly.
6. Store unused portions in the refrigerator and serve at room temperature for 3 days.

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6. Chicken with Egg & Taurine for Cats

Ingredients:

• 4 lbs. chicken thighs, skin removed
• 7 oz chicken liver
• 12 oz chicken heart
• 2 cups water
• 4 eggs, whisked
• 200 mg vitamin B complex supplement
• 1200 mg taurine supplement

Instructions:

1. Remove the skin from chicken thighs and cut most of the meat into bite-sized pieces.
2. Pound or purée chicken heart, liver, and leftover thigh meat into a tender consistency.
3. Whisk separately in a bowl and then add to the water and vitamin B supplement.
4. Mix in the egg mixture with the meat mixture, making sure everything is incorporated.
5. Mix in the taurine supplement and stir well for even distribution.
6. Use fresh, and keep leftovers refrigerated for daily use. Freeze excess portions in sealed containers to keep them fresh for a longer duration.

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7. Chicken & Veggie for Senior and Diabetic Cats

Ingredients:

• ½ cup cooked organic chicken
• ½ cup raw chicken liver
• ¼ cup steamed carrots or green beans
• ½ cup cooked barley (replacing brown rice)
• ¼ cup low-sodium vegetable broth

Instructions:

1. Cook the barley on its own until tender, then reserve.
2. Steam or boil carrots or green beans and save the broth.
3. Mix cooked chicken, raw liver, mashed veggies, and cooked barley all in a big bowl.
4. Pour the vegetable broth and stir until the consistency is soft and even.
5. Serve in little portions when warm.

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8. Garden Stew with Chicken & Barley

Ingredients:

• 3 lbs. chicken
• 20 grams of celery leaves
• 100 grams of carrots
• ½ cup parsley
• ½ cup barley
• 3 teaspoons brewer’s yeast
• ½ cup spinach
• 1 cup green beans
• 4 cups water

Instructions:

1. Mix chicken, celery leaves, and water in a large stockpot. Avoid adding salt.
2. Cover and bring to a boil. Reduce the temperature and continue to cook for about 1 hour, or until the chicken is tender.
3. Dispose of the chicken and strain the broth into a different container. Refrigerate the broth until the fat solidifies on the surface, then remove and discard the fat.
4. Debone and peel the skin from the chicken. Cut the rest of the meat into bite-sized pieces.
5. Bring back the skimmed broth to the pot. Add also carrots, barley, and brewer’s yeast. Simmer for 20 minutes.
6. Mix in chopped chicken, spinach, green beans, and parsley. Simmer until the green beans are tender.
7. Chill down before serving and store them in the refrigerator or freeze them for later use.

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9. Tuna & Liver Senior Cat Food

Ingredients:

• 1 can of tuna in spring water
• ½ cup cooked barley (replacing white rice)
• 30 grams of chicken liver
• 5–10 grams fresh parsley

Instructions:

1. Boil the barley until tender and reserve.
2. Drain the tuna and grind the chicken liver into a fine paste.
3. Mix the tuna, ground liver, cooked barley, and parsley well in a bowl.
4. Mold the mixture into little balls, then press them gently into patties.
5. Serve fresh or keep in an airtight container refrigerated for up to three days.

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10. Rabbit & Chicken Healthy Cat Food

Ingredients:

• 2 lbs rabbit meat
• 1 lb. boneless chicken
• 1 cup water
• 2 eggs, whisked
• 2 teaspoons fish oil
• Taurine supplement (per vet’s recommended dosage)

Instructions:

1. Chop the chicken and rabbit meat into fine, manageable pieces.
2. Preheat oven to 350°F. Bake ground meats for 15–20 minutes, reserving roughly half as somewhat undercooked to keep them nutritious.
3. Whisk in a separate bowl and combine with water, fish oil, and taurine supplement.
4. Mix the undercooked and cooked meats with the egg supplement mixture and stir until it is incorporated fully.
5. Let cool to serving temperature. Store unused portions in the refrigerator and freeze additional servings as desired.

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11. Turkey & Potato Food for Cats

Ingredients:

• ½ pound ground turkey
• 1 small potato
• Chicken broth (low-sodium)

Instructions:

1. Sauté ground turkey in a pan over medium heat until it is thoroughly cooked. Add no salt or pepper.
2. Cook the potato cubes separately in a pan until tender and soft.
3. Mix the potatoes and cooked turkey in a bowl.
4. Slowly add chicken broth to achieve the desired consistency, soft and Mashable to make it convenient to eat.
5. Let it cool down entirely before serving.

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Helpful Tips on Feeding Senior Cats

Your aging cat’s pattern of eating and drinking needs to be adjusted to take care of their changing physical and behavioral needs.

Many elderly felines are at best when given smaller and more frequent meals during the day as opposed to one large meal.

If it is acceptable to them and there are no dietary limitations, an occasional healthy treat or food-dispensing toy is still allowed as part of the nutritional regime.

As senior cats’ senses of taste and aroma get dull with age, you should aim to feed them at room temperature to keep the meal palatable.

In case you are serving refrigerated homemade meals, make sure to leave them out for about two hours before warming them in a microwave.

The remainder of freshly cooked meals should always be kept in a covered container, refrigerated, and consumed within 3 days to maintain flavor and health benefits.

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Ensuring Complete Nutrition

Homemade cat food offers unparalleled control when it comes to ingredients and customization.

But while at it, you must ensure that your elderly cat gets a nutritionally balanced meal for proper nourishment and to address any specific concerns.

This is why we strongly recommend seeing a qualified veterinarian or veterinary nutritionist before making that transition to a home-cooked diet.

Your vet will be able to check up on your cat and determine the priority ingredients that should never be missed in their diet.

In case of cat health problems like feline kidney disease, arthritis, or hyperthyroidism, your vet should also recommend how to manage them with food.

Home-cooked cat foods may often lack nutritional balance, but the good news is that you can fix this problem with the right mix of feline supplements.

One of the most frequently recommended supplements is taurine. It’s an amino acid that’s responsible for heart health and vision.

Elderly cats can also benefit from fish oil containing omega-3 fatty acids such as EPA and DHA because it helps in lowering inflammation and supporting healthy joints.

Calcium carbonate supplement is a good choice for improving bone health in senior cats above the age of 7.

Your vet may also recommend a feline-specific probiotic strain to improve your cat’s digestion and overall gut health.

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Conclusion

In addition to the variety that comes with homemade meals, offering such to your senior cat is also about caring for their aging bodies and fluctuating health concerns.

Much like elderly people, elderly cats are at their best when put on diets that include high levels of animal protein, low levels of carbohydrates, and gentleness on the digestive tract.

The best part about these homemade cat foods for senior cats is that you have control of what goes into your cat’s feeder.

This freedom will allow you to address age-specific concerns such as weight gain, joint rigidity, or heart disease. It also sets your cat free from the additives and fillers found in kibble.

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