Natural Diet Information Resources

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auntie crazy

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UPDATED EXAMPLES
I know what I wanted most when I first started was examples, so here are two. The Frankenprey version is what my cats are currently eating and the Frankenprey/Grinding example is what they started out eating (keep in mind I have five cats):

Frankenprey only:

Breakfast: Around 8ozs of beef round (comes in precut stew pieces), pork loin chunks or beef heart chunks I cut and packaged myself.

Lunch: Monday, Wednesday, and Friday, they'll get something with bone in it - chicken wings, half a quail, a quarter of a Cornish Hen, or half a chicken breast with ribs.

Tuesday and Thursday, I serve 5 ozs of beef liver and 5oz of beef kidney.

Saturday and Sunday, they'll eat either a turkey drumstick with the bones and skin removed or a chicken leg quarter with the bones and skin removed.

Dinner: Alternating between a turkey drumstick with the bones and skin removed and a chicken leg quarter also with the bones and skin removed. The drumsticks range in weight from 11ozs up to 18ozs each (as packaged), while the chicken quarters vary from 8oz to 14oz.

Every now and then, I'll try something different, like bison meat or a whole mouse, just for the fun and variety of it.

Part-Frankenprey / Part-Grinding:
(In this example, the weekly totals of bone, liver and organ are ground separately, mixed thoroughly, and then divided by 7, packaged and frozen.)

Breakfast: About 8 ozs of the prepared ground mix.

Lunch: About 8ozs of beef round (comes in precut stew pieces), pork loin chunks or beef heart chunks I cut and packaged myself.

Dinner: A chicken quarter or a turkey thigh with the bones and skin removed, weight (after prep) ranges anywhere from 8oz up to 14oz.

I don't have any recipes for ground-only diets, however, the Feline Nutrition Education Society, Cat Info and Cat Nutrition sites all have good recipes.
 

sharky

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Some of my cats are coming for a few meals
 

sharky

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FYI note ... This like all info on this site : Is NOT meant as sole information and should NOT be considered without discussing it with a vet


1. No online advice can replace direct veterinary intervention. If you suspect that your cat may be ill, please contact your vet immediately. You are welcome to look for advice in the health forum while waiting for that appointment, but never delay proper veterinary care waiting for Internet advice. Remember that cats, and especially kittens, are very adept in keeping pain to themselves and delaying treatment may cause irreversible damage.
 

aprilyim

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Originally Posted by sharky

Some of my cats are coming for a few meals
AC, I think Simba would love to join you for dinner too!
 
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auntie crazy

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Originally Posted by aprilyim

AC, I think Simba would love to join you for dinner too!
Unfortunately, April, my cats aren't very good about sharing; there'd be all kinds of hissing and spitting and swatting and fur flying everywhere.


But they LOVE human guests!


AC
 

silva_unt

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I've been away for some time so here's the scoop:
Petey was eating prepackaged raw for about 5 months and then stopped suddenly either due to tasting kibble or due to eating some real raw scraps I would give him during cooking dinner. Sadly he is now eating kibble and canned with Neko...
Neko went to the vet yesterday and even though we cut the kibble back to 1/4c along with 3oz wet, she has continued to gain weight. She is now at around 13.6lbs!! Vet wants me to cut her dry to 1/8c and eventually get her to all wet.
I would like to learn more about preparing my own raw meals preferably through the grinding process since Neko won't eat chunks and Petey likes it either way. I'm taking notes now and studying the resources...much help will be needed

info: Neko: female, 13lbs, 2yrs, not active / Petey: male, 8-9lbs, 1yr, very active

Thanks!
 

puddy's mum

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Thouhgt I would add my 2c to this topic.

I have been feeding my young female (exact age unknown as she was a stray, but we think she is about 2-3 years old) raw, free range, hormone-free chicken breast 1-2 times a week for about 10 months now. I buy this meat fresh from a butcher, never from a supermarket.

She loves it, although she doesn't always eat it all in one go - same with her dry food (Royal Canin). I think that's normal for a cat.

Since doing some research on cat biology/nutrition online, on websites said to be created by vets, I am keen to start feeding Puddy more meat, to ensure she is getting enough protein/water-rich food, and to stop her getting overweight on dry food (even good quality dry food seems to have a lot of carbs, which cats apparently need only very little of).

Puddy also hunts, especially in summer (almost daily), and I am happy for her to catch mice and lizards, as I figure this is her natural diet. She does wear a collar and bell, which makes it harder for her to catch birds. This is important where I live (New Zealand), as many native bird species are threatened. I reduce her dry food in summer because of the amount of hunting she does.

One vet told me that because I feed Puddy raw chicken, she is at increased risk of getting worms. I do not think this is true because I haven't wormed Puddy since early this year (5-6 months ago), and she is fine - no sign of worms (no weight loss, increased appetite, etc.).

There might be increased risk of bacteria/worms if feeding raw supermarket meat from a factory farm. I believe fresh, free range meat from a butcher is much safer in this respect, and healthier/better for your cat (and you!) overall.
 

minka

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Originally Posted by Puddy's mum

Thouhgt I would add my 2c to this topic.

I have been feeding my young female (exact age unknown as she was a stray, but we think she is about 2-3 years old) raw, free range, hormone-free chicken breast 1-2 times a week for about 10 months now. I buy this meat fresh from a butcher, never from a supermarket.

She loves it, although she doesn't always eat it all in one go - same with her dry food (Royal Canin). I think that's normal for a cat.

Since doing some research on cat biology/nutrition online, on websites said to be created by vets, I am keen to start feeding Puddy more meat, to ensure she is getting enough protein/water-rich food, and to stop her getting overweight on dry food (even good quality dry food seems to have a lot of carbs, which cats apparently need only very little of).

Puddy also hunts, especially in summer (almost daily), and I am happy for her to catch mice and lizards, as I figure this is her natural diet. She does wear a collar and bell, which makes it harder for her to catch birds. This is important where I live (New Zealand), as many native bird species are threatened. I reduce her dry food in summer because of the amount of hunting she does.

One vet told me that because I feed Puddy raw chicken, she is at increased risk of getting worms. I do not think this is true because I haven't wormed Puddy since early this year (5-6 months ago), and she is fine - no sign of worms (no weight loss, increased appetite, etc.).

There might be increased risk of bacteria/worms if feeding raw supermarket meat from a factory farm. I believe fresh, free range meat from a butcher is much safer in this respect, and healthier/better for your cat (and you!) overall.
I wouldn't think that the meat from a 'factory' in new Zealand would be anything like the meat from factories in the states, but maybe I'm wrong.
Either way, it's great that you would spend the extra money for your kitties.
 

puddy's mum

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Sadly, NZ factory farms are likely just as horrendous as those in bigger countries, but perhaps ours are just smaller.

They inject chickens with antobiotics here, keep them locked up in inhumane, unsanitary, cramped conditions, cut off their beaks when they are babies, etc.

Sheep and cows on farms might have a more 'normal' existence - as far as being farmed can be 'normal'. But our slaughterhouses are no doubt the scene of terrifying, stressful deaths.

We still 'raise' pigs in tiny crates here - an inhumane practice that has been banned in many countries, including Australia and (I think) the EU.

I hate how humans exploit animals : (
 
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auntie crazy

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Originally Posted by MeuzettesMom

Auntie Crazy, thank you for your artical here. I found some useful information. Just wanted to let you know it is very much appreciated
I'm so glad, MeuzettesMom! Welcome to TCS!


If you're interested, this article has been greatly expanded and published on the "Raw Feeding" page of CatCentric.org.

Have a lovely day!

AC
 

minniewinnie

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I've been feeding Minnie canned Wellness (grain-free) and have been giving her some raw food snacks. She LOVES it. I think more than the canned food. Can I just continue to do this (canned + raw)? Or should I just slowly start moving away from canned and more towards raw?
 
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auntie crazy

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Originally Posted by minniewinnie

I've been feeding Minnie canned Wellness (grain-free) and have been giving her some raw food snacks. She LOVES it. I think more than the canned food. Can I just continue to do this (canned + raw)? Or should I just slowly start moving away from canned and more towards raw?
The choice is entirely yours, MinnieWinnie. There are lots of benefits to feeding a wholly raw diet and it's certainly what I consider the most important decision a cat owner can make for their cat, but no one else can make that decision for you.

If you're amenable to going all raw, however, why not research the options, pick one and give it a try? You can do commercial or home-prepared or a mix of the two. Commercial is usually ground and frozen, might cost more than canned, and you will have to review the different varieties for quality and ingredients (just as you did when you picked out the canned foods you're currently feeding).

Home-prepared can be ground, frankenprey or whole prey, or any combination thereof. Feeding home-prepared is generally less costly than either commercial raw or canned and you have superb control over both the quality and the make-up of the ingredients, but you will have to learn and commit to feeding a balanced diet. If you chose a ground recipe, you may also have to invest in some equipment purchases.

There are so many ways to feed raw today that anyone interested in it should be able to find one that fits their lifestyle and resources.


AC
 
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