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26 May Raw Meat Diet for Cats?
Is a raw meat diet for cats healthy? Remember, cats are carnivores – they like to hunt and eat their fresh kills. They do like raw meat. It’s easy to forget that cats which are now domesticated were once wild and hunted for their food. Their bodies are used to raw meat, the softer bones. Such a diet for cats is more natural; however is it better for them?
Bacteria and Parasites
One concern for humans about raw meat is bacteria and parasites, but this is not as big a concern for cats. Most cats have no problems with bacteria, since their digestive tract is shorter (the meat passes quicker) and is able to cope better with bacteria. Cats (mostly) are able to live with parasites, but if there is a large infestation in their stomach noticeable symptoms may be a bloated abdomen and frequently hungry. This might be a big cause for concern, but if a raw meat diet for cats was so unhealthy they would have become extinct long ago.
Cats Like Bones
Cats even eat the bones of raw meat, but you should never feed them cooked ones! When cooking bone, it becomes brittle and splinters. This could cause damage internally to the cat. Raw bones are good for helping to keep teeth and gums healthy.
However, don’t defrost frozen raw meat, which has bones, in a microwave. They cook from the inside, so while the meat won’t cook, the bones will. Instead, put the frozen meat inside a freezer bag and then place it inside a bowl of lukewarm water for about ten minutes (or once you’re sure it has defrosted). Serving cats hot food, even without bones, is bad idea as it will burn them.
Good for their Health
Raw meat provides cats with taurine, which they need for the development of their bodies (for example, eyes, muscles and circulatory system). Cats don’t produce this naturally. Cooking meat breaks it down, due to the heating, and grinding exposes more of it to air, which results in oxidation and decreases the level of taurine. If you are going to grind the raw meat, then ensure you add to their diet with fresh beer or a commercial supplement.
This type of diet can lead to a healthier lifestyle, but if a cat starts one at a late age, their body might no longer be able to cope with it. Start slowly by giving your cat some once per week as a “treat” and monitor for any abnormal reactions. (Vomiting, for example.)
If you feed your cats liver, only do so about once per week otherwise this could result in too much Vitamin A. Problems that can arise due to this are gingivitis, problems with bones, bad appetite and depression. While improving their diet will treat most of the problems, any changes to bones are (unfortunately) permanent.
Next time you’re at the supermarket, you can buy a little extra meat for your cat to try. A raw meat diet for cats can consist of chicken, rabbit, beef, lamb, fish, turkey, rats, mice, and many other animals. (Don’t worry, they will catch rats and mice themselves.) Juicy meat is particularly appealing to cats. If any is left in the packaging, pour it over the meat.