Raw diets provide cats with access to high-quality proteins that support digestive and energy levels while decreasing smell, volume, and dryness in poop production compared to kibble-fed cats.
Feeding their cats from scratch requires time and dedication, yet purists may prefer it as an active participation. A simpler alternative would be purchasing pre-formulated raw meal or powder plans with all the appropriate supplements included.
Healthier Skin & Coat
Raw diets offer your pet the most natural food source available to them. Their bodies naturally digest this form of nutrition better and eliminate waste products through the skin or urinary tract, leading to healthier skin and coat conditions for them.
Cats are obligate carnivores, meaning that most of their nutrition comes from meat proteins such as taurine and arginine. Because vegetables or carbohydrates contain water-draining substances that could dehydrate a cat quickly, raw diets may provide these vital vitamins in an easily absorbable form – helping ensure cats do not suffer nutrient deficiencies.
Proponents of raw diets refer to it as “biologically appropriate” or “bone and raw food” (BARF) diet, advocating feeding your pet a selection of whole meats from different species for an all-inclusive and balanced meal. If you decide to give your pet raw food diets, please always read and verify its ingredient list to make sure there are no unwholesome components such as unsuitable meat products or mystery meat meals present in it.
Some cats cannot adapt to a completely raw diet; in these instances, we offer raw-inspired diets which contain freeze-dried raw food mixed in with their kibble to provide essential nutrition. This makes transitioning easier while giving your cat access to all their needs!
Weight Loss
Your cat benefits when fed a balanced raw diet similar to what they would find in nature (BARF stands for Biologically Appropriate Raw Food), since their gut health improves and this leads to healthier energy levels throughout their senior years. In addition, this natural carnivorous diet also supports their body’s metabolic processes as well as producing key nutrients such as taurine, vitamins A-E for overall wellbeing.
Healthy digestive function is critical to your pet’s immune system, sending signals around their body and acting as the protector against infections. An overabundance of processed kibble can overload their already overworked system and contribute to symptoms such as itching, weight loss, digestive problems, respiratory conditions or skin allergies – potentially making your pet sick!
Switching your cat’s diet from canned or commercial pet food to raw will help restore their gut health, enabling natural enzymes to function as they were intended – digesting protein, fat and other nutrients more efficiently. Studies also indicate that cats on a raw meat-based diet produce smaller and drier faeces which make cleaning up much simpler! This approach may especially prove useful for cats suffering from gastrointestinal disorders. There are various methods available to you when feeding a raw diet to your feline friend – from home prepared meals or kits all the way to blends or kibble with freeze-dried pieces of raw meat mixed in!
Better Digestion
Raw diets tend to be less allergenic and allow the body to recover from food sensitivities more effectively, making them particularly helpful for cats with digestive issues like IBS or IBD. Furthermore, raw diets contain plenty of Omega-3 fatty acids as well as taurine which provides essential nutrition for heart, brain, joints and other organs.
Raw foods are high in protein and low in carbohydrates. Cats’ bodies can absorb proteins more efficiently when they are not heated up, making this especially important for senior and sick cats. Furthermore, when not heated up the kidneys are better equipped to process protein more efficiently leading to smaller, firmer stools; occasionally cats may experience loose or odd-colored stool during transition; this typically indicates overfeeding or too rapid an introduction and will normally subside with time as their bodies adjust to eating raw.
Premade meals are often the easiest and least costly way of providing a raw diet, as well as being most likely to avoid cross-contamination risk. Another alternative would be using raw meal powder that includes all necessary meats, egg yolks and supplements in proportions that meet FEDIAF nutritional guidelines.
More Energy
If your cat has become used to eating a processed diet full of grains, fillers and other un-natural ingredients, switching to a raw diet could give them more energy and reduce allergic symptoms such as IBD and asthma. Raw diets tend to be less allergenic; thus providing relief from allergy issues for many pets who had trouble finding relief before.
Raw diets contain plenty of proteins while being low in carbohydrates, giving your cat more energy as their body processes what they’re eating. In addition, low glycemic raw diets help regulate their blood sugar levels for improved cardiovascular health.
One of the key points when transitioning your pet onto a raw diet is giving them time to adapt. A gradual approach over 7-10 days should enable your cat to adjust at its own pace.
One effective method of switching your cat over to a raw diet is purchasing premade frozen raw meals. These frozen meals offer everything that they require in an ideal ratio, making this an easy solution for busy pet parents who still wish their cats could reap all the benefits associated with feeding raw.
