When you have time, can you please send me your info on how you make your own food?
Marje, I think you posted a link somewhere too but don't remember where. Please send if you can. Thanks.
I am not sophisticated enough (yet) to do the whole thing from scratch, ala Dr. Lisa Pierson's recipe, so I use vitamin completers. There are several good ones, you have to find which your guys like best. I started with Alnutrin (w/eggshell) for boneless meats. You can request a free sample and just send them a prePaid envelope. The sample is small, but mixes with 1lb boneless meat and some fresh liver (amounts in directions come with).
www.knowwhatyoufeed.com
They like that one pretty well, but we tried the mix by the Young Again pet food company (Carnivore Raw w/ calcium) and Taffy seems to like it even better. No need to buy and add liver to this one, as it has liver powder and I think that is the flavor Taffy likes. Also, this one comes in small packets to mix with 2 lbs meat and therefore makes more servings. I purchased just 3 packets at first to try ($3 each) and have reordered now.
www.youngagainpetfood.com
There is another called EZ Complete by Food Fur Life (the one Marje mentioned) created by some Facebook Raw Feeding members whom I am very familiar with, and I guess a lot of cats like it, but my two won't touch it and I have tried several times. I really wanted them to, but they just don't. It has Green Lipped Mussel and liver is included, too. (You may have my bag to try if you like, as I don't think they send samples.)
I generally purchase organic grass fed chicken thighs at Sprouts or Whole Foods (organic bcuz they have less chance of intolerance issues bcuz grass fed instead of corn, and bcuz Taffy is royalty)(the one time I got the regular chicken thighs I had major guilt!). Plus, I find the better quality meats to be healthier looking and they don't gross me out at all to handle. You get what you pay for, and nothing but the best for my boys! I'll eat Ramen. At Whole Foods, look for the multipaks for a better price. I cut the meats into large chunks and put in the freezer for a while, not until solid. They just go thru the grinder better when partially frozen and make a nicer-looking grind instead of a mushy one. You can also clean off some fat if you feel necessary, but the cuts are generally pretty cleaned up. You can also just cut into smaller bite sized pieces and mix in the vitamin powders if your guys like to chew, but most cats new to raw don't know what to do with chunks, and Taffy is one of those, so I use a hand grinder. It works great, it's super cute, made in Italy, and it suctions hard onto the counter. And, it's called a "Mincy". I love my Mincy. She was $14 bucks at a Marshall's!! But I have seen them online. Of course, there are other types of (metal, clamp-on) hand grinders, but not as cute as Mincy. I had an electric grinder, but it was a pain, I decided not to do bone anyhow, and it was messy to clean. No need for electric if you are not grinding bone. So, grind your par frozen meat, follow the directions on the packets and mix everything up and portion (I use glass jars, 6 oz each). Easy peasy. Cheaper than RadCat and premium canned.
Oh, yea, you can use with cooked meat, too. I do this sometimes when cats are ill. I very very gently poach the thighs and then finish the same way.
He has just been hanging out in the back room. But that could be normal and I could be over reacting.