Raw cat food can be very nutritious, but some factors should be considered when choosing this diet. It should not contain fish, top of the food chain ingredients, or heat-processed ingredients. Additionally, the food should be fed only as much as 4% of the ideal body weight of your cat. A good guideline is to feed approximately 4% of its ideal body weight every day.
Avoid top-of-the-food-chain fish
Fish is a popular ingredient in cat food, but it’s not always safe for your cat to eat. While small amounts of fish are perfectly safe for cats, you should avoid top-of-the-food-chain varieties. Instead, look for recipes containing wild-caught salmon and water-packed sardines.
Canned food is another option for high-quality nutrition. It can provide moisture and protein for your cat. The first ingredient in canned food should be meat, and meat meal is a combination of pieces other than muscle. Meat meal reduces the protein content, so be careful when buying your cat’s food. Many commercial raw and canned food products contain fillers. These foods may be more expensive than homemade food.
When purchasing raw cat food, it’s important to choose a high-quality brand. Be sure to use gloves and thoroughly clean surfaces when handling raw cat food. A brand like Weruva has a high-protein, low-carb formula. The brand also claims to be grain-free, which is a good sign.
Avoid heat-processed ingredients
Compared to commercial cat foods, raw cat foods are made without the use of heat, making them a healthier choice for cats. However, it is important to note that some raw food recipes may leave out certain essential components that are essential for your cat’s health. This makes it imperative that you obtain raw food from a reputable source. This way, you can be sure that you are not exposing your cat to bacteria and other harmful agents.
In addition to low-quality ingredients, many pet owners are concerned about the harmful end-products of thermal processing. Some prefer to feed their cats a more natural and wholesome diet, so they make their own food at home. A lack of meat protein in raw cat food can lead to your cat being sluggish, which may lead to a number of issues.
Natural food is more easily digestible, which means your cat will have a healthier digestive tract. This means fewer problems with gastrointestinal upset or inflammation, and you can even avoid the common occurrence of chronic ear infections.
Avoid contaminated raw food
It’s important to separate raw cat food from other foods. This prevents cross-contamination and can help prevent illnesses. Before preparing raw food, always wash your hands with hot soapy water and disinfect all surfaces. This includes countertops, cutting boards, and refrigerators. Using a dishwasher is also a good idea if raw food gets on any of these surfaces.
It’s important to remember that even healthy adult cats can contract bacterial and viral diseases from eating raw food. This can be especially dangerous for people who live with cats or have compromised immune systems. Therefore, it’s best to avoid contaminated raw food and feed your cat a “traditional” diet.
When buying raw pet food, always make sure to read the label carefully. Many raw pet foods may contain Salmonella or Listeria bacteria. These bacteria can cause serious illnesses in humans. Raw pet food is especially dangerous for pregnant women, newborns, and people with weakened immune systems. For this reason, you’ll want to store it separately.
Feed 4% of ideal body weight per day
You can feed your cat between 2% and 4% of its ideal body weight per day on raw cat food, but the amount that’s right for them will depend on their age, activity level, and metabolism. It’s important to weigh your cat regularly to get an accurate reading of its weight.
If you’re unsure of how much your cat should be eating, check its body condition score card. It will tell you how much food your cat needs daily based on its weight, ribs, and waist. If your cat is overweight, don’t feed more than 3% of its ideal body weight.
Besides consuming a varied diet, your cat should drink plenty of water. If you can’t provide fresh water for your cat, you can provide it with canned foods. The optimal diet for your cat is made up of muscle meat, ground bone, and offal. You can also include some fish, chicken, and eggs in its diet.
Most kittens are able to control the amount of food that they consume. Nevertheless, a portion calculator can help you calculate how much bones, organs, fish, and meat your cat should consume on a daily basis. You can also use this tool to determine how much your cat should eat every day, whether it’s for weight-loss or maintenance.
Preparation of raw cat food
Preparation of raw cat food involves preparing raw meats for your cat. Meats should be fresh and preferably bone-free. Always check the labels to make sure the ingredients are not expired. Avoid using meat with bones, as this can be harmful. Choose meat that is easy to chop or debone. Dark meat from chicken and turkey is a great choice. To keep the food fresh, store it in a wide-mouth mason glass jar.
Before you start feeding your cat raw meat, you’ll want to make sure you know the right way to prepare the raw food. A vet-approved recipe should contain all the necessary nutrients for a cat’s nutritional needs. It’s best to avoid contaminated food, as this can expose your cat to bacteria.
It’s important to wash your hands and clean the area thoroughly before preparing food for your cat. You’ll also need to sanitize the raw food you prepare. Raw food can harbor harmful bacteria and other pathogens, so it’s important to keep your kitchen clean and sanitary at all times.
Health risks
While there are several health benefits to feeding your cat raw food, there are also some potential risks. For example, your pet may become infected with Salmonella and other pathogens if they eat feed that is contaminated with these bacteria. Additionally, your pet may shed these harmful bacteria, increasing the risk of infection for you.
One of the biggest concerns with raw cat food is the handling of the food. You should also consult a veterinarian before using raw food. Some raw food recipes contain bones, which could cause a foreign body obstruction in your cat. Always make sure to use a high-quality recipe that is formulated for cats.
A recent study published by the Center for Disease Control and the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) found that about 25% of commercial raw pet foods contained harmful bacteria. These included Listeria, E. coli, and salmonella. These pathogens can cause serious illness and may even lead to death. Raw food must be separated from other foods to minimize the risk of infection.
Another risk is toxoplasmosis. This infection is often acquired from contact with a cat or raw meat. Although this infection is not fatal, it can cause serious illness, particularly for people with weak immune systems. To avoid this risk, it is best to feed your cat a healthy commercial diet.
Benefits
Choosing to feed your cat a raw diet is a good choice if you want to avoid the pitfalls of commercial food. It is important to understand how to prepare raw food to ensure maximum nutrition for your cat. You should purchase whole meats and bone for optimum nutrition. Meats with high levels of liver are often used in raw diets but too much liver can cause a condition called hypervitaminosis A. This condition can lead to poor appetite, lameness, and other health problems. Raw diets also contain an amino acid called taurine, which is important for heart and eye health. Different types of meat will contain different amounts of taurine.
Another option is to offer your cat with freeze-dried food. This type of food is high in protein and contains no grains, preservatives, or additives. In addition, it has a long shelf life. The downside to this type of food is that some cats struggle with its texture, but rehydrating it may help.
Cats are obligate carnivores, which means they need meat proteins as part of their diet. Carbohydrates, on the other hand, are of limited nutritional value, and should only comprise a small percentage of your cat’s diet. Furthermore, dry food lacks moisture, which is essential for healthy digestion.
