As a loving cat owner, you naturally want the very best for your feline companion. That includes providing them with optimal nutrition to ensure a long, healthy, and happy life. Raw feeding has become increasingly popular, but with so many options available, choosing What Is The Best Raw Food For Cats can feel overwhelming. This guide will walk you through everything you need to know.
Raw feeding is a method of feeding cats a diet consisting primarily of uncooked meat, bones, and organs. Many pet owners are drawn to raw diets because they believe it’s a more natural and wholesome way to nourish their feline friends.
Choosing what is the best raw food for cats doesn’t need to be complicated. In this comprehensive guide, we’ll explore the benefits and risks of raw feeding for cats and provide you with the information you need to make the best decision for your furry friend.
From understanding the unique nutritional needs of cats to navigating the different types of raw food available, we’ve got you covered. By the end of this guide, you’ll be well-equipped to confidently choose the right raw food and help your cat thrive.
So, let’s jump in and explore the world of raw feeding for cats together!
5 Key Benefits of Raw Feeding for Cats
One of the primary reasons cat owners opt for a raw food diet is the potential health advantages. A raw food diet can provide a variety of nutrients that may be lacking in processed foods.
Here are five significant benefits of raw feeding for cats:
1. Enhanced Digestion
Raw food is generally easier for cats to digest due to the presence of natural enzymes that aid in breaking down food. This can lead to fewer digestive issues, such as constipation or diarrhea. It can also contribute to a cleaner and less odorous litter box experience.
2. Improved Oral Hygiene
Raw food can contribute to better oral health in cats. The act of chewing on raw food, particularly bones, can help clean teeth and gums, reducing the risk of dental problems.
3. Healthier Coat and Skin
Raw food is rich in essential fatty acids, which play a crucial role in maintaining a healthy coat and skin. Cats on a raw diet often exhibit shinier coats and reduced dry skin. The high moisture content of raw diets also supports improved digestion and nutrient absorption.
4. Increased Energy and Vitality
Cats consuming a raw diet may experience higher energy levels and increased vitality. This is because they are receiving all the necessary nutrients in a readily available form. This can result in a happier and more active cat, which is especially beneficial for cats prone to weight gain.
5. Exceptional Flavor
Many cats, particularly those accustomed to bland, dry kibble, find raw food exceptionally palatable. The best raw cat diets are packed with meaty flavors and offer a texture that appeals to a cat’s natural instincts.
Is Raw Cat Food a Complete and Balanced Diet?
A cat intensely focused on some raw meat, likely begging for a taste.
Before switching your cat to a raw food diet, understanding their nutritional needs is crucial. While many cat foods meet basic AAFCO nutrient profile standards, some offer better nutrition than others.
Feeding your cat involves more than just survival. The best diets for cats should optimize digestion and immune function, support healthy muscle development and maintenance, and boost energy levels for an active lifestyle.
Choosing a raw food diet for your cat is a natural approach, as it mimics the ancestral diet of wild cats. As obligate carnivores, cats thrive on a meat-rich, minimally processed diet that meets their specific needs.
Animal Protein
Cats require a diet high in animal protein. As obligate carnivores, they need certain nutrients that can only be obtained in sufficient quantities from animal sources. Deficiencies can have long-term detrimental effects.
Raw diets are primarily meat-based, providing an easily digestible source of essential nutrients. Diets made from raw, unprocessed, whole animal ingredients are ideal protein sources. Use proteins like chicken, lamb, fish, and rabbit to ensure a complete and balanced raw diet for your cat.
Animal Fat & Oils
Cats also need healthy animal fats. Dietary fat is important, serving both functional and facilitating roles.
Facilitating Fats
Functional fats are an excellent energy source and brain food. Cats who regularly eat diets rich in appropriate animal fats tend to have more energy and better cognitive function as they age.
Functional Fats
Certain fats and oils support organ and body function. Omega fatty acids, like those in fish oils, play a role in cellular structure and function. These fats help the cat’s body work better at a cellular level.
Raw diets offer a natural source of animal fats and oils, contributing to increased activity, healthier skin and coats, and fewer health issues.
Taurine
Taurine is an essential amino acid for cats, crucial for heart and eye health, digestion, and immune function. It’s primarily found in meat, making raw diets an optimal source.
Certain seaweeds and brewer’s yeast contain taurine but in smaller quantities, making it harder to meet your cat’s needs without animal protein. These ingredients can also be harder for cats to digest, leading to deficiencies.
Vitamins and Minerals
Cats need various vitamins and minerals, like vitamins A, C, and E, and calcium and phosphorus, which are easily sourced from wholesome foods.
Some nutrients are difficult to source from plants, and some are exclusively sourced from animal ingredients. Vitamin A, for example, supports the immune system and acts as an antioxidant.
Many plants are rich in beta carotene, which dogs and humans can convert into vitamin A. However, cats cannot, so their diet must include vitamin A-rich foods like liver, fish, or eggs.
How to Select What Is The Best Raw Food For Cats
A cat eagerly eating a bowl of raw cat food.
The next step is choosing the right raw food for your cat. While many options exist, consider these factors to find the perfect one:
Protein Variety
The variety of animal proteins available in cat food has expanded, offering unique and novel proteins. This allows for protein rotation and avoiding proteins your cat may be sensitive to.
Protein rotation is beneficial for cats, providing a diverse mix of nutrients and reducing picky eating habits.
Some proteins should only be fed in rotation. Lean meats like goat, rabbit, and kangaroo may not provide enough fat, but when combined with meats like lamb, beef, or chicken, they create a wholesome, balanced raw diet.
Fibre Supports Digestion
As carnivores, cats don’t technically require fruits, vegetables, grains, or other carbs, so some formulas contain only meat, organs, and bone. However, a true carnivore diet includes small amounts of plant and animal fibre.
Some raw cat foods contain a small percentage of cat-safe vegetables and fruits to provide dietary fibre that supports digestion. These are recommended for cats starting a raw diet or with a history of digestive issues.
Easy Portions
Raw food doesn’t have to be inconvenient. Brands offer different shapes and styles of raw cat food to make defrosting, portioning, and feeding easier, depending on your needs.
Pre-cut and weighed portions, like nuggets, patties, or morsels, simplify measuring. If choosing a food for both dogs and cats, be aware that portions may be larger, requiring a food scale for precise measuring.
Personal Preference
The raw food you choose should suit your cat’s needs, but also consider your personal preferences. After all, you are the one purchasing, preparing, and cleaning up.
Perhaps you prefer a brand made and sourced in Canada, or buying in bulk to save money. Whatever your preferences, they should be considered when choosing your cat’s new raw diet.
What is the Best Raw Food for Cats? Recommended Brands
You now know the pros and cons of raw feeding and what your cat needs. Now, let’s narrow down some of the best options on the market.
Choosing a brand or formula may seem daunting, but the good news is that many options will likely work well for your cat. You can experiment to find the ones that best suit you and your cat.
Here’s a look at some of our favourite and most popular raw cat food brands:
Best Raw Cat Food for Easy Feeding
If you’re torn between brands, consider how easy the food is to feed. If you’re used to kibble, a quick defrosting, scoop-and-serve formula might appeal to you. These raw diets are portioned into small pellets for easy measuring and feeding with minimal prep.
Primal Cat Food
A bag of Primal Raw Frozen Cat Food, showing the small, easy-to-portion nuggets.
Primal Pet Foods offers balanced raw cat diets with wholesome nutrition in an easy-to-feed format. Suitable for adult cats of all breeds, Primal Raw Frozen Cat Food is sold in small, easy-to-portion nuggets or morsels.
All Primal Cat Diets are enriched with probiotics, kelp, and taurine to provide a complete and balanced diet and promote total body health.
Instinct Longevity
A bag of Instinct Raw Longevity Raw Cat Food, displaying the small frozen bites.
Instinct Raw Longevity Raw Cat Food is designed to provide essential nutrients from fresh, wholesome ingredients. Backed by 10 years of research, Instinct raw pet food uses scientific and natural principles to create balanced formulas for cats.
Portioned into small frozen bites, these diets defrost quickly and are easy to portion, making feeding raw simple and fast. Choose from two flavors for adult cats or the special Instinct Longevity Raw Diet for Kittens to cater to growing kittens’ needs.
Best Canadian Raw Food for Cats
If you prefer to shop local, you might be drawn to food sourced and made in Canada.
Big Country Raw
A package of Big Country Raw cat food, featuring chicken and beef.
Big Country Raw is a leading Canadian raw pet food brand offering various raw cat diets to suit cats of different life stages and dietary needs.
Big Country Raw offers three cat-friendly meal choices:
- Fare Game – Complete and balanced multi-protein diets with fresh greens
- Signature Blends – Blend of complementary proteins without fruits or vegetables
- Pure Diets – Single protein meal bases suitable for allergies and customization
Iron Will Raw
A package of Iron Will Raw Pet Food, featuring a simple chicken recipe.
Iron Will Raw Pet Food offers simple raw diets suitable for dogs and cats. Iron Will Raw Basics diets are single-protein, calorie-dense, and easy to feed.
This is a great choice for multi-pet households. The food is packaged in pre-portioned 1 lb blocks to make feeding and measuring easy. Choose from six different proteins to keep your cat’s diet fresh, fun, and exciting.
Best Raw Cat Food for Multi-Cat Households
If you share your home with multiple cats, you might want to save money by stocking up. If you have the freezer space, bulk options are great. Plus, many bulk raw diets are suitable for both dogs and cats, so multi-pet households can buy one food to feed all their furry pals.
Carnivora
A package of Carnivora raw cat food, featuring a duck recipe.
Carnivora is a versatile raw cat food that’s perfect for bulk buyers. It offers a range of proteins with and without fruit and vegetable inclusion, as well as variety packs for protein rotation and dietary restrictions.
These diets are also easy to customize with natural supplements or cat-safe foods. Plus, they’re Canadian. Each diet is portioned into 8oz pucks for easy portioning, though a food scale is recommended for precise control.
How to Transition Your Cat to a Raw Food Diet
One of the most common concerns pet parents have about switching their cats to a raw food diet is safely making the change. Raw foods and cooked processed diets are different and digest differently.
What’s the Best Way to Switch a Cat to Raw Food?
The best method is often to fast your cat for 10-12 hours and then switch completely to the new raw diet. This “tearing off the band-aid” approach typically has the lowest instance of digestive upsets, and most cats take to the raw food’s texture and flavor very well.
Digestive aids, like pumpkin or probiotics, can help during the transition to further reduce digestive upsets.
Can I Feed Raw and Cooked Cat Food Together?
It is possible to feed both cooked and raw foods, but they should always be fed in separate meals at least 8 hours apart. This reduces the chances of both food types working through the digestive system simultaneously.
Cats that are used to free feeding sometimes have the biggest trouble adjusting to this new diet, but in time they will adapt. Be consistent with your feeding portions and times to encourage a healthy feeding schedule for your cat.
Raw Feeding Safety Tips for Cats
Feeding raw can be extremely beneficial to your cat’s health, but knowing how to feed raw safely and appropriately is important. Learning the best practices regarding raw cat food can help you decide if raw is right for you and your cat.
Here are some tips for feeding your cat a raw food diet:
Practice Good Hygiene
It’s important to practice good hygiene when handling raw food. Wash your hands thoroughly before and after handling raw food, and clean your cat’s bowls and utensils regularly.
The bacteria naturally present in raw meat won’t harm your cat, but it can be dangerous for you. Treat all cat food like raw meat you prepare for yourself.
Avoid Plastic Cat Bowls
A stainless steel cat water bowl, highlighting a hygienic alternative to plastic.
Another simple hygiene trick for feeding raw cat food is to avoid cat bowls made from soft materials like plastic that easily scratch or crack.
Bacteria from the food, no matter how well you wash them, will settle in the cracks and crevices and fester. This could lead to cat skin issues like cat acne and spread to other surfaces, and eventually you.
Stick to materials like metal, ceramic, or glass instead. Try the Messy Cats Double Silicone Feeder for Cats. The bowls are metal, and the silicone base prevents the feeder from sliding around while your cat eats. Plus, the dishes are shallow, like a saucer, to prevent whisker fatigue.
Feed a Balanced Diet
It’s important to ensure that your cat is getting a balanced diet on a raw food diet. This means providing a variety of protein sources and supplementing the diet to meet your cat’s individual needs.
Homemade raw cat food diets might seem like a good idea, but they are often not properly balanced and can lead to health issues. Feed a complete and balanced commercial raw diet, or choose a well-balanced homemade raw cat food recipe.
Monitor Your Cat’s Health
Monitor your cat’s health closely when feeding a raw food diet. Look out for any signs of digestive problems or nutrient deficiencies. If you notice any signs of poor health, contact your vet for next steps. Talk to our vet if you have questions about meeting your cat’s dietary needs.
How Much Raw Food to Feed a Cat
Raw cat food is very calorie-dense. This means smaller portions are needed to offer the same nutrients to your cat. Most cats over 1 year old need approximately 2-2.5% of their body weight in raw food per day, but age, lifestyle, and environment can all affect how much raw food to feed your cat.
Here is a simple breakdown to get you started:
Small adjustments can be made as needed. Your cat’s weight can change in as little as a week, so it’s a good idea to weigh your cat before you start their new raw diet and regularly check their weight to ensure they are getting fed appropriate quantities of raw food.
Here’s a quick reference table of recommended feeding guidelines for raw cat food:
| Kittens – Under 1 Year | 3-6% of Body Weight |
|---|---|
| Adult/Senior Cats – Over 1 Year | 2-2.5% of Body Weight |
| Adult – Underweight | 3% of Body Weight |
| Adult – Overweight | 2% of Goal Body Weight |
Common Misconceptions About Raw Feeding for Cats
There are several misconceptions about raw feeding for cats. Here are some of the most common:
Is raw food dangerous for cats?
Raw food is safe for cats as long as it is handled, stored, and prepared correctly. It’s important to practice good hygiene when handling raw food to prevent the spread of bacteria.
Is raw food expensive?
Raw food can be expensive, but it doesn’t have to be. Several affordable options are available, especially if you have the freezer space to buy in bulk.
Is raw food difficult to prepare?
Raw food can be time-consuming to prepare, but it doesn’t have to be difficult. Many commercial raw cat foods are complete and balanced and don’t need anything extra. Just defrost, measure and serve.
If you plan to feed a customized raw diet, you can portion out meals ahead of time and freeze them for future use. This cuts down on daily prep time.
Can Cats Eat Raw Bones?
A cat enjoying a raw chicken neck, a safe and nutritious bone option.
Cats can eat raw bones, but only certain types. Cats aren’t exactly known for their love of chewing, like dogs often are, but feeding your cat raw bones is a fun and healthy way to supplement your cat’s raw diet, help clean your cat’s teeth, and give her a fun and exciting activity to occupy her during down time.
What kind of raw bones can cats eat? Like dogs, some raw bones are safe to consume, while others are too hard and dense. Stick to edible raw bones that are appropriately sized for your cat, like chicken feet and necks.
Tips for Feeding Cats Raw Bones
Not every cat will be interested in eating raw bones, but they make an excellent nutrition booster and a fun activity for cats with too much energy and time on their hands. Here are a few tips for feeding raw bones to cats:
- Keep an eye on them – Always monitor your cat while eating, especially a hard or long-lasting chew like a raw bone. No matter how experienced your cat is, choking is always a risk. Be prepared to take the bone away if you notice unsafe chewing habits.
- Consider the calories – Chicken necks and backs have more fat and meat, making it a calorie-heavy snack. Take this into consideration when during feeding time. You may need to adjust the size of your cat’s meals following a raw bone to avoid overfeeding.
- Mind the Calcium – Too much calcium can lead to issues. Poultry bones contain a lot of calcium, and even though the bones are healthy, they must be fed in moderation. One appropriately sized raw bone per week is plenty for an average adult cat.
- Take ’em or leave ’em – Raw bones are optional for cats, so if you aren’t comfortable feeding raw bones, if your cat doesn’t have safe chewing habits, or if your cat simply isn’t interested, that’s ok. A complete and balanced raw diet for cats should contain ground bone or another source of calcium, like egg shells.
Feed Your Cat the Natural Way
Raw feeding can provide your cat with a natural and wholesome diet that can lead to improved health and vitality. However, it’s important to be aware of the risks and nutritional requirements before making the switch.
By following the tips and advice in this guide, you can choose what is the best raw food for cats and make the transition to a raw food diet as smooth as possible. Remember to consult your veterinarian and closely monitor your cat’s health when making diet changes.
With the right information and support, you can provide your feline friend with the best possible nutrition and help them thrive.
Frequently Asked Questions About Raw Cat Food
What is raw cat food?
Raw cat food consists of uncooked ingredients like meat, organs, and sometimes vegetables. It aims to mimic a cat’s natural diet in the wild and is considered a more natural feeding approach.
Is raw cat food safe for my cat?
Raw cat food is safe if handled and prepared correctly. However, there is a risk of bacterial contamination in humans. Proper hygiene and food safety practices are essential to minimize health risks.
What are the potential benefits of feeding raw cat food?
A high-quality and well-balanced raw cat diet has many benefits, such as improved coat condition, better dental health, increased energy levels, and a decrease in certain health issues.
Are there risks associated with feeding raw cat food?
Raw cat food can host harmful bacteria like Salmonella and E. coli, which can pose health risks to humans. It’s important to handle and store raw food properly to reduce these risks.
Can I prepare raw cat food at home?
Yes, you can prepare raw cat food at home, but it requires careful sourcing of high-quality ingredients, proper food handling, and knowledge of feline nutritional needs. Commercially available raw cat food options are also available.
Is a raw cat food diet complete and balanced?
Ensuring a raw diet is nutritionally complete and balanced for your cat’s needs can be challenging. Many commercial options are formulated to meet feline nutritional requirements, but it’s important to read labels and consult with a veterinarian to ensure adequacy.
