Feline Raw Meat Diet

The feline raw meat diet is an alternative to commercially prepared dry and canned cat food. There is controversy among cat owners and veterinarians about whether this diet is the healthiest option. There are benefits and risks to feline raw meat diets. Before feeding your cat a raw meat diet, talk to your veterinarian and ask whether or not it is the right option for your cat.

  1. Benefits

    • The argument for feeding cats the feline raw meat diet is that it is their evolutionarily natural diet. The argument is that cats would not choose to eat corn or dry food in the wild, but they would hunt for their prey and eat it raw, according to Will Falconer D.V.M. According to Wilmington Animal Hospital, health benefits of raw meat diets include: shinier fur, cleaner teeth, healthy body weight, healthy muscles, better resistance to infections, improved urinary tract health, increased mobility, decreased arthritis pain, decreased allergy symptoms and fewer hairballs.

    Risks For Humans

    • There are possible risks to the human preparing the meat. According to Falconer, "The raw meat can contain food-borne bacteria possibly harmful to humans, especially immune-compromised humans. So careful sanitary practices in handling it apply. This is not an issue for the cat, whose digestive system is unchanged from the wild ancestors, and 'knows' how to digest bacteria." According to Wilmington Animal Hospital, humans could possibly get bacteria-related infections through the cat licking them, through contact with the litter box and through preparation.

    Risks for Cats

    • Even though a cat's digestive system is capable of digesting bacteria there is still a risk of contracting bacteria related infections such as E-coli and salmonella. According to the Wilmington Animal Hospital, " Raw food can also harbor other potentially toxic organisms, like Toxoplasma gondii." Another risk according to the Wilmington Animal Hospital is that cats could choke on the bones in the raw diet. Another concern is that the cat will not get all the nutrients needed, such as taurine. To lower the chances of all of these risks, there are commercial raw meat diets that can be purchased at pet stores, but even then the risks are there.

    When to Feed Cats a Raw Diet

    • Whenever a veterinarian recommends a cat is fed a raw meat diet, then the advice should be followed. Otherwise if an owner feels it is necessary, would like to make the switch and has consulted a veterinarian, a cat can start a raw meat diet at any time. It is easier to start kittens on a raw meat diet. According to Wilmington Animal Hospital, a cat as young as six months will be used to the food she has already been given and it will be more difficult to make the change. According to Falconer, cats between the ages of eight and ten will be the hardest to switch.

    What Raw Meats to Feed Cats

    • According to Wilmington Animal Hospital, "In the wild, cats eat mice, moles, and baby birds. Feeding raw diets at home does not have to be more complicated." According to Falconer a balanced raw meat diet would include ground turkey, chicken or beef, chicken livers, cod liver oil, commercial nutritional powder that can be purchased at pet stores, polyunsaturated fatty acids and raw vegetables for nutrients, such as alfalfa sprouts, carrots and sweet potatoes. According to Wilmington Animal Hospital, you should never feed a cat a whole chicken neck as the risk of choking is too high.

    How to Feed Your Cat a Raw Diet

    • To make the change, gradually mix small portions of raw food into your cats canned food or dry food. Every day add a little more until it is completely raw. Freeze raw meat for at least a week before feeding it to a cat so that all the bacteria has died. Chop bones so that they are a quarter inch or smaller. Give cats a 1/4 cup of raw meat twice daily. If the cat does not finish it within 30 minutes you can refrigerate it and save it for the next meal. To heat: place raw meat in a sandwich bag and warm in a pan of warm water until it is room temperature. Some cats prefer it warm (See References 1 and 2).