Most pet dogs and cats are fed and thrive on commercial diets. But it is perfectly feasible for these animals to maintain good health on home-prepared foods, if their owners have a basic understanding of the special nutritional requirements of each species. The key principles, as for human nutrition, are to provide a palatable mix of the required nutrients, from a variety of foods, and then to feed such diets in moderate amounts to avoid excess weight gain. The principles and practice of food preparation for dogs and for cats will be outlined in this presentation, with emphasis on the differences between these species in their nutritional requirements.
