What Everybody Should Know About Raw Cat Food
Feeding your pets a diet based primarily on raw meat has been getting a lot more popular. After all, in the wild, cats are carnivores. Yet, we feed them food made mostly of rice and corn. This seems a little strange, and it might explain some allergies, behavior problems, and other issues cat owners are faced with. However, raw diets have also been criticized for not providing enough nutrition. That can make things fairly confusion for the pet owner who wants the best for his or her cat. Wondering if raw cat food is a viable option for you and your pet? Let’s take a look at some things you should know before feeding raw.
Cats require meat – feeding them on a vegan diet is not possible without heavy supplementation. That means that a raw diet for cats is going to be one made mostly of meat, with a little vegetable matter to approximate what they would be eating in the wild. A controlled test with two groups of cats showed that the cats which ate raw were in significantly better health than those eating cooked food, and the group eating cooked had a real improvement in health after returning to raw food.
Some will tell you that raw meat isn’t safe. After all, humans get sick from contaminated meat every day. However, we should remember that cats have evolved eating primarily raw meat, and that their digestive systems aren’t the same as ours are. That doesn’t mean you shouldn’t handle your pets’ food carefully, however. Treat it like you’d treat food you were going to eat, and avoid prepackaged ground beef and similar meats. Instead, look for free range meat, poultry and fish, and don’t just buy the flesh. In the wild, cats eat organ meats and even bone and skin. Their diet at home should add elements that give them the nutrition these things offer.
There are a couple of ways to get raw food for your pet. One is to make your own diet. You’ll want to do a lot of research, and consult with a raw diet-friendly vet before you try this. About seventy-five percent of what your pet eats should be meat, composed of raw muscle and organ meat. The rest can be grated vegetables, other than onions, and fresh herbs, plus ground raw bones of a type that don’t splinter, raw seeds and nuts, and a few supplements. A commercial grade grinder and a good hand with a kitchen knife are recommended, as well as regular checks of your cat’s health.
You can also buy a prepackaged raw diet for your cat. These have been put together to be nutritionally balanced, though the approval of your vet is still a good idea. Not every commercial diet does what it claims, after all. As above, keep an eye on your cat’s condition and make sure that all uneaten food is disposed of after half an hour. This is not a diet for free feeding. While raw cat food isn’t for every pet and owner, it can be an excellent choice for some. Take the time to learn more, and go into the situation with a good understanding of your pet’s requirements.
