RAW DIET question

[Si am cat mom]

Hi

We are starting to transition to raw food here. So far he likes the poultry hearts and gizzards whole and raw. I was wondering if for the supplements and such- I would have to grind up all of his food- or if it would be okay to say grind up some of the rabbit and chicken thighs (and liver), but leave the organ meat whole and just maybe mix it in. Just wondering if this would technically mess up the dosing a bit for the supplements or made it so things don't mix properly...?

posted on Community /off topic too since this was just a random question and not related to his health but

 

[Bron and Sheba (GA)]

Hearts are not organ meat. They are classified as muscle meat for cats. Either are gizzards organ meat. They are also muscle meat.
How many hearts are you giving a day. It is recommended you don't give more than 2 or 3 a day.
I feed 3 chicken hearts a day to my cats.
https://feline-nutrition.org/nutrition/take-heart-but-not-too-much

Organ meat is liver, kidney, spleen, sweetbreads and brain.
You need to limit the amount of liver you feed to 5% of the daily total.
And limit the amount of the secreting organ meat to 5% as well ....such as kidney.

If the supplement you are using has liver or vitamin A in it, you do not also add liver to the diet as you will be giving too much vitamin A. Liver is very rich in vitamin A and too much is toxic. But the cat needs a certain amount.

I do not grind up any of my cats food.
If you want to mix the supplement in to the ground part, you could give the hearts and gizzards as another meal.
But you need to make sure you have a nutritionally sound mix to use daily.
Are you going to do a big mix that you use over many days/weeks or are you going to add the supplement daily to the food?

 

[Si am cat mom]

Was going to make a batch and use it over a few days/weeks ....just trying to get all the supplements and figure out the ratios.
I think I did read that part about limiting the secreting organs but not having to worry as much with hearts. He does get about 2 hearts /day , but the gizzards I just cut up and offer. The Turkey hearts were much bigger so, I tried to offer a bit less. I read that chicken livers had less vitamin A that some others ( Turkey/ beef) but to still be aware of the contents and that if you buy ground to check and see if parts of the brain/ endocrine system were in it since that has other supplemental ingredients included.
It's still early and I'm just starting offering the muscle meat last week because I read it was a hood way to start them on raw.

Thanks for the info !!!!

 

[Bron and Sheba (GA)]

It's true that chicken liver has less vitamin A than say lambs liver but it still has a lot so you need to make sure you only give 5% liver of the total amount you are feeding. So if you are feeding 120 grams a day for example then the amount of liver would be 6 grams a day. And 6 grams of a secreting organ such as kidney.
The hardest part is sorting it all out in the beginning, then it's easy, but it's important to get it right in the beginning.

 

[Si am cat mom]

It's true that chicken liver has less vitamin A than say lambs liver but it still has a lot so you need to make sure you only give 5% liver of the total amount you are feeding. So if you are feeding 120 grams a day for example then the amount of liver would be 6 grams a day. And 6 grams of a secreting organ such as kidney.
The hardest part is sorting it all out in the beginning, then it's easy, but it's important to get it right in the beginning.

I'm going to try...it sounds like a lot already and I was freaking out about putting the wrong amounts of supplements in, but I feel like as long as I go easy on the liver - I should be okay. I am still waiting for the scale to come in so, so far it's just been the raw muscle meat.
We will see

 

[Bron and Sheba (GA)]

If you have a reputable supplement it should be easy. It should tell you have much supplement per 100 grams or 3 ounces of muscle meat to use.
It depends what's in the supplement. Can you post what you are using?
If it has vitamin A in it or liver, you shouldn't add extra liver yourself.
If the supplement has everything a supplement should have, all you need to add is the muscle meat.

I feed a frankenprey diet so I use all the different parts of the animal instead of most supplements. It is more complicated than using muscle meat and a supplement. I started out by using a supplement with muscle meat.

 

[Si am cat mom]

I hadn't bought any one yet .I am trying to decide if a premix is best or just buying the individual supplements would be better to ensure this and that goes in approximately...?

He just had an appointment with an internists today for an ultrasound to rule out other issues preventing us from getting regulated...nothing noted but signs of likely pancreatitis at some point recently. She said no raw food- ofcourse, but she also said as long as BGs are under 300 for the most part - not to worrry.
Tonight though ( 3AM) he had a nasty hairball with some brown fluid ( likely just bile), so I'm being cautious and doing a bland diet and watching him. I don't know if raw food changes the color of vomit like it changes stool and he seems okay ( still asking for food and being his usual self) He was hiding under the bed off and on after his appointment...so just being careful.

 

[Bron and Sheba (GA)]

I would go with a reputable premix if I were you. It is much easier and safer especially when starting out. you just need to check what it has in it as some have vitamin A and some dont and that will determine whether or not you feed any liver.

I’ve always found when the cats vomit, they vomit raw meat. If it’s later and the tummy is empty they will vomit bile.

Have a look around then post on here for opinions. Makoto looks in lovely condition.