Diet |
|
Cats are strict, or “obligate”, carnivores. The natural diet of cats in the wild is meat based (think mice, birds, etc.). This means that they rely on nutrients in animal tissues to meet their specific and unique nutritional needs. In the natural environment, cats consume prey high in protein with moderate amounts of fat and minimal amounts of carbohydrates. They are metabolically designed for higher absorption of proteins and lower utilization of carbs than dogs or other omnivore species. Nevertheless, commercial diets are prepared with a mixture of animal and plant derived nutrients to provide "convenient" food for domestic cats. Cats have adjusted over the years to these manufactured diets, however the limitations of substituting animal nutrients with plant nutrients in formulated foods are being increasingly understood.
If you are interested in preparing your own raw batches, I highly suggest checking out the Facebook group “Cats Completely Raw and Proud (Cat CRAP)”. We have learned so much through the group, and we have found their raw “calculator” to be an invaluable resource for making our own batches. |
1. What is a properly balanced raw-meat based diet?
To ensure a balanced diet it is important to use the ratio 80-10-10 as a general guideline. Meaning your meals will consist of 80% muscle meat, 10% bone content and 10% organs (of which 5% or more should be liver). Raw eggs and a small oily fish can also be added.
2. How much should my cat eat?
Kittens should be allowed to eat as much as they want for the first year of their life. Adult cats should be fed about 3-5% of their ideal weight. I would start at 3% and see if they seem satisfied. If not, offer them more.
3. Am I, my family, or my cat at risk of catching salmonella or other harmful bacteria when feeding a raw diet?
Salmonella and many other bacteria are not harmful to a healthy cat. In fact, these bacteria are often found in the gut flora of cats. If the cat is already immunosuppressed, they are just as at risk of developing a reaction by eating commercially prepared cat food which can also be contaminated with salmonella. Commercial cat foods are often recalled because they have been found to be contaminated with salmonella or some other bacteria. Feeding a raw based diet holds no more risk than feeding kibble.
It is always important to follow safe food handling protocols, whether you are handling your own food or your cats. Wash your hands, clean, and sanitize surfaces.
4. Differences you may notice in your cat’s litter box habits.
Raw fed cats are likely to poop a lot less, and pee more. There is a lot more moisture in raw food, causing your cat to be at a proper level of hydration. A proper raw diet will likely have your cat pooping small, firm, feces and less frequently (sometimes only once every 2 – 3 days). Best of all, it is so much less smelly!
To ensure a balanced diet it is important to use the ratio 80-10-10 as a general guideline. Meaning your meals will consist of 80% muscle meat, 10% bone content and 10% organs (of which 5% or more should be liver). Raw eggs and a small oily fish can also be added.
2. How much should my cat eat?
Kittens should be allowed to eat as much as they want for the first year of their life. Adult cats should be fed about 3-5% of their ideal weight. I would start at 3% and see if they seem satisfied. If not, offer them more.
3. Am I, my family, or my cat at risk of catching salmonella or other harmful bacteria when feeding a raw diet?
Salmonella and many other bacteria are not harmful to a healthy cat. In fact, these bacteria are often found in the gut flora of cats. If the cat is already immunosuppressed, they are just as at risk of developing a reaction by eating commercially prepared cat food which can also be contaminated with salmonella. Commercial cat foods are often recalled because they have been found to be contaminated with salmonella or some other bacteria. Feeding a raw based diet holds no more risk than feeding kibble.
It is always important to follow safe food handling protocols, whether you are handling your own food or your cats. Wash your hands, clean, and sanitize surfaces.
4. Differences you may notice in your cat’s litter box habits.
Raw fed cats are likely to poop a lot less, and pee more. There is a lot more moisture in raw food, causing your cat to be at a proper level of hydration. A proper raw diet will likely have your cat pooping small, firm, feces and less frequently (sometimes only once every 2 – 3 days). Best of all, it is so much less smelly!
Over 100lbs of ground raw. All in a days work!
When making your own raw diet sounds daunting, we recommend purchasing a pre-made raw. Below are two companies that we have become familiar with. We have purchased from "Simply Rawsome" for many years and highly recommend them. "Viva Raw" is a local company in North Carolina that we have recently partnered with and are excited to also recommend.
|
|
References:
https://simplyrawsomeus.com/pages/cats
Zoran, D. L. (2002). The carnivore connection to nutrition in cats. Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Association, 221(11), 1559–1567. https://doi.org/10.2460/javma.2002.221.1559
https://healthypets.mercola.com/sites/healthypets/archive/2011/09/15/peta-thinks-cats-should-be-vegans.aspx
https://feline-nutrition.org/answers/answers-what-exactly-is-an-obligate-carnivore
https://simplyrawsomeus.com/pages/cats
Zoran, D. L. (2002). The carnivore connection to nutrition in cats. Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Association, 221(11), 1559–1567. https://doi.org/10.2460/javma.2002.221.1559
https://healthypets.mercola.com/sites/healthypets/archive/2011/09/15/peta-thinks-cats-should-be-vegans.aspx
https://feline-nutrition.org/answers/answers-what-exactly-is-an-obligate-carnivore
