Homemade cat food
Duck & Egg-Yolk Coat Bites
Little baked bites of lean cooked duck bound with egg yolk, offered as a novel-protein treat rich in the nutrients that keep a coat soft and glossy.
- Difficulty
- Easy
- Time
- 30 min
- Makes
- About 20 small bites
🧺 Ingredients
- 120g cooked, skinless, boneless duck breast, finely chopped or minced
- 1 egg yolk, lightly beaten
- 1 tablespoon plain cooked pumpkin, to bind and add moisture
- A little plain water if needed
👩🍳 Method
- Cook the duck plainly by poaching or baking until fully done, then cool and mince or chop very finely, removing all skin and fat.
- Mix the minced duck with the beaten egg yolk and pumpkin into a stiff, mouldable mixture.
- Roll into small pea-to-marble-sized bites and space them on a lined baking tray.
- Bake in a low-to-moderate oven until firm and cooked through, then cool completely before serving.
- Offer one or two as a treat, and refrigerate the rest in a sealed tub for up to two days, or freeze for longer.
Nutrition: Duck offers a rich, novel source of animal protein and B vitamins, while egg yolk supplies biotin, healthy fats and choline — a combination often linked with a soft, shining coat and healthy skin.
📝 Notes
Duck is a useful “novel” protein for cats that have shown sensitivities to common meats like chicken or fish, but it is still a treat rather than a balanced meal. Keep egg fully cooked (never raw), trim away duck skin and fat to avoid an upset stomach, and introduce any new protein in small amounts to check it agrees with your cat. As always, treats should make up only a small fraction of the daily diet.
⚕️ Before you cook for your cat
- Homemade food must be balanced. Cats need taurine, and deficiency causes heart and eye disease.
- Treat recipes are supplements to a complete diet, not a replacement for it.
- Check any new ingredient against the toxic-foods list, and ask your vet before switching diets.