RAW with timed feeders?

[squeem3]

What's the general consensus on putting frozen commerical RAW into a timed feeder? Ok? Not ok? How do RAW feeders let their cats (civies or diabetics) eat small meals several times a day, especially if you work full time? confused_cat

I haven't heard back yet from The Honest Kitchen about freezing rehydrated Prowl and using that in a timed feeder.

 

[Blue]

I tried some patties - tryhealthypaws.com and Ollie and Apple like them. They are tiny - like 1pattie per 3lb of cat - so I would have to feed Ollie 8 of them LOL.

I emailed the site with questions and got answers within 24hrs! I am going to get some more for Ollie, and will put them in a timed feeder if I switch him to all raw eventually. The patties are supposed to be complete, and are small so they should be OK to keep in the feeder while you are away during the day.
It would be no diff than freezing foods in cubes to leave in a timer during the day.

I haven't been doing it, but intend to soon enough.

 

[squeem3]

The patties are supposed to be complete, and are small so they should be OK to keep in the feeder while you are away during the day.
It would be no diff than freezing foods in cubes to leave in a timer during the day.

That's what I thought but people on other boards are adamant that RAW not be left out for more than 15 minutes confused_cat

 

[Jen & Squeak]

I think that it would come down to whether your cats will scarf it up immediately or pick at it throughout the day. Eating raw food that has sat out may not hurt your cats, but salmonella can be passed around....

 

[Hillary & Maui (GA)]

I don't use timed feeders, rather I put the food in glass bowls and set out. What seems to work well for me is putting a large ice pack (blue frezees) directly under the raw bowl.

The icees last a good 8+ hours and the raw stays chilled all day. (even in summer)

So with a feeder can you put an icee under or in it? And I honestly don't worry about leaving it out.

 

[Lisa dvm]

That's what I thought but people on other boards are adamant that RAW not be left out for more than 15 minutes

This is more than a bit extreme.

The question of how long to leave raw out is a hard one to answer if you are not sure of your meat source.

I am so confident in the way that I source and prepare my cats' food that I put out a lot of food before going to bed...or if leaving for the day. They then munch on it for the next ~8 hours.

I have mentioned on other threads.....the mountain lion that munched on a deer in my brother's backyard for a week...in northern CA....not exactly a super cold state.

What always amazes me is when people get really worried about leaving raw food out but then think nothing of leaving dry food sitting around for days. Most people just don't realize just how contaminated dry food is.

 

[squeem3]

The question of how long to leave raw out is a hard one to answer if you are not sure of your meat source.

I have mentioned on other threads.....the mountain lion that munched on a deer in my brother's backyard for a week...in northern CA....not exactly a super cold state.

Hi Dr. Lisa!

I am planning to keep the cats on what they are used to: Nature's Variety frozen raw. The cats do have somewhat sensitive stomachs (need to get more info about that from their current owner) so probably not best to let them eat raw that has been sitting out for hours.

Any thoughts on leaving them freeze dried RAW in a timed feeder for a midday meal or two?

 

[pamela and tigger]

That's what I thought but people on other boards are adamant that RAW not be left out for more than 15 minutes

This is more than a bit extreme.

The question of how long to leave raw out is a hard one to answer if you are not sure of your meat source.

My raw meat source is Feline's Pride. Tigger gets three ounces in the morning and again at night. Oftentimes in the morning he eat it all except about a tablespoon and then come back a few hours later and finish it up. I figure if it is bad he wouldn't eat it.

I am so confident in the way that I source and prepare my cats' food that I put out a lot of food before going to bed...or if leaving for the day. They then munch on it for the next ~8 hours.

I have mentioned on other threads.....the mountain lion that munched on a deer in my brother's backyard for a week...in northern CA....not exactly a super cold state.

I love that story. It says so much.

What always amazes me is when people get really worried about leaving raw food out but then think nothing of leaving dry food sitting around for days. Most people just don't realize just how contaminated dry food is.

So true!

 

[Blue]

OK I have a question ... exactly how long does it take for a pattie to thaw out?
If you put the patties out directly from the freezer, I would think they would be safe while I am away at work.
My biggest worry would be that the patties would be still frozen.

It would be pretty hard to feed 100% raw if you are away at work, but that ice pack idea sounds good. With the timed feeder, with the 5 sections, I don`t think the ice pack would work - the mechanism would be in between the food and the ice pack.

 

[squeem3]

OK I have a question ... exactly how long does it take for a pattie to thaw out?

At room temperature (say 68 to 70 F)? A few hours maybe?

If you put the patties out directly from the freezer, I would think they would be safe while I am away at work.
My biggest worry would be that the patties would be still frozen.

My concern, too.

So maybe freeze dried RAW would be an option for a midday meal. Or canned.

It would be pretty hard to feed 100% raw if you are away at work, but that ice pack idea sounds good. With the timed feeder, with the 5 sections, I don`t think the ice pack would work - the mechanism would be in between the food and the ice pack.

So how do people feed a 100% RAW diet (homemade or commerical) if they work full time? confused_cat That's the question I never quite seem to get an answer for.

No, an ice pack wouldn't work with the PetSafe 5 compartment feeder. Although someone on the old board said it was possible and she/he had done it before :?: I have the noisy PetSafe 2 compartment feeder as well and you can definitely fit an ice pack into the bottom. And two cats would be able to eat from one tray at the same time.

 

[Ann & Tess GA]

No, an ice pack wouldn't work with the PetSafe 5 compartment feeder.

Actually, the packs from the Cat Mate C50 fit in a space in the PetSafe 5. I just can't find anywhere on either company's site to order extra cold packs!. Another alternative if you are really worried is to place the whole feeder on a couple of gel packs.