Has anyone transitioned their cats onto raw food?

[User2319]

I have two cats, one is small and overweight, the other one is bigger and a perfect weight but has tummy issues and I can’t seem to find a food that he will eat that doesn’t upset his stomach apart from Whiskas which obviouslt isn’t the best quality.

Been thinking of transitioning to raw food but not sure if they will eat it as they’re used to cooked. Has anyone done this, how did you transition them and has there been any differences/benefits that you’ve noticed?

Raw cat food would be a hard no for me. Too high a risk of introducing salmonella, e coli and other nasty bacteria into your home. Particularly bad if you have small kids at home that might go near the cats bowls. Even if you’re meticulous with the hygiene around their eating area you are still at risk if the cat licks you or the kids because they can pass on the bacteria that way.

Instead, I’d consider trying a v high quality cooked food without all the fillers e.g. Thrive, one of the vet brands that do a specific sensitive stomach food e.g. royal canin or failing that stay on the whiskas since it’s still a complete cat food and it obviously agrees with him. If the cats need different diets I’d try microchip bowls- we do this for our overweight youngster and our skinny senior. Like you though we do also keep coming back to whiskas because they use a litterbox and it’s the least stinky when they’re eating that 🤷‍♀️

You could try marro, that’s a cooked one but comes frozen

I have already tried all of those things. My oldest cat is 6 and we have been trying different food and brands for years. He either eats them for a few days and then decides he hates them and never touches them again. Or he doesn’t eat them at all. Some of the ones that he has eaten, haven’t worked to control his stomach issues and he still had diarrhoea on them. He is on whiskas atm and is perfectly fine on it, no stomach problems at all. But I just worry about the low meat content.
I do like the idea of microchip feeders as well, I do plan on getting those

If it helps my older chap is 14 and in perfect health, hasn’t even needed a teeth cleaning yet so doesn’t seem to have been harmed by a diet of mostly whiskas!

I haven't swapped a cat but I did swap my dogs. I found dog's diner in Moreton on the Wirral to be really helpful. There's not much swap info on their website but I know they sell raw cat food and the lady who runs the shop I'm sure would be very happy to help or know of a good cat shop who can help. They are so knowledgeable. This is their website https://www.dogsdiner.co.uk/shop/all-things-cat/235

Years ago, I discussed raw food diets for my Burmese cats (they’re long gone now) with my vet, and she advised against it. She said she had several patients with ongoing problems caused by raw food.

My daughter did it with her one cat. She brought round a pack for ours to try, but they wouldn't touch it. It's Bella and Duke, and see did one small meal with some dry food for a couple of days and then increased the raw over a few days until that was all he was fed. She's very pleased with it.

No - have tried twice and they hate it. Plus it takes up so much room in the freezer. Had to chuck it all away. My neighbour gave me the second lot as their cat hated it too.

My cat had only been fed raw food as a kitten. She hated cat food and was very fussy for a long time. I feed her on grain free food but she’s needed her teeth cleaned once already and now needs it done again. She’s 7. She loves meat and tuna , really isn’t mad about cat food still and I wonder if a raw diet would be better.