Holistic vets frequently recommend raw diets for cats as they mimic the natural diet of wild cats. Most commonly, raw diets contain muscle meat, ground bone and organs.
Transitioning your cat onto a raw diet is easily achievable with premade meals that provide balanced nutrition.
1. Improved Digestion
Raw diets offer cats access to an abundance of essential nutrients not found in processed food, such as essential fatty acids that aid in cell function. Furthermore, these essential fatty acids reduce inflammation caused by immune diseases, arthritis and other chronic illnesses.
Raw diets also improve digestion by providing your cat with food it would find in nature, including raw meats that digest more quickly than cooked ones and the need to chew raw bones activates their digestive tract even before being swallowed, helping your feline make use of every bite they eat and making for less gas and bloat, less oily vomit and poop, healthier gums and teeth overall.
When creating a homemade raw diet for your cat at home, be sure to select high-quality meats and use proper hand washing techniques. Designate one kitchen specifically for handling raw meats to lower risk of cross contamination and pathogens; additionally it’s wise to sanitize both their dishes and eating area after every meal as a preventive measure.
One option for feeding your cat a raw diet is purchasing ready-made, balanced raw diet from companies like Wellness CORE RawRev that produce their own products – this method provides one of the easiest and cost-effective means of providing raw diet meals prepared, freeze dried, packaged and frozen right within their company owned facilities.
2. Better Skin & Coat
Cats who eat raw diets benefit from increased Omega-3 fatty acid intake which keeps their skin soft and shiny, as well as additional proteins and nutrients which strengthen hair follicles to produce fuller coats and healthier coats.
Pet parents of cats that eat raw diets often notice their coat is more radiant and healthier due to the abundance of essential fatty acids present. They also find less signs of irritation on their pet’s skin due to this diet’s higher concentration of essential fatty acids.
Raw diets provide small wild cats with food similar to what they would find in nature, including rodents, birds, insects and fish. Raw diets contain natural vitamins and minerals like B12, taurine and niacin as well as essential folic acid-rich nutrients necessary for pregnant, nursing and older cats alike.
Most pet parents provide their cats with raw diets at home, however there are now commercial products available that have already been prepared and frozen to the appropriate proportions for your cat. Furthermore, these meals are usually tested for food-borne pathogens to ensure your pet remains free from infection – this is important because contaminated raw foods could contain bacteria which could make both you and your cat sick; in addition, chewing on whole bones during meal time could result in gastrointestinal blockages or oral injuries or lacerations resulting from improperly prepared raw diets.
3. More Energy
Raw diets provide cats with a boost of energy that they need for proper growth and maintenance, unlike most commercial diets which lack natural enzymes that break down food for digestion, thus eliminating constipation or diarrhea from occurring. Furthermore, high quality raw diets contain essential fatty acids which improve coat and skin condition as well as helping keep teeth clean by way of chewing action – further decreasing dental issues risk for cats on raw foods!
As raw diets can replicate what wild cats consume, they provide cats with all the essential nutrients and energy for long, healthy lives. Furthermore, the fatty acids present in raw meats help strengthen immunity as well as alleviating any inflammation caused by arthritis or digestive diseases – many owners report seeing improvement after switching their cat to raw diet.
Cat parents looking to feed their cat raw diets can make their own meals or purchase balanced and complete premade plans from any store. When creating meals from scratch or buying premade raw plans, it is vital that food safety procedures and storage methods be strictly observed – for instance storing in a cold location can prevent bacteria growth while other pet parents prefer freezing homemade raw diets to ensure they won’t spoil.
4. Reduced Risk of Illness
Raw food contains many essential vitamins, minerals and amino acids essential to cat health – this includes taurine which is crucial to eye and heart function. Although plentiful in muscle meat and organs, levels are diminished when grounding meat for grinding purposes or freezing and thawing process occur – therefore supplementation may be necessary if your cat eats only raw.
Raw bones are an important element of the raw diet for cats, helping remove plaque and tartar build-up that contributes to gum disease in cats. Raw bones also offer natural sources of calcium and other essential nutrients. When providing homemade raw diets to your feline companion, make sure the ingredients are appropriately proportioned so she receives all of the nutrition she requires for good health.
If you are new to feeding raw diets to your cat or kitten, it is wise to gradually introduce it over time. Doing it all at once could overwhelm their system and result in nutritional deficiencies.
Keep raw food stored safely, either in its own freezer or a covered bowl or plate dedicated to raw foods only, to reduce bacteria transfer and other pathogens entering your pet’s system via handling, water contamination or food. This helps ensure they get enough nutrition from their diet without risking serious illness due to handling.
