Thoughts on this raw pet food (See link) :)

Status
Not open for further replies.
Asrael

Asrael

Member Since 2015
Hi everyone,
We have been feeding Trouble canned food since his diagnosis in July and he is doing great- but we are getting really sick of the cans (the waste, and the cleanup), and are switching his civvie brother over from his dry food too- so double or more of the cans are awaiting us. We had tried to feed Trouble Nature's Variety Instinct, frozen cat food before- but he didn't seem to like it.. had some in the freezer and tried it today- mixed in canned, and separate- after turning his nose up at it he did go back to it and eat it in its plain unmixed form.

We are going to try to share some more at dinner tonight and see what he does. Chela ate the mixed form.

If he continues to eat it we are going to try to transition him over.. at the same time there is a company locally that makes raw pet food.. I can call and find out the numbers from them (Carbs/Phosphorus), but thought I would ask here on first glance what you thought?

@Wendy&Neko I know you feed raw- so would appreciate any insight.. Even if we can get to 1/2 of his diet raw it would be great!!

Thanks in advance!

Here is the link:
http://buddiesnaturalpetfood.ca/about-us/
 
Wow....that stuff looks good enough to eat!!

Wish I lived close enough to try China on it....she likes her Natures Variety Frozen Raw but that looks even better
 
Yes- I thought so too.. but I know nothing of raw food at all:) Like that it is made locally:) Tonight he turned up his nose at the mixed stuff.. will put a little out before bed on its own and see what he does... Cats!:cat:
 
Yeah getting them to recognize raw is food is a tough battle unless you start when they're kittens

The texture is totally different as well as the taste and it doesn't have the really strong smell that a lot of canned foods do either

Of course if they were easy to deal with, they'd be dogs.....LOL
 
I find that raw food is actually cheaper than feeding good quality canned food. I decided to go with a manufactured raw food that has a tiny bit of veggies in it, because I want a few carbs it, and they were the only ones who could get me the As Fed By or Dry Matter Basis analysis numbers of their ingredients. That was four years ago, a few more companies have those numbers now. That's what we need to calculate the carb%.

For the highest quality raw, you want meat that is non medicated, and ideally organic. "Human grade" is actually a lower quality. :confused: Getting a manufacturer that provides an individual vacuum pack or sausage pack size (125g or 1/4 lb or 230g or 1/2lb), will make your life easier. The Natures Variety, with all the "nuggets" in one package, is more prone to freezer burn or frosting than individually wrapped portions as you are constantly opening and closing the bag. I find the 250g is ideal for me, as when I thaw it, it's two meals for two cats. The "artisan" pack that Buddies makes may be similar.

Buddies isn't available on the lower Mainland, so I haven't heard anything about it. I have a friend in the industry who used to keep me up to date on local companies. The two local ones I've fed are Red Dog Blue Kat and Natural Instincts. Both of those sell on the island. Trialing small sizes is easier. I also make my own with the TC Feline Premix. That comes from Salt Spring Island.
 
Wendy&Neko said:
I find that raw food is actually cheaper than feeding good quality canned food. I decided to go with a manufactured raw food that has a tiny bit of veggies in it, because I want a few carbs it, and they were the only ones who could get me the As Fed By or Dry Matter Basis analysis numbers of their ingredients. That was four years ago, a few more companies have those numbers now. That's what we need to calculate the carb%.

For the highest quality raw, you want meat that is non medicated, and ideally organic. "Human grade" is actually a lower quality. :confused: Getting a manufacturer that provides an individual vacuum pack or sausage pack size (125g or 1/4 lb or 230g or 1/2lb), will make your life easier. The Natures Variety, with all the "nuggets" in one package, is more prone to freezer burn or frosting than individually wrapped portions as you are constantly opening and closing the bag. I find the 250g is ideal for me, as when I thaw it, it's two meals for two cats. The "artisan" pack that Buddies makes may be similar.

Buddies isn't available on the lower Mainland, so I haven't heard anything about it. I have a friend in the industry who used to keep me up to date on local companies. The two local ones I've fed are Red Dog Blue Kat and Natural Instincts. Both of those sell on the island. Trialing small sizes is easier. I also make my own with the TC Feline Premix. That comes from Salt Spring Island.
Click to expand...

Thanks for the insight @Wendy&Neko, and for taking the time to look at the site. I so appreciate it.. I will check out the companies that you have used- one is sold locally in a pet store close by and the other one I can try from Victoria.. I definitely notice the freezer burn on the Nature's Variety... and it has been in the freezer for a while too.. And also try to find out the carbs from Buddies and try that too.. Small sizes are a must.. because who knows what they will decide from one day to the next...

Don't know if we would make our own.. we are vegetarians.. so want to keep it as easy for us as possible..

I do think it would be cheaper if I could get them to switch.. because we are doing alot of the Weruva brand foods we are spending alot. Supplementing with PC choice.. and if Chela goes all off dry.. he's 18 lbs... and loves to eat (not fat, just a big cat).

Are there any other companies that aren't local that you find your cats like? @Chris & China too ?

Thanks again so much for your insight and help! So appreciate it!
 
The raw food that China liked best was RadCat....but for some strange reason, it caused her BG to go up! Other cats have eaten it without problems (and to this day, I don't understand why it caused her numbers to rise)

She really went crazy for it too!

It comes frozen in different size tubs
 
I feed all four of my guys Nature's Variety Instinct raw and they love it. I usually mix it with canned food but they like the raw nuggets better than the canned stuff. When I first started feeding it, it took a few days before they decided it was really food, and acceptable, but now they prefer it over anything else. It is very susceptible to freezer burn/frosting, though. I have had to return at least two bags because when I opened them they were inedible.
 
I have heard that Rad Cat is a popular raw--I want to try it (although they have never taken a 2nd glance at raw) but it is packaged in a way that you cannot take a small amount out to thaw--bad design but never heard a bad review of cats that do eat it. my 2 cents :cat:
 
Just a side note--some of the raws are very high in protein---- I know we want this but for a cat over 5 or so years old it can be hard to digest and many will vomit. Steves real food is a good raw and a little more tolerable for starting a cat that is not a kitten.
 
jayla said:
Just a side note--some of the raws are very high in protein---- I know we want this but for a cat over 5 or so years old it can be hard to digest and many will vomit. Steves real food is a good raw and a little more tolerable for starting a cat that is not a kitten.
Click to expand...

Thanks for the reminder Jayla- Maybe thats why he puked after the primal raw when we switched him too fast. Will check out Steve's real food!
 
Can some cats not handle raw. Or how does raw compare to freeze dried. I ask because Fern couldn't handle 3 pieces of pure bites. He threw them up less then 30 minutes after eating them. (Which is too bad because he seemed to like how they tasted a lot.) Needless to say while raw sounds interesting to me I'm not thinking I'll be getting it any time soon.
 
Ferndoc said:
Can some cats not handle raw. Or how does raw compare to freeze dried. I ask because Fern couldn't handle 3 pieces of pure bites. He threw them up less then 30 minutes after eating them. (Which is too bad because he seemed to like how they tasted a lot.) Needless to say while raw sounds interesting to me I'm not thinking I'll be getting it any time soon.
Click to expand...
The freeze dried is very "dry" and they often eat it too fast. For my boys I put the whole bag in my vita mix and turn it into saw dust texture and give them a sprinkle at a time --If I just give them pieces (even if I break them up) they will puke it. The digestive trac of a cat is not made to eat dry foods. I also make sure the water is right next to the freeze fired "saw dust" as their mouth will get dry-I have had no pukis since I have been doing this.
It is a nice 0 carb high protein treat especially for FD cat with limited options. Bonito flakes are good as well and mine have never puked them up.

Raw is different and moist. However, raw usually needs to be given at a young age for them to appreciate it. If your cat does like raw it is in my opinion the best and most species appropriate food for them. Any cat over 5 ish again in my opinion should begin on a raw like Steves Real food that is a little less high in protein as too much will almost always make a cat puke if they are new to it. I wish I had started mine on raw young :(
 
I know.. I so want them to eat raw.. and am going to try... because the can's and the $$ is getting to me.. but I don' t know if they will go for it.. they are set in there ways!
 
@Wendy&Neko - I can get the Red Dog locally- Is there any flavours that Neko seemed to like better? I may go pick some up to try tomorrow:)

Thanks!
 
When switching to raw, I've heard it's easier to start with chicken. Mind you, I found that out after I'd already switched my two and had given them a wide sampling to try. With Neko's acromegaly, she's not discriminating with her fuds. Both my cats really like the kangaroo and I know a number of other kitties that do to. Try introducing turkey later as some kitties find it harder to digest. Rabbit is more special appropriate and they like it too, but it's rather more expensive.
 
Wendy&Neko said:
When switching to raw, I've heard it's easier to start with chicken. Mind you, I found that out after I'd already switched my two and had given them a wide sampling to try. With Neko's acromegaly, she's not discriminating with her fuds. Both my cats really like the kangaroo and I know a number of other kitties that do to. Try introducing turkey later as some kitties find it harder to digest. Rabbit is more special appropriate and they like it too, but it's rather more expensive.
Click to expand...

Thanks so much Wendy:) I appreciate it- will let you know how it goes.. and good to know about the chicken. I have heard cats like the kangaroo too.. so may try some of that as well:)

Have a great day!
 
ok- got some Red Dog Chicken, Red Dog Lamb, and Buddies Chicken and Tuna, Turkey and Salmon, Butchers Block, and Venison... will try them and see what happens.. will start tomorrow as it will take that long for it to thaw out... Starting with the chicken and tuna I think... Will save the turkey for last... just wanted to get it because it was with salmon... And they didn't have the kangaroo in stock at PetValu :cat:

Fingers crossed- so much less packaging, and more affordable I think:)
 
Status
Not open for further replies.
Back
Top