Questions about commercial raw

Willowy

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I'd like to give my cats some raw food now and then. I can't go all raw (at least not yet ;)), but maybe 2-3 meals a week. I don't know what brands are available locally (the feed store has a freezer but I've never investigated what's in it). I found some lovely prices for frozen raw online, but that went out the window when I saw what they were charging for shipping! What about the freeze-dried raw foods? How are those fed? Do you reconstitute them or what? Are they just as good as frozen raw? How many servings are in a 2.9-oz bag of NV dehydrated raw? Because $10 for 2.9 ounces seems high :lol3:. But I do know that freeze-dried foods weigh almost nothing.

"Recipes" for regular raw food would work, too. Since it would only be a few meals a week, it doesn't have to be balanced. I tried chicken wings, but I could only find "enhanced" wings and the housecats wouldn't eat them (the ferals did though). I don't know where to find unsalted wings. I give the dogs raw chicken quarters (not enhanced) and the cats showed interest so I gave them one, but I think that was too much work because they only nibbled at it. I tried stew beef cubes, and there were a few takers but most of it went uneaten. I think I may have tried chicken livers but I don't remember what they thought. I haven't tried cut-up chicken breasts. . .it occurs to me that's probably a good place to start, LOL. Something that's yummy and generally well-accepted would be best.

I guess the questions for users of commercial raw:
What brand(s) do you use? What flavor(s)?
How much do you pay?
Where do you get it?
How is it prepared?
What about "not balanced" stuff like Bravo?

I'm sure I'll think of more questions later :tongue2:.
 

white cat lover

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I can't comment on the cat end, but Izzy (Bichon) eats raw. Nature's Variety agrees with her the best. I buy a bag of 48 medallions for about $18. NV freeze dried also agrees with her best, but she also eats Stella & Chewy's freeze dried.

In the case of the freeze dried she just gets a patty to eat, no reconstituting needed. I know there *are* foods that need water added.
 

ldg

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I do know that if they're not used to chewing much - and chomping bones is quite different than kibble - you have to start small, and focus on consistency/size of what you're feeding them. :nod: You also have to often use tricks in transition to get them to eat it. I'm sure someone will be along with links to articles and ideas on transitioning. I know you're just looking at a few meals a week, but the same principles would apply. :)
 

ldg

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FYI, I've been working on pricing it out, and I'm finding that given the food I feed my cats, it will likely cost me less to feed them commercial raw, depending upon how I purchase it. I'm leaning toward NV chubs....
 
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Willowy

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I ran the store locator, and there is a store nearby with frozen NV. Don't know what kind of prices, though. Since I won't be switching, basically I just want another "canned food" in the rotation. So they'd have to like it, although no food will be wasted because of the dogs :lol3:. They show interest when I prepare food so maybe they'll like most raw. I guess I won't know until I try.

If freeze-dried food is fed dry, that's not really any better than kibble, is it?
 
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ldg

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Of course it is. They all recommend it be rehydrated, and provide instructions, but our kitties love the Stella & Chewy's dehydrated stuff dry. I give it like a treat.

While you still have the issues with lack of moisture, like with dry, the ingredients (typically) are FAR superior to anything you can purchase in a dry food. And the point is that it's still raw meat (mostly).
 

auntie crazy

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Originally Posted by Willowy

I ran the store locator, and there is a store nearby with frozen NV. Don't know what kind of prices, though. Since I won't be switching, basically I just want another "canned food" in the rotation. So they'd have to like it, although no food will be wasted because of the dogs
. They show interest when I prepare food so maybe they'll like most raw. I guess I won't know until I try.

If freeze-dried food is fed dry, that's not really any better than kibble, is it?
Freeze-dried foods can be fed as treats right out of the bag. If fed as a meal, however, you are spot on, Willowy - theyt MUST be rehydrated for the benefit of the cat's whole-body health.

Prices vary, so you'll have to do that research yourself.

If you want transitioning information, here are three good articles: Transitioning Feline Dry Food Addicts to Canned Food, How to Transition Your Cat to a Raw Diet, Transitioning Your Cat to a Raw Diet.

Bravo produces many products, several of which are "complete and balanced".

Best regards!

AC
 
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Willowy

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Well, yeah, the ingredients are way better. But mostly I feed canned food for the moisture content. But if it is also fed rehydrated I guess I could do that.
 
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Willowy

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Oh, yeah, does anyone know how many medallions are in the 2.9-oz bag of freeze-dried NV?
 

nerdrock

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I didn't read all of the responses, so forgive me if what I say has already been said. 

The NV freeze dried raw can be fed on a regular basis as food, but it would get extremely expensive to do so so it's recommended to use it for treats, appetite stimulant (ground up), or as a meal when traveling (easier than trying to tote around frozen raw, lol). They're the medallions freeze dried, basically. 

With NV there are three types of raw - medallions, chubs and patties. I haven't fed the medallions yet, so I can't comment on them - every time I go to buy my raw they only have the beef medallions and one of my dogs has a beef intolerance. My favourite are the patties, they're like ground meat, easy to divide into smaller parts, thaw faster and my dogs seem to enjoy them more. Since they are thinner than the chubs, I can divide it while still frozen with a knife so that I'm not thawing too much at once or having to keep it in another container in the fridge for the next day. I bought a 4 pack of the 1 lb chubs yesterday and I don't much care for them. You feed approximately .5 lbs per 30 lbs of animal - so for me that's .5 lbs for my dogs and cat together (one dog is 17 lbs, one is 10 lbs and Leiki is 8 lbs - the two smaller need less food than recommended). It's convenient because I know that I can use half a chub, but when I was still actually weighing it it was a pain. I don't like the consistency of it myself - it was kind of like a tuna sandwich in texture and looks (although red instead of light brown). I bought the lamb, I don't know if the texture would be different for the other proteins. It took a long time to thaw and it seemed to be more expensive than the patties. The patties are around ~$30 for 6 lbs where as the chubs are the same price for 4 lbs. That being said, I did get the more expensive protein this time, but it was only $2 more than chicken. My dogs didn't mind it, I haven't given it to Leiki yet. It would be good for transitioning from wet to raw because of the texture (similar to pate style wet), but I don't find it to be as convenient as if I were feeding larger dogs or a large group of cats. 
 

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About price.....
Here is an online store that can give you an indication.... For Nature's Variety, the Chubs are much cheaper....... but you have much more work too.
For example:
The Chicken 6lb Patty bag would be $27.49 - $4.58 per lb
Chicken 2lb Chub, $6.99 - $3.49 per lb

http://www.onlynaturalpet.com/produ...ain-Free-Instinct-Frozen-Raw-Food/131069.aspx

I am transitioning mine to Nature's Variety because of the safety - but this is because I have Bugsy with me........ and he is NOT your average cat :lol3:
I am not sure if you have seen my thread, but both him and Hope love the stuff! I am currently feeding the Rabbit, and will feed all the varieties, except the chicken, eventually :nod:
Currently, I am using the patties, and loving it. I paid $38 for the 6lb bag, but that was after a $3 off coupon. For me, it will be less than my cost with canned - as they eat less, and my canned food was expensive too....
8oz I believe - they are not that small..... They look like a large hamburger...
I understand the medallions are smaller.... but at the same time I also understand the meat is chunkier, and might be harder on the novices :nod:
Chubs supposedly are the same as the patties :nod:
 
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Willowy

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I did see the online prices. . .but the frozen shipping is so expensive (over $100 for 20 pounds!) that I don't know if the stores charge a lot more or not. If they get a big truckful at once I suppose they can spread out the shipping charges.

Yeah, less chunky would be good. Something like canned food would probably be better.
 

carolina

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I did see the online prices. . .but the frozen shipping is so expensive (over $100 for 20 pounds!) that I don't know if the stores charge a lot more or not. If they get a big truckful at once I suppose they can spread out the shipping charges.
Yeah, less chunky would be good. Something like canned food would probably be better.
Those prices are very much inline with my local Pet Supplies Plus.... I just posted there, not so someone would buy online, but for a price comparison.... especially when dealing with Chubs/Patties/Medallions, for example.
Your local pet store might be able to place an order for you, and you don't need to pay shipping - that's what Pets Supplies Plus does for me..... Just a tip :nod:
Pets Supplies Plus can do that with pretty much anything.... I did with a different flavor of Ziwi Peak, for example, which they didn't carry.....
 

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Pet Food Direct has free shipping on orders over $59, not sure if the raw counts on that. I have not used them, but have heard good things... They sell the NV products. 
 
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Willowy

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Pet Food Direct has free shipping on orders over $59, not sure if the raw counts on that. I have not used them, but have heard good things... They sell the NV products. 
I didn't check PFD yet. . .but I did check National Pet Pharmacy (my usual online pet food source), and only regular shipping is free. Frozen needs to be sent 2-day in a cooler, so it costs a LOT more to ship. I can get freeze-dried on the free shipping but not frozen. There are 2 stores listed in my area that sell the frozen NV, but one of them sells puppies so I won't shop there at all. I'll check the other place next time I'm in town, though. It's a nice doggy daycare/grooming salon, so no moral conundrums about shopping there.

I'll have to run the store locator on Bravo and the other frozen raw brands.
 

ldg

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Here's a more complete list of commercial raw products. Some are raw frozen, some are dehydrated, some offer both. Some are "complete" (according to AAFCO), others are intended to be used on a rotation diet.

Widely distributed:

http://www.naturesvariety.com/
http://www.stellaandchewys.com/cat-products.php
http://www.bravorawdiet.com/index.html

Not as widely distributed, but easily available online:

http://www.auntjeni.com/html/news.html
http://www.countrypet.com/
http://www.natureslogic.com/index.php
http://www.primalpetfoods.com/
http://www.radfood.com/
http://www.wildkittycatfood.com/

http://www.felineinstincts.com/ - This appears to be supplements for home-made diets?


These two I can't tell if they're actually raw or not:

http://www.thehonestkitchen.com/products/prowl/
http://www.wysong.net/tnt-raw-cat-food.php

This is apparently only for dogs:

http://www.stevesrealfood.com/
 
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white cat lover

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There are 2 stores listed in my area that sell the frozen NV, but one of them sells puppies so I won't shop there at all. I'll check the other place next time I'm in town, though. It's a nice doggy daycare/grooming salon, so no moral conundrums about shopping there.
I've been in both those places. *If* I'm remembering right the doggie daycare was about $13/bag for NV medallions, which is $5 cheaper than I'm paying. Granted I don't get there often, but I remember making note of the price difference in case I'm ever in the area again. :lol3:

On the note of small bags of NV freeze dried, it's been awhile since I got one but I think there was around a dozen medallions in it. My cats won't eat the freeze dried rehydrated, but they did take it as snacks tonight when I offered it un-rehydrated (I know that's not a word).
 
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