Raw Food

[Adrienne & Molly (GA)]

Hello,
Does anyone feed their cat raw food? I was just at the pet store trying to find a food. Where my cat has a history of urinary crystals. The suggestion was raw food?

 

[Kris & Teasel]

There are many here who do. You need to buy a feline complete nutritional supplement to add to it. Here are two people with experience: @Djamila @Rachel

 

[Adrienne & Molly (GA)]

Ok do I message them?

 

[ladysown]

I researched on-line what they needed as a supplement.. b complex, fish oil (not cod), taurine and something I'm not remembering right now. Then add that to the wet. The raw makes the cat throw up so right now we lightly cook it.

 

[Bron and Sheba (GA)]

I feed my cats a raw diet. Making your own is best for the cat. There are supplements that can be added to make it a complete food..
I live in Australia so don't know the US supplements available but someone will tell you..
Look online for supplements then post and ask if they are suitable..

Use human grade meat bought from the supermarket or butchers. You can feed chicken, beef, lamb, pork, kangaroo, venison........
You need to use muscle meats.
You can also give chicken hearts....no more than 6 a day, small amounts of kidney..about a teaspoon a day.
Raw diets are great for cats.

 

[Bronx's dad (GA)]

There are also many options to buy raw frozen raw food for cats that already have the needed supplements. It will cost more than making your own though. Bronx likes these:

https://www.vitalessentialsraw.com/cat/food/
https://www.stevesrealfood.com/raw-cat-food/

If you decide to make your own, many use this to get the other needed supplements:

http://www.foodfurlife.com/store/c1/Featured_Products.html

 

[SpotsMom]

I use the FoodFurLife life mix that @Bronx's dad linked above. Both of my kitties get the mix with raw chicken. It is one of the very few foods that Spot will eat consistently even when he’s not feeling well, and it even won over my dry food addict, Zuri. Just make sure you transition slowly to avoid putting them off due to tummy issues.

 

[Djamila]

Hi there. I also use the EZComplete from Foodfurlife that was linked above. I cannot overemphasize the importance of following their transition guidelines. It seems overly cautious, and since my cat seemed to like the food, I jumped right in and just gave him a bunch of it. Sure enough, after a day, he turned his nose up. When I backed off and transitioned the way they tell you to, he played along nicely and that is now his main food. I use it with chicken, turkey, lamb (when I can get it on sale), and occasionally a small batch of beef (beef isn't great for them, so I limit that to just once in awhile).

I do still use commercial raw as well, and feed Vital Essentials, Primal, and Natural Pet Pantry (I think they might just be local here in Seattle though).

And to clarify from your original post -- you only need to add a supplement if you are making your own raw. If you buy a raw food at the store, they should all be complete already.