Homemade cat food
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.
- Difficulty
- Medium
- Time
- 40 min
- Makes
- 5–6 portions
🧺 Ingredients
- 200 g lean turkey breast mince
- 2 tbsp plain cooked pumpkin purée (not pie filling)
- 1 egg, beaten
- 1 tbsp unsalted turkey or chicken broth
👩🍳 Method
- Preheat the oven to 180°C (350°F) and line a small loaf tin or dish with baking paper.
- Mix the turkey mince, pumpkin purée and beaten egg together until evenly combined.
- Press the mixture into the tin, smoothing the top so it cooks evenly.
- Bake for about 25–30 minutes until firm and cooked all the way through with no pink remaining.
- Cool completely, then slice into small cat-sized portions and loosen with a little broth if needed.
- Serve one small portion and refrigerate the rest.
Nutrition: Lean turkey provides high-quality protein to protect muscle during weight loss, while the soluble fibre in pumpkin adds gentle bulk that can help a food-motivated cat feel fuller without extra calories.
📝 Notes
Any weight-loss plan for a cat should be supervised by your vet, as cats must never crash-diet — losing weight too fast risks hepatic lipidosis. This loaf is a lower-calorie topper or occasional meal component, not a replacement for a vet-balanced weight-management diet. Keep to under 10% of daily calories unless your vet advises otherwise. 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.