Raw/Homemade Diet Questions

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Erica & Carter

Erica & Carter

Member Since 2016
Hi guys,

I've poked about this in my Lantus thread but I wanted to see how many people use raw or homemade diets.

I'm looking at the pre-made raw diets, as well as the recipe on Dr. Lisa's page.

Does anyone use either of these, and can you weigh out the pros and cons? I know one or two that have said they use pre-made but not homemade.

I gave them some FF for a treat this morning and they ate it so fast. It had me questioning how I'm going to be able to afford $200+ of BFF/Tiki Cat every month, especially right now when I am in between jobs. I don't necessarily WANT to feed them FF, Friskies etc but financially I may need to. I'm curious to know how many people successfully feed their cats a homemade diet.

I was going to try and get some pre-made raw to first test it out, see if they like it. Or as Dr. Lisa's said to just try to cut up a little bit of raw chicken and see the reaction, perhaps having to mix it w/ some canned at first, etc.

I'm more than prepared to make their food if I feel like they could adjust to it I would just be interested in hearing from others who have done the same.
 
Hi Erica. I make my own homemade raw for my kitties. I follow the recipe that is on the Feline Nutrition website. It is basically a combo of Dr Lisa's recipe, but they add hearts to the mix. What I also like about that website is there is a recipe calculator that will figure out how much liver, hearts, plus the supplements to use depending on how much meat & bone you are using. I try to change up the protein too every now and then so its not always chicken thighs.
 
Karen & Lily said:
Hi Erica. I make my own homemade raw for my kitties. I follow the recipe that is on the Feline Nutrition website. It is basically a combo of Dr Lisa's recipe, but they add hearts to the mix. What I also like about that website is there is a recipe calculator that will figure out how much liver, hearts, plus the supplements to use depending on how much meat & bone you are using. I try to change up the protein too every now and then so its not always chicken thighs.
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Do you have a link to that by chance?

I'm assuming you can buy livers etc at the deli section as well? I'd be buying from somewhere like Whole Foods or Publix.

Sorry I'm vegetarian and I have been most of my life so meat protein isn't my best subject lol

Do you use a grinder as well? Or do you add the calcium in as a supliment and use a food processor?
 
I also buy my chicken hearts and livers at Publix. My store always has them in stock. And yes I bought a grinder-The Tasin that Dr Lisa recommends.
 
Karen & Lily said:
I also buy my chicken hearts and livers at Publix. My store always has them in stock. And yes I bought a grinder-The Tasin that Dr Lisa recommends.
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Yeah I was looking at ones on Amazon that have good reviews and are a bit cheaper (people who make their own cat food reviewed them saying they worked) but I'm skeptical.
 
I would go with the Tasin grinder. Not too expensive and can chop up chicken bones with no problem. When I ordered mine it was delivered within days.
 
Erica & Carter said:
Yes I did! Very handy!! Especially if I want to make a very small batch to start off.

And you're right, better to be safe than sorry with the grinder.
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You will like the Tasin grinder. Plus it has a reverse button in case of jams. So far I havent had any meat or bones get jammed up though. I would follow Dr Lisa's advise. She also gives recommendations on ways to entice your kitties to eat the new food. Luckily I dont have fussy kitties and all 9 of mine love the raw food.
 
Karen & Lily said:
You will like the Tasin grinder. Plus it has a reverse button in case of jams. So far I havent had any meat or bones get jammed up though. I would follow Dr Lisa's advise. She also gives recommendations on ways to entice your kitties to eat the new food. Luckily I dont have fussy kitties and all 9 of mine love the raw food.
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I've been feeding Tiki Cat/BFF which isn't raw but it's more natural aka not like a typical commercial pate texture so I'm hoping maybe they'll transition well. I wouldn't say they're picky, they dropped dry food like a hot sack of potatoes once I offered wet. It took Carter a little constant mixing and extra water adding to get the food into mush the first few days and I still add extra water but he inhales it now pretty much as is.
 
My Lily was a dry food addict. I think that might have contributed to her diabetes. When I started the transition over to raw I first bought commercial raw food-mostly Rad Cat or Primal. But that gets expensive especially with 9 mouths to feed. And I think they all know they cant afford to be picky with the competition amongst them for the food. If they dont eat one of the others will eat it instead! LOL
 
Karen & Lily said:
My Lily was a dry food addict. I think that might have contributed to her diabetes. When I started the transition over to raw I first bought commercial raw food-mostly Rad Cat or Primal. But that gets expensive especially with 9 mouths to feed. And I think they all know they cant afford to be picky with the competition amongst them for the food. If they dont eat one of the others will eat it instead! LOL
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Yeah I was going to try like instinct raw first and see how they react and/or just a few pieces of cut up raw chicken, maybe mix it into their wet slowly. I still have a fair amount of food right now but If I am going to switch I want to prepare them to switch over pretty soon to when their normal food runs out.

And I thought I had my hands full with 3 cats and a dog, haha!
 
Erica & Carter said:
@Karen & Lily would you also say this diet is more cost effective for your 9 babies?
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Absolutely. It sets you back at first with the cost of the grinder, food scale, etc...But I have already noticed a difference in my kitties. Their fur is so soft and silky, they dont throw up food, no hairballs. I have one kitty who is a Maine Coon and since the transition to raw she doesnt get any matted fur like she used to. And yes its alot less expensive than commerical cat food. Plus none of the crap that they put in the commercial food. All positive!
 
Is there a link to Dr Lisa's advice on raw food diets? I am thinking of doing part raw food for my lot. I have found yesterday that two love raw lamb. Is this ok for them? Only one of the two is diabetic.
 
Karen & Lily said:
Absolutely. It sets you back at first with the cost of the grinder, food scale, etc...But I have already noticed a difference in my kitties. Their fur is so soft and silky, they dont throw up food, no hairballs. I have one kitty who is a Maine Coon and since the transition to raw she doesnt get any matted fur like she used to. And yes its alot less expensive than commerical cat food. Plus none of the crap that they put in the commercial food. All positive!
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Good to hear! I had always thought about going raw but I think going from dry to raw would have been a challenge.

Do you give fully raw or do you bake some of it partially as well to get rid of bacteria etc in the oven?
 
Erica & Carter said:
Good to hear! I had always thought about going raw but I think going from dry to raw would have been a challenge.

Do you give fully raw or do you bake some of it partially as well to get rid of bacteria etc in the oven?
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I dont cook it at all. Fully raw, including eggs.
 
Karen & Lily said:
I dont cook it at all. Fully raw, including eggs.
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Gotcha.

I read that Dr. Lisa partially cooked some of hers and I'm wondering if I need to try that first, or not go that route at all to prevent the cats from "preferring" it cooked to raw and then getting stuck on switching them out of that phase.
 
Erica & Carter said:
Gotcha.

I read that Dr. Lisa partially cooked some of hers and I'm wondering if I need to try that first, or not go that route at all to prevent the cats from "preferring" it cooked to raw and then getting stuck on switching them out of that phase.
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I follow the Feline Nutrition recipe which only rinses the meat, doesnt cook it at all. I figure cats in the wild dont cook their meals and our kitties arent that much different. Lol
 
Karen & Lily said:
I follow the Feline Nutrition recipe which only rinses the meat, doesnt cook it at all. I figure cats in the wild dont cook their meals and our kitties arent that much different. Lol
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True.
Do you call ahead at Publix for the freshest meat or do you just buy what's in display?
 
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