How do you properly BARF a cat?

Feeding your cat the right BARF diet: How to prepare a safe and balanced BARF ration

Feeding a cat a BARF (Biologically Appropriate Raw Food) diet requires precise nutrient balancing, as cats are obligate carnivores. Errors in preparation can quickly lead to nutritional deficiencies.

1. Composition of the BARF ration

A typical meal for a healthy adult cat usually consists of the following:

Muscle meat (approx. 75%): Of this, about 60% should be regular muscle meat and 15% should be taurine-rich muscle meat, such as heart.

Organ meats (approx. 10%): A mixture of liver (approx. 5% for vitamin A), kidney, spleen, or lung.

Raw meaty bones (approx. 10%) or a calcium supplement: To provide calcium and phosphorus. Alternatively, you can feed finely ground eggshell if no bones are included in the bowl.

Fiber (approx. 5%): Finely pureed vegetables such as zucchini, cucumber, or carrots. They should be pureed because cats cannot break down plant cell walls otherwise.

2. Important nutritional supplements

Since raw meat alone does not provide all the necessary nutrients, the following supplements must be added to the bowl when preparing the diet yourself:

  • Taurine: Essential for cats because they cannot produce it themselves—provided via taurine powder, heart, or mussels.

  • Seaweed meal: For iodine supply.

  • Fish oil or salmon oil: For the correct ratio of omega-3 and omega-6 fatty acids.

  • Sources of vitamin A and vitamin D: For example, cod liver oil or fresh egg yolk if no fish is included in the diet.

  • Calcium: If no bones are fed, use calcium carbonate, calcium citrate, or eggshell powder.

The easiest way: A high-quality all-in-one supplement covers the most important nutrients as simply as possible. Instead of weighing each ingredient separately, you get a balanced supplement for the daily BARF ration—especially helpful when getting started with raw feeding.

3. Food quantity

An adult, lean indoor cat needs approximately 2.5% to 3% of its body weight in food daily. This corresponds to approximately 25–30 g of meat per kg of body weight.

Growing kittens need a significantly higher percentage—sometimes over 8% of their body weight.

4. Important rules and taboos

  • Never feed raw pork: It can transmit the Aujeszky virus, which is fatal to cats.

  • No cooked bones: They can splinter in the cat's digestive tract and cause serious injuries.

  • No salt, no seasoned meat, no onions, garlic, or nightshade plants: These are toxic.

  • Maintain hygiene: Since you are working with raw meat, you must maintain a proper cold chain and a clean workspace.

5. Getting started and advice

The easiest and safest way to get started is to follow a BARF recipe using an all-in-one BARF supplement. In addition, certified complete foods or advice from a veterinary practice specializing in animal nutrition, or professional BARF nutritional counseling, are suitable options.