Why Homemade, Kosher Pet Food?

Many people have asked the question, "Do I need to feed my cat/dog/rabbit/bird kosher food?"

The simple answer is no, animals are not required to keep kosher. Well, then if the laws of kashrut don't apply to pets, why go to all the trouble of finding kosher pet food?

In traditional Jewish households, non-kosher food and dishes are not allowed. So, although the animal does not require a kosher diet, non-kosher pet food poses a problem for kosher kitchens.

Depending on where you live, finding kosher food for your dog or cat can be a real challenge, not to mention expensive. Besides, have you ever read the labels on the back of manufactured pet food products? You can't pronounce most of the ingredients on the list and the ones you can, well, you probably don't really want to know what they are.

In a nutshell, the majority of pet food is made from the leftovers (animal by-products) ~ the inedible parts of poultry, beef and pork ~ and contains very small amounts of the actual meat. Natural and organic pet food is gaining in popularity, but is often limited, overpriced and not kosher.

The simplest solution: Homemade, kosher pet food. It's not as difficult or as complex as it may seem and, since you made it yourself, you know exactly what you're feeding your pet.

Although animals require a different diet than humans, and some foods are toxic to pets (such as chocolate, onions, grapes, raisins), start with foods you would eat. As a general rule, if you wouldn't eat it, don't feed it to your pets.