Please or to access all these features

Add post

Watch this thread

Save thread

Start a new thread

Flip thread

Hide thread

My feed

Active Unanswered threads

Getting started FAQ's

Unanswered threads Acronyms Talk guidelines

Hide shortcut buttons

Talk

The litter tray

Join our community of cat lovers on the Mumsnet Cat forum for kitten advice and help with cat behaviour.

Flip

Original poster

Raw food diet

18 replies

grafia123 · 05/12/2016 11:10

Hello, I am looking for advice about a raw food diet for my cat. How do I introduce it? How much do I feed her and what are the best foods to feed her. My mum feeds her dog a raw food diet. She has a supplier who delivers the food. I could order from my mums supplier.

I would be grateful if you could tell me your experiences of feeding raw food. My cat is very fussy so it may be difficult to tempt her into trying it.

Thank you

OP posts:

Soubriquet · 05/12/2016 11:11

Following.

I am looking into this with my new rescue cat who has IBS. There's a company I've seen who send it all prepackaged so less faff

PinkSparklyPussyCat · 05/12/2016 11:12

I tried it with mine and he looked at me as though I was trying to poison him! I wasn't sorry really as it made me feel a bit sick.

Weedsnseeds1 · 05/12/2016 13:54

You are probably better to try one of the ready made frozen ones first. It's harder to balance raw food for a cat than a dog due to their nutrient requirements, you need a nutrient powder that you add to the raw, which is expensive to buy in the UK, or you need specialist feline nutrition knowledge to blend your own mix of meat, bine and offal. Hopefully an expert raw feeder will be along to advise further on transition (I don't raw feed).

potap123 · 05/12/2016 14:00

Transitioning a cat takes time and patience unless you get lucky with a cat that will at anything. If your cat is used to kibble and doesn't like wet food you'll have to transition them to wet food first. This can take a while as kibble is very addictive. Once your cat is on wet food mix a tiny bit of pregroubd raw into their wet food and then gradually increase the amount of raw. If they refuse to eat it reduce back to what they would eat proportions wise for a few days and then try again.

Once they're happily eating raw pre-done mince you could look at introducing chunks but that will take a bit longer :)

potap123 · 05/12/2016 14:01

Err phone gone a bit mad there. Sorry!

Original poster

grafia123 · 05/12/2016 15:07

Thank you for all your replies. potap do you agree with Weeds that the expensive powder is required?

OP posts:

Original poster

grafia123 · 05/12/2016 15:08

My mum said that her supplier has complete foods that she doesn't have to add nutrients to. Would that be ok if the supplier says it is suitable for cats?

OP posts:

Weedsnseeds1 · 05/12/2016 15:22

If it's a complete for cats it's fine. Complete for dogs isn't suitable for cats as not enough taurine (dogs can manufacture taurine from food, cats can't) and various vitamins and minerals.

potap123 · 05/12/2016 15:24

No need for any powders :) if the food is complete for cats you'll be fine. The odd squirt of salmon oil is good for them but not essential.

If you get more into it and want to make your own then there are some good groups on Facebook like Cats Completely Raw and Proud that have useful resources in the files sections.

Brands like Nutriment and Natural Instincts do cat specific raw which is an easy beginner option.

I've had 3 cats on raw for about 7 years now with no problems

Original poster

grafia123 · 06/12/2016 14:19

Thank you very much Weeds and potap I will find out if my mum's supplier has a complete for cats food. If not I will look at the other ones you have mentioned.

Can I ask how you serve it to your cat. If it has been frozen do you defrost it and then give it to your cat. Do you warm it? I saw something about putting the food in a bag and then running hot water over it so the food is not too cold.

OP posts:

ittybittyluna · 06/12/2016 18:54

We've just transitioned our cat to pre prepared raw food nuggets from Natures Menu. He can be fussy so we did it gradually but now he's ok. He eats far less raw food than pouches - 300g a day to 200g or so - and seems satisfied (and is gaining weight and condition).

We measure out the next day's food the night before and leave it to defrost in a container in the fridge overnight. In the morning we heat his bowl with hot water and then allow the heat from the bowl to take the chill off the food.

Original poster

grafia123 · 07/12/2016 09:34

Thank you ittybitty that is a good way of taking the chill off the food. Did you transition gradually buy mixing the raw food with his usual food?

OP posts:

ittybittyluna · 07/12/2016 16:58

We offered him some raw and some of his regular Iams side by side. Initially he hoovered up the raw and then finished off the Iams, then he went back and forth, and then we transitioned him entirely to raw.

potap123 · 07/12/2016 17:52

When I first transitioned them we used to warm it a it by sitting the bag in warm water for ten mins but we've got lazy now and don't bother and they don't mind :)

cozietoesie · 07/12/2016 17:59

Seniorboy won't touch raw. The Lodger likes it though - on the hoof.

Tubbyinthehottub · 07/12/2016 20:10

You need the powder if you are making your own food I think.

BagelGoesWalking · 07/12/2016 21:34

I think I remember seeing an FB group called CRAP (Cats Raw and Proud)

Original poster

grafia123 · 11/12/2016 19:18

Thank you for all your comments. I will check out the Facebook page. I think my cat may be the same as yours cozie she won't touch it. She tried a little bit on day 1 bit now won't touch it. Not even when it is mixed with her usual food.

OP posts:

Flip