Is raw diet for cats beneficial? Unlike conventional dry or canned food, a raw food diet involves uncooked animal products. Selecting cat food can be daunting, particularly with concerns about recalls in commercial pet food.
Some pet owners prefer home-prepared diets to have precise knowledge of their cat's food content. These diets, whether cooked or raw, often mirror a cat's natural wild diet, making raw diets a popular choice for many cat owners.
Explore the advantages and disadvantages of raw cat food diets to empower yourself with the information needed to make a thoughtful decision when selecting a nutritious diet for your cat.
What Is Raw Diet for Cats?
Feeding cats a raw diet entails providing them with uncooked animal products, including muscle meat, organ meat, and bones. This type of nutrition is commonly referred to as the “BARF” diet, denoting “bones and raw food” or “biologically-appropriate raw food.”
A well-rounded raw diet for cats is typically crafted following a meticulously designed recipe. While many cat owners opt to prepare these diets themselves at home, commercial variations are also available.
Should you decide to incorporate a raw diet for your cat, it is essential to choose one that has been verified as complete and balanced by a veterinary nutritionist. Cats consuming an imbalanced diet may be susceptible to a range of health issues.
Should You Consider It?
Cats, being obligate carnivores, possess distinct nutritional requirements that can be fulfilled through a diet predominantly consisting of animal tissue. Raw cat foods achieve this by prioritizing uncooked meat, fish, and internal organs in their ingredient lists.
Ground bone is frequently included to provide a source of calcium and phosphorus. To ensure a well-rounded diet and prevent nutritional deficiencies, vitamin and mineral supplements, along with other ingredients, are incorporated.
Given that cats utilize protein rather than carbohydrates as their primary energy source, they necessitate elevated levels of dietary protein. Adequate amounts of specific amino acids, particularly taurine, as well as arachidonic acid, vitamin A, vitamin D, and various B vitamins, are essential for their nutritional well-being.
Proponents of raw food diets argue that cooking meat may modify or diminish essential substances. They advocate for a biologically-appropriate diet that closely mirrors what a cat would consume in its natural habitat.
Typically, small wild cats hunt and consume rodents, small mammals, birds, fish, insects, and even reptiles. The concept behind feeding raw diet for cats is to emulate a meal that aligns with these natural dietary preferences.
Benefits and Drawbacks
Pros
Enhances Digestive Processes
Cats possess acidic digestive systems specifically adapted for the efficient processing of a meat-centric diet. The slower and more effective digestion of raw meat protein makes raw diets more satiating for cats during meals.
If you have a voracious cat that consistently craves food, you might observe a shift when transitioning to a raw meat diet. With raw feeding, your cat is likely to reduce persistent begging for food or treats, as their hunger levels are better satisfied.
Reduced and Less Smelly Poop
When your cat receives the ideal nutritional balance, their body efficiently utilizes most of it, resulting in less frequent elimination.
Cats on a raw diet not only have fewer bowel movements but also produce smaller, drier, and firmer stools. An additional benefit is that their waste has minimal odor, making litter box maintenance a more enjoyable task.
Assists with Food Sensitivities
Cats experiencing food sensitivities or gastrointestinal issues, such as inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), thrive on a raw food diet. Raw diets are considerably less allergenic compared to heavily processed commercial cat foods, particularly dry food that frequently includes fillers, carbohydrates, and grains. Transitioning to a raw food diet aids in restoring balance and calming an overburdened immune system, facilitating the healing process for their digestive system.
Boosts Energy Levels
The superior protein and beneficial fats derived from raw meat offer significantly more energy to your cat compared to commercial pet food. This elevation in energy contributes to an overall improvement in your cat's well-being and quality of life.
If you have a cat accustomed to lounging on the sofa for most of the day, it's not uncommon for them to display increased activity and a desire to engage in play once they transition to a raw diet. Even our cats, fed a raw diet well into their senior years, remain remarkably active.
Improved Skin and Coat Health
The fatty acids present in a raw food diet contribute to the well-being of your cat's skin, resulting in a softer and shinier coat. Additionally, raw feeding has the potential to decrease shedding, consequently reducing the occurrence of hairballs.
For cats experiencing skin allergies, characterized by itching or dry, flaky skin, a high-quality and balanced raw diet is likely to bring about improvements in these health issues.
Reduced Incidence of Urinary Issues
Raw food diets, with their approximate 70% moisture content, closely resemble the hydration levels found in the prey that cats would naturally hunt and consume in the wild, such as mice.
Cats are physiologically adapted to obtain the necessary moisture from their diet, unlike dogs, which may drink more water. This is particularly relevant for cats on a dry kibble diet who often experience dehydration.
Opting for a raw diet helps maintain proper hydration levels in cats, thereby decreasing the likelihood of urinary problems like cystitis, urinary tract infections, bladder stones or crystals, and kidney disease.
Enhanced Dental Well-being
The act of chewing on meat or small raw meaty bones functions akin to using a toothbrush. Consequently, a cat consuming raw foods usually develops stronger jaws, cleaner teeth, and healthier gums. An additional perk for cat owners who enjoy kissing their feline friends is the absence of unpleasant ‘stinky' cat breath!
Cons
Concerns Regarding Harmful Bacteria like Salmonella
A significant worry associated with feeding cats a raw diet is the potential presence of bacteria such as salmonella, e-coli, and listeria. Veterinarians often highlight the risk of bacterial cross-contamination to humans during the preparation of raw meat and the potential impact on pet health when cats are fed a raw diet.
To mitigate this potential risk, adhere to safe meat handling procedures and exclusively procure human-grade raw meat from reputable sources. If you don't plan to use the raw food immediately, freeze it in appropriately sized portions.
It's important to note that cats possess highly efficient and acidic digestive systems specifically designed for processing a raw meat-based diet. Their rapid digestive process, completing in around 12 hours, minimizes the risk of harmful bacteria establishing a foothold.
Perceived Cost Challenges
Embarking on a raw meat diet for your cat can initially be costly, particularly when exploring various raw options to discern your cat's preferences or testing different suppliers of commercial raw food. However, providing a raw diet for your cat doesn't necessarily have to be a significant financial burden.
Costs can be minimized by purchasing meat in bulk and taking advantage of discounts and heavily reduced prices nearing the meat's expiry dates. If you opt for a homemade raw recipe, investing in a meat grinder and potentially other kitchen equipment may be necessary, but this should be viewed as a long-term investment in your cat's health, with eventual cost savings.
Challenges in Achieving Nutritional Balance
Establishing a well-balanced raw diet for your cat may pose an initial challenge, but it becomes more manageable over time. When I first began preparing raw food for my cats, a primary concern was the potential for nutritional mistakes and their possible impact on my cats' well-being.
Fortunately, my apprehensions proved to be unwarranted. Numerous online resources and supportive groups are available to guide you through the process and ensure nutritional accuracy. Additionally, there are convenient options to guarantee your cat's raw food meets nutritional requirements.
You can opt for commercially available raw food that is already nutritionally complete or choose a meal completer where you simply add raw meat and water. Alternatively, creating a homemade raw recipe allows you to incorporate your own vitamin and mineral powders and supplements.
Transitioning your cat to a raw food diet is a personal decision. While a properly executed raw diet is advantageous for your cat, it can be time-consuming. If you're uncertain about whether raw feeding is the right choice or how your cat will respond, consider a trial period. Begin by introducing small pieces of raw food during meal times and proceed with the transition gradually.
Dealing with Raw Meat and Organs
Concerns about handling raw meat can significantly influence the decision-making process when contemplating a raw food diet for your cat. Some individuals, particularly those who do not consume meat themselves, may find the prospect of dealing with raw meat and offal unappealing.
If you find it challenging to overcome the ‘icky factor' associated with feeding raw, an alternative is to use a raw cat food meal completer like EZComplete, which incorporates organs. Simply sprinkle it over your cat's raw meat and add water to simplify the process.
Challenges in Introducing a Raw Food Diet
The difficulty in acclimating some cats to a raw food diet stems from their discerning preferences regarding food textures and aromas. Cats can be quite selective, often turning their noses away from anything unfamiliar. Transitioning such cats to a raw meat diet demands considerable time, effort, and patience. However, the payoff is substantial if you persist.
Every cat's journey toward embracing a raw food diet is unique. While two of our cats seamlessly and promptly transitioned to raw food, the process was markedly slower for Luci, taking approximately 8 months to fully shift to a raw diet.
Raw Cat Food vs Other Cat Foods
Cat foods that lack nutritional adequacy are prevalent, spanning both processed options (canned, dry, etc.) and raw diets for cats. Numerous advantages attributed to feeding cats a raw diet can be achieved by transitioning to a higher-quality, more biologically appropriate cat food, regardless of its form.
Here are key considerations and a comparison of different diets.
Water Content
Cats are naturally designed to obtain a significant portion of their water intake directly from their food. While dry cat foods have a minimal water content, canned cat foods can supply an equivalent or even greater amount of water compared to a raw cat food diet.
Nutrient Content
There is no scientific evidence supporting the notion that raw cat food diets offer superior nutrition compared to other types of cat food. While a top-tier raw diet may surpass the nutritional value of a low-quality processed food, similar benefits could be attained by transitioning to a high-quality canned cat food, for instance.
Premium Ingredients and Digestibility
The quality of ingredients in both raw and cooked food can vary, and the term “raw” doesn't necessarily imply “high quality” or “high digestibility.”
In reality, cooking enhances the nutritional value of specific foods. For instance, numerous types of raw seafood contain thiaminase, an enzyme that degrades thiamine.
Cats consuming a predominantly raw seafood diet face the risk of thiamine deficiency, resulting in issues like poor appetite, seizures, and even death. Cooking effectively breaks down thiaminase, rendering these seafood varieties safe for cats.
What's Inside a Raw Cat Food?
Here's what should be included in top-tier raw food:
- Premium protein and bone
- Healthy/Beneficial fats
- Essential vitamins and minerals
Premium raw cat food typically consists of entirely natural ingredients, featuring a blend of diverse protein sources, beneficial fats, essential vitamins and minerals, along with bone content.
Top-notch protein
Cats, being obligate carnivores, necessitate specific nutrients found exclusively in meat. Due to their reliance on protein for energy, cats require a higher protein intake compared to omnivores like dogs.
Beyond providing energy, meat protein is crucial for supporting cats' nervous systems, promoting hair growth, and bolstering their immune systems. The quality of meat protein is vital, with bioavailable protein being more efficiently digested. Offering a variety of protein sources ensures a well-balanced diet for your cat. For instance, an exclusive raw fish diet can lead to thiamine deficiency due to its thiaminase content.
Nursing cats have elevated protein requirements to support the development of their kittens, while older cats may need increased protein intake for better absorption and metabolism. Cats with specific health conditions, such as chronic kidney disease, may require careful monitoring of their protein intake and should not be fed a high-protein diet.
Bone content
Ensuring the appropriate balance and quality of bone content is crucial for the well-being of cats. Raw bone not only serves as a nutrient source but also offers a myriad of additional health advantages.
One notable benefit is its role in promoting optimal dental health, contributing to sturdy teeth and gums. The act of chewing on raw bones (ground or those from poultry sources) can aid in maintaining dental hygiene by reducing plaque and tartar buildup. Additionally, the mechanical action of gnawing on bones can stimulate the production of saliva, which further supports digestive processes.
Essential Vitamins, Minerals and Amino acids
A nutrient-rich raw diet has the potential to supply essential vitamins, amino acids, and minerals crucial for the optimal well-being of cats. While organ meat contributes to supporting cats' nutritional needs, the inclusion of bone content is valuable for providing essential minerals like calcium.
The amino acids present in meat are utilized by cats to generate energy for various bodily processes, regulate metabolism, and facilitate the synthesis of new proteins. This process is vital for tissue repair and growth. In instances where cats experience a deficiency in amino acids, their overall bodily functions may be compromised.
Taurine, a critical amino acid inherent in proteins, is particularly noteworthy. Cats rely on obtaining taurine through their diet as their bodies are unable to synthesize it independently. Ensuring an adequate supply of taurine is imperative for supporting various physiological functions in cats.
Zero Fillers & Grains
Opt for top-quality raw diet for cats that excludes grains and fillers, enabling felines to satisfy their hunger with flavorful, nourishing components instead of ingesting unnecessary bulking agents.
Numerous cat food brands incorporate grains in their products as an economical calorie source, even though these have been associated with intolerances and digestive issues, including constipation in cats.
When selecting raw cat food, ensure that the ingredients are specifically formulated to provide maximum nutritional benefits.
How to Prepare a Raw Diet for Cats
It's crucial to enlist the assistance of an expert in formulating a comprehensive and well-balanced diet that genuinely promotes your cat's well-being. Your veterinarian might also suggest specific supplements to guarantee your cat receives essential nutrients for optimal health.
Components commonly included in a raw food diet may include:
- Uncooked meat derived from muscles and organs (excellent sources include poultry, rabbit, and fish)
- Eggs
- Raw bones (ground)
- Additional supplements (often required)
- Fruits and vegetables (optional, source of additional insoluble fiber)
Creating a raw diet from scratch at home can be somewhat time-intensive, leading many owners to prepare a sufficient quantity that can be stored in the freezer to last for several weeks.
Alternatives to a Raw Diet
If you're looking to mitigate the risks associated with raw food but still provide your cat with an optimal diet, consider preparing homemade cat food. It's essential to find a recipe that ensures completeness and balance.
Alternatively, opt for a high-protein wet cat food crafted from top-quality ingredients. A growing consensus among veterinarians and experts suggests that dry kibble contains too many carbohydrates to be considered optimal for cats.
Fortunately, many wet cat foods are formulated with minimal or zero carbohydrates. Reducing or eliminating carbs from your cat's diet may contribute to increased longevity and help prevent health issues such as obesity and feline diabetes mellitus.
