I do not feed home-cooked exclusively, but the question of vitamins/minerals has bothered me.  I do use BalanceIt, on the recommendation of my vet, but my kitties do not much like the food to which I add it (their recipes are 3 ingredients only-a protein source, a carb source, a fat source - no veggies, no fish oil, or other things I like to use sometimes).  I also use some recipes here, and add a human supplement, especially for the kitty who doesn't eat much commercial food.  I have also read that most cat vitamins are made to supplement commercial foods and are inadequate to balance homemade food.

Here is some info I've gathered from here and there.  I'm interested in what others here do, and your reactions.

Here's a Tweet:
"If you're feeding a homemade diet and not using a human multi and extra calcium, you are causing nutritonal deficiencies in your pet! 2:59 AM Aug 20th
http://twitter.com/susanwynn/status/3424861815

Add all ingredients except the Centrum (because the B vitamins will be destroyed if the food is cooked or reheated). The Centrum should be given as a separate supplement daily, about 1/2 tablet for pets under 20 lbs and 1-2 tablets daily for pets over 20 lbs.
http://www.susanwynn.com/Homemade_Diet_Recipe.php


"Supplements providing vitamins and micro-minerals are not optional. These nutrient requirements cannot be met using “whole” foods such as fruits and vegetables because the pet can simply not consume enough vegetable material to meet the stated AAFCO recommendations. Therefore synthetic supplements are required to ensure a complete diet.   
      2. There is currently only one veterinary supplement suitable to complete homemade diets (BalanceIt). Adult OTC vitamin-mineral tablets that contain no more than 200% of the recommended daily allowances for people work well for both cats and dogs at one-half to one tablet per 30 lbs, respectively, per day and will not over-supplement pets with nutrients known to be toxic at high doses. Specific nutrients of concern for cats such as arginine, arachidonic acid, L-carnitine, and choline can be purchased as individual nutrient products. Levels of these nutrients in feline homemade diets can only be estimated but appear to be adequate using animal proteins and those specific supplements may not be needed. Iodized salt should be used whenever salt is suggested because it is difficult to meet the iodine requirement. Sea salt and kelp do not contain reliable or sufficient amounts of iodine."
http://www.companimalmed.com/article/S1938-9736(08)00039-1/abstract

And each recipe on this page calls for some sort of vitamin/mineral supplement (these are CKD recipes - Strombeck, Pitcairn, Hills)
http://users.ameritech.net/critterz/crf_recipes.htm#Strombeck%27s%20recipes


  

I add most of the vitamins & supplements after the food batch has cooled & before freezing. I don't use a multi,I prefer to add everything separately. I add the B vitamins to the batch,but only warm the food before serving. I add the probiotics daily & the fish oil & pumpkin. Most of the rest are added by batch,oh the glucosamine/chondroitin/msm & CoQ10 are daily too. Tinkle tonic & milk thistle are as needed.Are you mixing the balanit with broth before adding it ? Maybe its staying gritty & thats why they don't like it.

Centrum vitamins now have soybean in them and soy is 89% genetically modified (franken food). I used Centrum's for years til they put soy in it. Soy not good for the thyroid and those with thyroid problems - this will add to it not help. thedoctorwithin.com has a whole chapter on the soybean which is very enlightening.

Bummer about the soy.  No more Centrum for me  .

5CM

Well bug one more thing not in the favor of taking these vitamins - BHT and soy, oy vey.