The incidence of food allergy in cats remain unknown. Some studies indicate that, overall, food allergies are the third most common type of allergy in cats, eclipsed only by allergies to flea bites and inhalants (atopy).
Novel Proteins and Limited Ingredients
Food allergies in cats place huge limits on the type of foods we can successfully use to create a balanced diet while suppressing immune reactivity related to the allergic processes that cause inflammation and physical damage. Special diets that limit the number of ingredients to those non-reactive for the animal are at least successful in aiding repair and starting the potential road back to health.
But therein lies a huge challenge, because by limiting the proteins to probable novel forms, and limiting additional foods because of reactivity, this process significantly reduces the pool of foods from which to choose from that can be optimally balanced nutritionally to create actual health. Essentially every recipe I have analyzed for these purposes are nutritionally imbalanced and lacking many nutrients required to support both recovery from illness and a return to full, optimal health.
Enter the brilliant software, Pet Diet Designer, providing the ability to work with limited ingredients, and adjust specific foods and amounts while observing instantly changes in nutrient profiles, with successful outcomes in creating a scientifically-balanced, optimized recipe that achieves both stopping the production of ongoing disease and begins the foundation for re-creating health.
Here I share the result of creating a balanced recipe for Silo the cat, with limited ingredients, easy to acquire foods, short preparation times, and a recipe that could be used both raw or with limited cooking. Without the ability of Pet Diet Designer, this recipe would simply be nearly impossible to create!
David's Bison Limited Ingredients for Cats
The following recipe is set and balanced for an 11 pound (4.99 kg), 1 year-old, neutered, female, purebred Savannah cat with an underweight body condition score (BCS = 4). Your cat may require adjustments to this recipe.
| Ready In: 20 minutes | Prep Time: 10 minutes | Cook Time: 10 minutes |
| Meal Type: Cooked | Complexity: Easy | Suitable for: Cat |
| kcal: 207.293 | Balanced: Yes | Special Diet: Allergy |
Main ingredients are Ground Bison, Sardine, Chicken Liver, Kale and Spinach
This recipe could easily be utilized raw or cooked.
Supplements used in this recipe: Maine Coast Sea vegetables Kelp Powder and Standard Process Inc. Calcifood Powder/Bone Meal.
| Calories | 207.293 kcal | |||
| Protein | 18.736 g | |||
| Fat | 11.3 g | |||
| Carbohydrate | 8.583 g | |||
| Dietary Fiber | 2.41 g |
| As Fed | % of Calories | Dry Matter | |
| Protein | 9.70 % | 34.21 % | 42.01 % |
| Fats | 5.85 % | 46.42 % | 25.34 % |
| Carbohydrate | 4.87 % | 17.17 % | 21.09 % |
| Dietary Fiber | 1.25 % | 2.20 % | 5.41 % |
| Moisture | 76.91 % | 0.00 % | |
| Ash | 1.42 % | 6.15 % |
The Basic Report shows ingredients, preparation instructions, and a basic nutritional panel for this recipe.
The Recipe Preparation Report shows information needed to prepare this recipe, including ingredients, preparation instructions, prep and cook time, meal suitability, complexity, kilo-calories, etc.
The Nutrient Report shows detailed nutrient values and energy analysis for this recipe. Macro-nutrient data are shown in tabular and pie graph format.
Additional Information
Not included in this recipe, but highly recommended, is the addition of Ultra-Pure Pet Fish Oil with concentrated EPA and DHA to help lower inflammation and reduce immune reactivity, you can find this incomparable product at www.craftedhealth.com.
I use outside vendor supplements because of third-party assay, purity and contaminant testing. The Bone Meal utilized is Calcifood Powder from Standard Process, Inc. in Palmyra, WI., www.standardprocess.com. The kelp powder is from Maine Coast Sea Vegetables, www.seaveg.com.
Please contact me if you want additional information about acquiring these specific products. I can be reached directly at
David Minzel, PhD, CNC, CNA
We offer scientific, evidence-based DIY diet formulation to the world of homemade pet food. Take your pet diet formulation skills to the next level with the world's best pet nutrition software.
Our software complies with the guidelines set by the 2006 NRC publication, "Nutrient Requirements of Dogs and Cats". This publication is the gold standard for dog and cat nutrition worldwide.
