The Specifics of a Raw Food Cat Diet

While perhaps some people are aware of the numerous benefits of feeding your cat a raw food diet, many are frightened by the strict dietary needs which cats require. While dogs are omnivorous and some could be considered scavengers, cats are obligate carnivores and require a more specific food composition. This fact might make feeding your cat a raw diet a little more difficult, but it also means that your cat will reap the benefits of this diet much faster.

There are several options when feeding a raw diet. Cats who are not too old, are healthy, and are reasonably adventurous eaters might enjoy a whole raw diet, with chicken wings and other small bones fed intact. Some cats prefer the bones and organ meats chopped into find pieces, and some cats (particularly those with dental issues, those who have gotten used to wet or dry commercial cat food, or elderly or sick cats) do best with the food ground up. After feeding my cats a raw diet for some time, I also favor the ground option, simply because it enables me to mix a large batch once a month (then freeze in batches) and to blend supplements into the mix for easier feeding.

The first thing you'll need is an electric meat grinder which can be purchased for $50-$100. This is a slight investment but is well worth it when it comes to processing cat food (and you can make your own hamburger and sausage!). You'll also need the following for a few weeks' worth of cat food.

16lbs of whole chickens, gizzards intact

¾ lb vegetables- no onions or tomatoes. Broccoli, cauliflower, squash, kale, etc are good choices

6 egg yolks

4 tsp L-taurine powder (I prefer Source Naturals brand)

10,000 mg salmon oil (I like Carlson's brand)

80ml vitamin B complex

2 cups water

Process the vegetables in the blender or a food processor to puree them as much as possible. Grinding simulates digestion, and since cats in the wild get most vegetables from the stomach of prey, they handle pre-digested or blended vegetables more efficiently. Combine the vegetable mixture with the remaining ingredients, except for the chicken.

Chop the chicken coarsely with a meat cleaver into pieces which will fit into the grinder. Grind the chicken, gizzards and all, and combine it with the vegetable/supplement mixture.

After grinding, distribute this mixture into containers taking care not to put more than a few days worth of food into each since this is a raw recipe and you don't want it sitting in your fridge for longer than 2 days plus thawing time. Most cats eat several heaping tablespoons twice a day, so plan accordingly. Put the containers in the freezer and remove them as needed. For two cats who are large eaters, this recipe makes about a month's supply in my house.

A few weeks into this diet change, you'll notice your cats have more energy and their skin, coats, and eyes are brighter and healthier looking. For an hour a month, these changes are well worth it. Your cat will enjoy meal time so much more, and you'll feel better about feeding your cat a better quality diet.

Source: http://www.associatedcontent.com/article/275961/the_specifics_of_a_raw_food_cat_diet.html