Tuna & Sardine Pate
Ingredients
- 1 can (5 oz) tuna in water, drained
- 1 can (3.75 oz) sardines in water, drained
- 1 large egg, hard-boiled and peeled
- 1 tablespoon plain canned pumpkin (not pie filling)
- 1 teaspoon sunflower oil
- 2 tablespoons water or low-sodium fish broth
- 1/4 teaspoon taurine supplement powder (250mg taurine)
- 1/8 teaspoon iodized salt
- 1/8 teaspoon potassium chloride (salt substitute, optional)
Step-by-Step Instructions
- Drain the canned tuna and sardines thoroughly and place them in a mixing bowl.
- Mash the fish with a fork until it forms a fine, uniform consistency with no large bone fragments.
- Hard-boil the egg for 10 minutes, cool under cold water, peel, and finely chop or grate the yolk and white.
- Add the chopped egg, canned pumpkin, sunflower oil, and water or fish broth to the fish mixture.
- Sprinkle the taurine powder, iodized salt, and potassium chloride evenly over the mixture.
- Mix all ingredients thoroughly with a fork or pulse briefly in a food processor until a smooth pâté consistency forms.
- Portion into daily servings and store unused portions in an airtight container.
💊 Required Supplements
Add 250mg taurine powder per recipe batch (this recipe makes approximately 2-3 servings for an average 10lb cat). Do not omit taurine — it is essential for feline cardiac and retinal health. For long-term feeding, also add a complete feline vitamin-mineral supplement such as Alnutrin or TCfeline at the manufacturer's recommended dosage per batch to ensure adequate calcium, phosphorus, vitamin E, B-complex, zinc, and manganese. If not using a complete premix, add 1/4 teaspoon of finely ground eggshell powder (for calcium) per batch.
Nutritional Analysis
Approximately 3.5 oz (for a 10lb adult cat, ~1/3 of recipe batch)| Calories | 210 kcal |
| Protein | 24g (52% DM) |
| Fat | 9g (20% DM) |
| Carbohydrates | 2g (4% DM) |
| Fiber | 0.5g (1% DM) |
| Moisture | 74% |
| Calcium | 0.3% DM |
| Phosphorus | 0.6% DM |
| Ca:P Ratio | 0.5:1 |
🧊 Safety & Storage
Store in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days, or freeze individual portions in ice cube trays for up to 2 months. Thaw frozen portions overnight in the refrigerator — never microwave. Always use fresh, clean utensils when handling raw egg. Discard any uneaten food left out for more than 2 hours. Transition your cat to this new food gradually over 5-7 days by mixing increasing amounts with their current diet. Consult your veterinarian before switching to a fully homemade diet, especially if your cat has kidney disease, urinary issues, or other health conditions.
⚠️ Recipe Drift Warning
Do not substitute tuna or sardines with raw fish, which may contain thiaminase and parasites. Avoid albacore tuna due to higher mercury content — use light chunk tuna only. Do not replace taurine with any alternative; it is non-optional for cats. Do not add onions, garlic, chives, or any allium-family ingredients, as they are toxic to cats. Do not use pumpkin pie filling, which contains toxic spices and excess sugar. Substituting the sunfish oil with cod liver oil may cause vitamin A toxicity — use only a neutral oil or fish oil in small amounts. This recipe is formulated for intermittent or supplemental feeding unless a complete feline vitamin-mineral premix is included.
⚕️ Always consult your veterinarian before changing your pet's diet.
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