Homemade cat food

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.

Difficulty
Easy
Time
25 min
Makes
6 small portions

🧺 Ingredients

  • 150 g plain duck breast or lean duck meat, skin and bones removed
  • 1 small carrot, peeled
  • 1 tbsp unsalted duck or chicken broth (no onion or garlic)
  • A pinch of dried, cat-safe taurine supplement if using duck as a regular protein (ask your vet)

👩‍🍳 Method

  1. Trim all skin, bone and visible fat from the duck and cut it into small pieces.
  2. Poach the duck gently in unsalted water until fully cooked through, with no pink remaining, then drain and cool.
  3. Steam or boil the carrot until very soft, then mash it smooth.
  4. Mince or finely chop the cooled duck and combine it with the mashed carrot.
  5. Loosen the mixture with a little unsalted broth to a soft, easy-to-eat texture, and stir in any vet-recommended supplement.
  6. Serve a small spoonful at room temperature and refrigerate the rest, starting with a little to check it agrees with your cat.
Nutrition: Duck offers a rich, novel source of animal protein and iron that sidesteps the chicken and fish many sensitive cats react to, while soft carrot adds gentle fibre and beta-carotene without overwhelming a delicate tummy.

📝 Notes

Duck is a useful 'novel' protein for cats that react to chicken or fish, and can help when trialling a sensitive diet — but any elimination diet should be guided by your vet. This is a treat or topper, not a complete meal, so keep it to under 10% of daily calories and do not rely on it for full nutrition unless your vet has balanced it. Store in the fridge for up to 3 days.

⚕️ 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.