Homemade cat food
Herring & Sweet-Potato Omega Flakes
Oily herring flaked through a little mashed sweet potato — an omega-3-rich occasional treat for a glossy coat and supple joints.
- Difficulty
- Easy
- Time
- 25 min
- Makes
- 3 small servings
🧺 Ingredients
- 80 g fresh herring fillet, bones removed
- 1 tablespoon plain cooked, mashed sweet potato
- A little plain water to loosen
👩🍳 Method
- Check the herring fillet carefully and remove every bone you can find, running a finger along the flesh to feel for stray pin bones.
- Steam or poach the herring in plain water until it flakes easily and is fully cooked.
- Let it cool to lukewarm, then flake it into small pieces, checking once more for bones.
- Fold the flaked herring through the plain mashed sweet potato.
- Loosen to a soft texture with a little plain water and serve a small amount.
- Refrigerate any leftovers and use within a day, as oily fish spoils quickly.
Nutrition: Herring is packed with omega-3 fatty acids (EPA and DHA) that support skin, coat and joint health, alongside protein and vitamin D, while a little sweet potato adds gentle fibre.
📝 Notes
Oily fish like herring is rich but should only be an occasional treat, not a staple, as a fish-heavy diet can crowd out other nutrients and, over time, contribute to vitamin E depletion. Always debone thoroughly, cook plainly, and skip fish entirely for cats with a known fish sensitivity.
⚕️ 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.