Raw Food Diet for Cats

Hmm.. Cat Raw Food System. In a site for dogs. Interesting.

Well, the raw food system isn’t just limited to dogs. Cats have much as a right as dogs to enjoy the wonderful benefits the raw food diet has to offer, any day. Like dogs, cats have survived millenniums on raw food. In Egypt, long before anyone who was important was born, cats are considered to be sacred, and so they were spoiled. They only “died” (read: become mummified) when their owners died ahead of them. And a few millenniums later, wild cats were known to live long, only to die in the hands of hunters or of old age. (Even up to now, some animal channels will prove this point.)

A study has shown that cats that eat cooked and/or boiled food had 1 or all of the following health problems and behavior:

  • Skeletal deformities. Their faces were narrowed than their study counterparts (who ate raw, unprocessed meats). They also had somewhat compressed jaws and had frail bones – somewhat like osteoporosis, cat version).
  • Behavior abnormalities. The males became docile, while the female takes control and is more aggressive.
  • Fertility problems. Cats cannot conceive. When they do so, it would be on the 3rd try, and it would always end up as a failed pregnancy.
  • Kitten problems. The litters of kittens that are lucky enough to be born do not survive to adulthood.
  • More prone to parasites. If a cat has a healthy coat and skin, parasites would have a hard time in taking residence with your cat, as they would not be able to pierce the skin easily due to protection from a healthy diet.
  • Became more susceptible to diseases. Aside from skeletal deformities, the immune system often becomes compromised due to the lack of nutrition. The organs malfunction, making it easy for viruses and/or infections to deliver the final blow.

Unlike omnivore dogs, cats are pure carnivores. But it’s sometimes hard to feed your cat live animals – mice, birds, fish, small mammals (which are no bigger than them), and especially snakes and other reptiles. Raw meat is still the best food that you can give your cat. But to be safe, consider these safety precautions:

  • Best to buy from a butcher you trust than supermarket-packed meats.
  • Use the meat immediately, or freeze in single-servings. (Did you know that bacteria in meats can “freeze” to death – and I mean that literally?)
  • Discard any uneaten food after 30 minutes.
  • Add probiotics to the food. This is readily available in health food stores and pet stores.
  • If your cat is sick or is immuno-compromised, it is best to consult first with a veterinarian before weaning your cat to raw foods.