Raw diets provide natural, high-protein nutrition with real health advantages for cats. To ensure they get all of the essential vitamins and minerals they require for good health, always follow an approved recipe from your veterinarian that provides all of the required nutrients.
Preparing raw diets from scratch can be time-consuming and time-consuming, and requires great caution to prevent cross-contamination with dangerous pathogens. That’s why many pet parents opt for pre-made and frozen raw meals as an easier solution.
Weight Loss
As its name implies, a raw diet seeks to emulate the natural diet of wild cats by feeding small animals (rodents, birds and fish) alongside fruits and vegetables. Furthermore, this form of eating may help with weight loss by eliminating carbohydrates.
Raw diets provide your pet with high amounts of energy, while also aiding their hydration needs – crucial as cats in the wild would naturally hydrate themselves naturally and therefore provide ample hydration themselves. Achieve maximum urinary health: cystitis, bladder stones & crystals!
Though the benefits of raw diets for cats are obvious, implementation can be tricky. One way to begin transitioning your cat over is by gradually replacing half his or her regular food with raw meals for several days at first before gradually increasing them until your cat is on an entirely raw diet. Some manufacturers make commercial raw foods which make transitioning easier.
Healthy Skin & Coat
Raw diets provide your cat with more energy by offering more protein and functional fats, including essential fatty acids that ease inflammation and strengthen immune systems. In many cases, raw diets have proven successful at relieving skin allergies like itching and flaky skin issues caused by foods that trigger an allergic response; or alternatively may even just contain foods that provide essential fatty acids which strengthen their immunity systems further.
Raw food diets help promote strong jaws and healthy teeth in cats. Chewing on meaty bones helps scrape plaque off teeth, helping prevent gum disease while keeping teeth clean and healthy. Chewing also assists digestion; many pet parents report seeing less stinky stools once their feline friend switched to raw diet.
Some pet owners choose to make their own raw food meals for their pet while others opt for store-bought raw meals which come ready-made, either frozen or freeze dried, featuring muscle meat, organ meat and ground bone – providing an easier option for home preparation with nutritionally balanced formula and accurate proportions of ingredients. It is important to keep in mind that improper storage and handling can allow bacteria growth resulting in Salmonella, E.coli Listeria or other illnesses which could make pets sick.
Better Oral Health
Raw diets contain natural fatty acids that will keep your cat’s gums in top condition. Plus, these diets contain less of the sugars that cause gum disease to flourish!
Many owners notice their cat’s breath has improved after switching them to raw diet, which is likely attributed to better oral health. Additionally, less waste end up in the litter box and an improved gut microbiome have other positive benefits including easier digestion and reduced furballs.
While raw diets offer many advantages, they can also pose risks if not prepared correctly. Raw food should always be properly prepared in terms of hygiene and should never remain at room temperature for long. In addition, some raw diets contain whole bones which pose potential health hazards if not ground properly into a paste before feeding to your cat.
While homemade raw diets can save money, it’s crucial that they provide all of the required nutrients for optimum health, particularly if your cat has any health conditions or is entering her senior years.
Better Immune System
Many pet parents report seeing an improvement in the health of their cats after switching them over to raw diets, due to the absence of carbohydrates and increase in protein and fatty acids – essential nutrients for carnivores such as cats. Raw diets also contain essential joint health nutrients such as chondroitin, glucosamine and collagen which contributes to weight control and better digestion.
As with any diet, it is crucial that any transition into home-prepared raw diets begins slowly. Improper handling could result in bacteria being transferred directly from meat into your cat. Therefore, having dedicated kitchen utensils and space set aside specifically for raw food storage will help avoid this possibility.
An effective raw diet provides your cat with nutritionally sound food derived from muscle meat, organs and bone that mimics what they would find in nature. Organs provide key vitamins and minerals such as B vitamins, Vitamin A and amino acids while raw meat provides taurine as an essential nutrient – many commercial and homemade raw diets include taurine supplements to ensure they receive this important nutrient.
More Energy
Raw diets offer greater energy for your cat as they contain lower fat and higher protein. Furthermore, natural raw diets contain essential fatty acids which strengthen their immune systems to ensure they feel more energetic and can ward off illnesses more effectively.
Many cats have found that by switching to a raw diet, their eating patterns begin to change and weight loss becomes noticeable. Some even report sleeping through the night due to no longer feeling hungry!
Cats suffering from food sensitivities or digestive issues, such as IBD, may find raw feeding beneficial. Before making this change to their diet however, always consult your veterinarian first to make sure it’s safe. Once approved by their veterinarian, be sure to follow all appropriate feeding and storage guidelines; additionally it may be wise to gradually transition them over slowly – for instance by gradually adding pieces of raw to his regular kibble or switching him over to one with frozen pieces mixed in – this way their body has time to adjust and accepts the new nutrition slowly allowing him body time to adjust and adapt.
