Raw feeding mimics the natural eating habits of cats, offering plenty of protein without carbohydrates that could contribute to weight gain or cause other health issues.
Transitioning your pet slowly onto a raw diet will help ensure smooth transition, helping avoid stomach upset or diarrhea. Mix a small amount of raw food with their canned food each week until they can handle fully switching over.
Improved Digestion
Supporters of raw diets for cats believe they provide more biologically appropriate meals, since obligate carnivores need meat in their diets. According to them, cooked foods add sugars, starches and vegetable proteins which could potentially cause weight gain, gout attacks or urinary tract issues in cats.
Pet parents also report that feeding their cats a raw diet has enhanced their coats, skin health and teeth cleanliness compared to commercial diets, while their cats’ stools become smaller and smell less frequently than before.
One of the biggest advantages of feeding raw meat-based diets to cats is that they are much more digestible than kibble or canned diets, meaning the body can more efficiently use and absorb most of the nutrients consumed. Furthermore, their digestive systems use less enzymes to break down proteins; this decreases nitrogen waste products found in stool.
Some individuals opt to prepare their own raw meals in order to save money, yet this time consuming option requires proper food safety practices to prevent bacteria contamination. A more convenient alternative would be purchasing premade meals and mixes such as Wellness CORE RawRev that already have everything proportioned out and can be stored once made.
Less Stool
Raw diets have long been recognized to help decrease stool volume and frequency in cats. This may be because raw food diets reduce carbohydrates that cause gas, diarrhea and intestinal tract issues in some cats.
Make meals from scratch: This method requires proper meat grinding equipment, measuring scales and food scales in order to ensure all ingredients are proportionately mixed together. Many purists find this approach more gratifying as they know exactly what their cat is eating.
Wellness CORE RawRev provides convenient premade raw meal plans that take the guesswork out of raw nutrition, providing balanced raw meals that can even be frozen for easy storage and consumption.
Finally, raw diet supplements can be added to kibble or other forms of dry food for your cat. These can include organ meats like liver and kidney, which provide essential B vitamins, vitamin A and amino acids; egg yolks also provide good protein sources as well as essential taurine sources which cannot be produced naturally by their bodies.
Weight Loss
Raw food diets tend to contain less calories than conventional kibble diets, which may provide an effective means of weight control in overweight cats.
Proponents of raw diets believe it helps prevent and treat conditions like diabetes, arthritis, urinary tract issues, inflammatory bowel disease, asthma and chronic skin/ear issues. With their higher water content than dry foods, raw diets also serve to prevent dehydration.
Raw diets offer additional advantages when it comes to dental health. Cats in the wild don’t experience gum disease because they regularly chew raw bones, meat, connective tissues, and skin to keep their teeth clean; by contrast, carbohydrates create starchy films on teeth that lead to plaque buildup and gum disease.
If you are considering feeding your cat raw food, make an appointment with their veterinarian first to come up with an appropriate nutritional plan for them. Begin slowly so their system and digestive tract have time to adapt; your vet can provide insight on the right amount for their size and activity level.
Better Skin & Coat
Raw diets provide cats with all of the fatty acids required for skin and coat health, as well as helping restore the natural PH balance in their gut, which fosters healthy bacteria populations. Furthermore, raw diets contain all of the protein required by cats (they’re obligate carnivores!) without fillers found in kibble that often trigger allergic reactions.
Ground bone in a raw diet serves as an abrasive that can help to clean our feline companion’s teeth, breaking down plaque and tartar to allow their bodies to produce enough enzymes necessary for normal digestive functioning.
Raw diets may require additional labor from pet parents; however, there are ways they can simplify this approach. One popular solution is purchasing premade raw meals – which are the safest, simplest, and least expensive option available – while other approaches may include making food from powder + meat mixture or grinding your ingredients directly yourself. When handling raw foods it’s essential to take proper safety measures and prevent cross contamination to protect against pathogen exposure; especially important when sharing environments with children, elderly, or immunocompromised people.
Better Immune System
Raw foods provide your cat with essential vitamins and minerals not found in canned or dry food, helping strengthen their immune system, as well as promote healthier skin and coat. Many owners report seeing an improvement in the cat’s immune function as well as more radiant coats from switching over.
Some of these nutrients include collagen, glucosamine and chondroitin which all play an integral part in maintaining joint health, reducing inflammation and maintaining healthy cartilage. Organ meats provide B vitamins, vitamin A as well as amino acids such as taurine which contribute significantly to joint health. Many commercial raw diets and homecooked raw meals include these ingredients.
Part of creating a successful raw diet for your pet involves maintaining strict cleanliness when handling and feeding raw meat to your pet. Mishandled or improperly stored raw meat can spread dangerous pathogens like salmonella, E. coli and other illnesses in humans and pets alike. When selecting fresh meat as part of their meal or purchasing commercial raw food options, always choose fresh over ground as the lower surface area reduces bacteria growth and pathogen transmission.
