Why is There No Mouse Flavored Cat Food?

Cats like to hunt mice. But why is there no cat food with mouse flavor? Here you can read more about the supposed favorite food of our cats.

Mice are probably cats’ favorite prey. But in the pet store, there is no trace of mouse-flavored cat food. But why actually?

Why Is There No Mouse-Flavored Cat Food?

Most types of cat food are leftovers from meat production for humans. However, since humans do not breed mice for food, mice would have to be bred and slaughtered specifically for cat food. The rodents are also very small and not really meat-yielding. Therefore, the mouse in cat food is not worthwhile from an economic point of view: the food would be very expensive to produce – and therefore also significantly more expensive for the cat owner than other flavors.

In addition, one should keep in mind that mice are not necessarily the “favorite food” of cats. Outdoor cats are very fond of chasing mice, but that has nothing to do with the taste of the mouse. Small, nimble mice simply satisfy their hunting and play instincts particularly well. Especially with house cats, which no longer have to hunt to survive, hunting is primarily about fun and games. Anyone who has ever seen their free-roaming cat with a captured mouse will have noticed for themselves that it was not eating the mouse, but playing with it that took up most of the time.

In addition: Not only mice but also garden birds, lizards, or amphibians are often prey for cats. There are no types of cat food either. That would be worth just as little as with the mouse.

A Mouse Has These Ingredients

Even if mice are not necessarily the favorite food of cats, you can derive a few things from them for cat nutrition. Because the digestive system of our domestic cats has changed only slightly in the course of domestication. Therefore, their diet should be similar in composition to that of their wild relatives:

• A mouse has a high water content of about 62 percent.
• Proteins make up a large proportion at around 19 percent, fats make up around eleven percent.
• Approximately 4.3 percent of minerals are included.
• Carbohydrates only make up 3.7 percent of the gastrointestinal contents of the killed animals, since the mouse feeds on grain and the like.

For domestic cats, this means the following:

• Cats should be fed a diet high in protein, moderate in fat, and minimal in carbohydrates.
• Cats are absolutely dependent on animal protein in their food. Since it cannot throttle the activity of the corresponding digestive enzymes, the body’s own reserves are reduced if there is insufficient protein intake.
• Cats get most of their water from their food. Therefore, food with a moisture content of about 70 percent should be fed mainly.

A Mouse Recipe to Cook at Home

Since there is no mouse-flavored cat food, only outdoor cats can eat mice. So that the indoor cats can also enjoy a touch of the mouse, we have teamed up with Dr. medical vet Michael Streicher came up with a special kind of recipe that you can easily copy. Analogous to the composition of a mouse of moisture, proteins, fats, minerals, and carbohydrates, you can use the following ingredients to conjure up your cat’s own personal mouse recipe.

Ingredients for a Mouse Recipe

• 100 g chicken hearts (weighed raw)
• 40 g fresh ground beef (weighed raw)
• 1 piece of carrot
• 1 tbsp soft boiled diced potatoes or mashed potatoes (prepared with water)
• ½ tsp fish oil or lard
• 1 pinch grated eggshell (equivalent to about 0.4 g)
• 0.7 g mineral feed
• 2-3 tbsp homemade chicken broth (without any additives)

Preparation

1. Cut the chicken hearts into small pieces. If your cat isn’t a fan of hard morsels, put the hearts through the meat grinder. Mix the chicken with the fresh ground beef.
2. Peel the carrot and grate it through a nutmeg grater. Pour hot water over the grater and let it stand for ten minutes. Now mix the carrot into the meat mix.
3. Add the cooled mashed potatoes. If using small (soft-boiled) diced potatoes, cut them into bite-sized pieces or mash lightly with a fork.
4. Mix in the fat, grated eggshell, and mineral feed. Depending on the consistency, add more or less broth. Ready!

Please serve the dish immediately or keep it in the refrigerator. It should not be left in the bowl at room temperature for longer than half an hour. It is best to feed the “mouse” on the same day!