Raw Food Premix Supplements

Status
Not open for further replies.
Courtney and Kismet

Courtney and Kismet

Member Since 2012
Hi All,

I am thinking of transitioning Kismet (OTJ since October 2012) to a raw food diet. He currently eats Fancy Feast Classics, Merrick Before Grain 96%, and EVO brand canned foods, all grain free and high protein. I've read Dr. Lisa's guide to making raw food and checked out her recipes as well as several others, but have also been considering premix supplements. I don't have a grinder, and the premixes are appealing because they ultimately will save a lot of money and prep time.

This website http://cats.about.com/od/homepreparedfood/tp/toprawdiet.htm offers a few recommendations for supplemental mixtures that can simply be added to raw meat. Does anyone have any experience with the following products/companies?

Instincts TC by Feline Future
Alnutrin Supplements
Sojourner Farms European-Style Cat Mix (I'm iffy about this one because of all the vegetables and fruits)

Thanks!

Courtney and Kismet
 
Hi,

I'm in the UK and so can't comment on those supplement mixes, but I just wanted to say that it's great to see someone else having a go at raw food.

I've recently started supplementing my cats' diets with raw food, and now they've got a taste for it I'm considering transitioning them completely to raw (once I know I can get the nutrients right....)

I found it helpful at first to buy a commercially made raw food just to see whether my cats would eat raw food at all. And now I'm buying pre-minced meats (currently whole bone-in rabbit and ox heart) to which I'm adding the supplements. You do need to be careful not to add any supplement mixes that contain calcium to a mince that contains bones as well as meat. And also not to add iodine if you're using, for example, minced whole rabbit that still contains the thyroid gland. (At least, I think this is right, but I am still very much a newbie to all this.... :roll: )

Like you, I don't have a meat grinder. But if my cats appetite for raw food continues - and increases - then I may certainly invest in one!
 
Hi Squeem, thanks so much for the links! Looks like quite a few people have had success with the first brand I mentioned.

Elizabeth and Bertie, thanks so much for your comments! I am going to try him on a premade frozen raw food (rad cat) to see how he goes. It's a bit pricey, though, and the only supplier in my area is quite a hike. I love the idea of pre-minced meat. I am going to check out local butchers and see if this is something I can get, too. The grinders are not only $$$ (though they are decidedly worth the investment) but I am seriously grossed out by raw meat and the idea of having to grind organs and bones makes me think of Mrs. Lovett's meat pie emporium lol! Kismet's health is my priority, though, and if he takes to the raw diet I will likely take the plunge and buy a grinder and just deal with the gross out factor. In one of the threads Squeem provided, someone said that there is a grinder attachment for the kitchen aid. I have always wanted a Kitchen Aid, so now I may have a reason to get one! Anyway, good luck with your transition! I would love to hear how the process goes for you.

I was up until the wee hours last night reading all about the supplements and when to add calcium and iodine and taurine depending on the type of raw materials you use. It seems like chicken thighs are the most economical raw meat we can get. I am going to do some shopping around this weekend and check out prices to figure out the cost of canned vs premade frozen raw, vs premix supplement + raw, versus entirely homemade raw.

Also, this is an open ended question to anyone who feeds raw or knows a lot about it. So buying organic is highly recommended because of reduced bacteria, but it is very expensive. I don't even eat organic lol! I've read that some people cook their meat at 550 for 5-10 mins and dunk in ice water just to kill surface bacteria. If I use this method, is it okay to buy regular supermarket grade meats, or should I only buy organic? Thanks in advance for any guidance! I'm trying to be as cautious as possible here... Kismet is finally in excellent health: OTJ and he hasn't had an asthma attack since being OTJ! (we suspect he has food allergies and the diet change not only regulated his insulin, but seems to have cured him of his asthma) so I am really cautious/hesitant about changing anything in his diet. I am fairly certain be has fish allergies, so I am concerned about adding fish oil as a supplement. I can try it, but whenever he eats salmon, for example, he has an asthma attack within 5 minutes.
 
We tried the TC Feline and Tess did like it, but she is early stage CKD and it is very high in phosphorus. I'm not sure about the others, but i would check that as many older cats should have lower phosphorus foods. Dr Lisa does have a recipe without bones, using bonemeal instead. If you aren't using the bones you don't need the grinder. Chunks of meat are better for their teeth anyway and if you toss it in the freezer for an hour it will solidify enough to make it easy to dice.

Lately we have been using the Nature's Variety premade raw. If you buy it in the Chubs (2# or 5# packages) and portion it yourself it is much cheaper, about what it costs me to make it without all the work. And the little snob likes it better! BTW all the supplements for homemade will run about $50, but you will have enough to make food for a year.
 
Courtney and Kismet said:
It seems like chicken thighs are the most economical raw meat we can get. I am going to do some shopping around this weekend and check out prices to figure out the cost of canned vs premade frozen raw, vs premix supplement + raw, versus entirely homemade raw.
Click to expand...

Dr. Lisa's web site has a section on raw food and cost comparision: http://catinfo.org/?link=makingcatfood

Here is a comparision done on costs of dry vs canned vs raw food: http://catcentric.org/nutrition-and...y-cat-or-i-can-afford-to-feed-commercial-raw/ It includes a link to a canneed vs raw cost table: http://catcentric.org/wp-content/uploads/2012/04/Canned-Raw-Table-1.pdf

Here's a thread on Caster where people discuss how much they spend on raw: http://www.catster.com/forums/Raw_Food_Diet/thread/730285

Also, this is an open ended question to anyone who feeds raw or knows a lot about it. So buying organic is highly recommended because of reduced bacteria, but it is very expensive. I don't even eat organic lol! I've read that some people cook their meat at 550 for 5-10 mins and dunk in ice water just to kill surface bacteria. If I use this method, is it okay to buy regular supermarket grade meats, or should I only buy organic?
Click to expand...

Organic is ideal but not everyone can afford it or has access to it. Supermarket meat is fine and what most raw feeders here use. Buy whole cuts of meat and grind or finely chop it yourself at home. A butcher shop may be able to get you quality meats and even organs and bones. You can also purchase raw meat from online suppliers such as https://www.hare-today.com/ but shipping may be costly.

Ann & Tess said:
Lately we have been using the Nature's Variety premade raw. If you buy it in the Chubs (2# or 5# packages) and portion it yourself it is much cheaper, about what it costs me to make it without all the work. And the little snob likes it better!
Click to expand...

I feed the civies the NV medallions. The 1 oz medallions are the perfect size for a meal :smile:
 
We do the hot oven sear for 5 minutes. Leave the bone in while you sear it, the less surface exposed at that time the better. Instead of dunking in water to stop the cooking, I have a chilled baking sheet ready, transfer them to it and straight into the freezer. You don't loose the fats from the surface that way, save the dripping from the pan too! This semi freezes them for cutting up too!
 
Hi Courtney-
Long time no chat! I hope Kismet is just loving life at the falls. Fur Ball is a completely different kitty since going into remission. He is so playful and goofy and turning into a truely annoying cat!!! :lol: :lol: :lol: DH got him 12 new fuzzy mice for Christmas and he will play with them for hours.

I have not done enough research on making my own food, apart from reading Dr Lisa's information, so can't comment much on that. We opted for the Natures Variety Instinct Raw. Fur Ball gets the chicken medallions. We have tried the kibbles but he does not seem to care for them as much. Not sure why. Little buggart. :smile: I don't think he has drank any water since doing the raw food. I put water in with the medallions and he likes to soupy mes. I haven't bought the chubs because I really like to ease of the medallions. Given his weight and activity level he is currently getting 2 in the AM and 2 in the PM. Still hoping to get him down 1-2 more pounds but overall life is good in Fur Ball land.

Karen and FB
 
Going raw has been the best thing I have done for these cats. The first thing people say when they come into my house is, "Gee, your house does not smell like you have cats. Seriously." Everyone including the vet marvels at their coats and eyes. The vet was impressed at my cats' teeth, too. No cleaning necessary. The diarrhea I posted about a year ago has never returned.

As far as cost and time, it is cheaper and faster for me to use a grinder than to chunk all the meat for a premix. Also, when I had them on the premixes I would throw them a bone to keep them out of my way. They would bust them open for the marrow. Now that I grind bone, they don't want the additional bones. That tells me that there's something in the marrow that they needed. Now if something happens to my grinder I will gladly return to premixes until I get a new grinder; but after having done both methods (premixes and grinding) I prefer the grinding all the way around.

Do not buy preground meat! If you decide to use a premix, either find a way to grind only the meat or chunk the meat. Do not trust the supermarket packaging practices to serve raw meat. I would definately sear the thighs at 550 F and shock it in ice water or in the freezer as someone else mentioned. Then skin, debone, etc.

ETA: I buy plain chicken thighs. I buy the family packs during buy-one-get-one sales and freeze them until I need to make food. This serves 2 purposes: saves on feed costs and freezing in a deep freezer serves to kill some surface bacteria. I calculated costs and it came out to $0.33/day/cat to feed homemade raw with a grinder.
 
Status
Not open for further replies.
Back
Top