TheCatSite.com › Forums › Our Feline Companions › Cat Nutrition › Raw Feeding for Cats › Part-time Raw! LOL! AKA eating canned and adding raw
New Posts  All Forums:Forum Nav:

Part-time Raw! LOL! AKA eating canned and adding raw

post #1 of 37
2/22/12 at 10:03am
Thread Starter 

I'm definitely committed to transitioning Joni & the boys to raw within the next three months - still have some financial changes on the horizon but after the 3 months it will even out and I'll have a steady budget to work with where I know I'll be able to purchase the right amounts of food.  I'm considering homemade as I think it is the most cost effective for us - once I get the proteins/transitions down, it will probably end up cheaper than canned, and certainly cheaper than grain-free canned!  (That Wellness price tag gets me every time....)

 

In the meantime, I have.... a FEW questions. laughing02.gif JUST A FEW! flail.gif

 

Is it okay to give them, say, raw chicken breast meat as a treat or even a meal occasionally?  I think I've read that some people do this, right?

 

Should I do the probiotics/enzymes even if the amount of raw I give them is very little - or will they not need that until they start on the raw full-time?  And while we're at it, should ALL cats, even kittens/junior cats with no discernible health problems, use the probiotics/enzymes, or only sensitive kitties?

 

If I want to get them chewing for dental health, what's the best way to start?  Can they start with a raw chicken wing, or just start with the chunks of meat, then move on to bone?  Which bone is best to start with?

 

I think that's it for now??? Boy, reading all these transitions, I could talk someone's ear off about what to do, rattle off a list of do's and don't's and what-not's - but putting it in practice with your own kitties makes you so nervous and second-guess everything! sconf.gif laughing02.gif cross.gif

Reply
post #2 of 37
2/22/12 at 11:11am
I feed my cats "part-time raw". Right now they're getting Nature's Variety, Nature's Menu, and raw chicken breast. They seem to only like chicken right now. I feed this in addition to their canned food (not replacing a meal, just replacing one can) because some of them won't eat raw. But I have lots of kitties and can't feed them individually tongue.gif. With fewer cats it's different.

I find commercial raw to be cheaper than high-quality canned food. About the same price as Fancy Feast, in fact (which is way overpriced because of those tiny cans, but still). At least the brands I buy. I guess if I order RadCat or another pricey food that would be different. It's convenient to have ready-made little patties like those brands offer.

But, yeah, I was surprised at how quickly they took to the raw chicken breast. I cut it in large chunks and they tear right in. Some cats might prefer bite-size pieces, though. I just buy the big bag of frozen chicken breast at Sam's Club or Wal-Mart and it's pretty cheap. Even some of the cats who don't like the commercial raw food like the chicken. I have tried wings in the past but I don't think they're up for bone-in meat yet. Just chewing on the meat chunks will have dental benefits anyway. Sometimes I cook up one of the breasts for the kitties who don't like them raw. Good meat protein.

Are your kitties beggars? Do they hang around the kitchen hoping for scraps to fall? Do they show interest in "people food"? If so, it'll be easier to get them to accept raw meat. You might have to cook the meat at first just to get them used to eating something other than cat food, then gradually cook it less and less until they're taking it raw. If they're already on canned it'll be easier, too.

ETA: I don't add any enzymes to their raw food. Sometimes I put ProZyme in their canned food, but only if someone has diarrhea or is throwing up a lot. Not very often. But it wouldn't hurt.
Reply
post #3 of 37
2/22/12 at 11:50am

I've done it, fed both raw and canned. This started because our kitties were stealing the dogs raw food when we were preparing it lol. As far as finances, home prepared raw is significantly cheaper than canned food and commercial raw. We don't supplement. Chicken wings are mostly bone and skin, there really isn't much meat on them. Ours started with chucks of meat that we cut off for them after they tried to drag off the dogs whole pieces of chicken, but they were kittens. Then they moved onto chicken thigh pieces that were cut into chunks with the bone.

Reply
post #4 of 37
2/22/12 at 12:58pm
I saw the thigh chunks at Wal-Mart. . .are those bones too big for cats? Do they eat around the bones? They were really cheap. So I considered buying some but chickened out (tongue.gif). The bones looked too small for the dogs and too big for the cats.
Reply
post #5 of 37
2/22/12 at 1:33pm
HI and glad to see you joining in on the raw band wagon!!!! woohoo.gif I do feed my cats canned and commercially made raw together. It is a good way to introduce the raw in a very small amount to get them started. Walden and Wendall though are now at 100% raw and they don't need the canned mixed in anymore. The other four - well - let's just say this frusty.giffreak.gifdisturbed.gifspiny.gifdizzy.gifrotate.gif ...... apparently they don't think that they are "carnies" laughing02.gif Good luck clap.gifclap.gifclap.gifclap.gifclap.gifclap.gifclap.gifclap.gif
Reply
post #6 of 37
2/22/12 at 4:46pm
How exciting!

Yes - when it comes to your own, it's different! laughing02.gif

You can TOTALLY offering them some just meat. agree.gif It's funny... Gary and I always offered them some of whatever meat we were eating - but once it was cooked. We work on getting a little of the middle out, and offer them very small amounts. rolleyes.gif

Once they were eating raw, the first time I went to the supermarket and said to myself, "I think I'll pick up some chicken for the cats" was strange. flail.gif

I got home, cut of a few small slices, and offered to each as a treat. Every single one of them ate it. So for dinner that night, I took out their bowls, and cut up one ounce of raw chicken meat chunks - small. They ate it! Tuxie and Lazlo looked at me funny, so I sprinkled some dehydrated Whole Life chicken on it to get them going... but they gobbled it up after that!

For me, I think, one of the main things is that the food has to be room temperature. If I forget to warm it up, a couple of them really balk at eating it. agree.gif

But you can feed up to 15% of their daily intake in non-balanced food, and it won't hurt them.

And mine liked dark meat. I got them chicken thighs. I didn't offer them the bone. Mine are still working on getting used to all that chewing. agree.gif I'd make sure they're good with chewing first, then worry about adding bones.

The best bones to start with are small. Chicken necks are not small, and something they have to work up to. Quail wings/ribs, chicken wings/ribs are the best place to start. smile.gif
Reply
post #7 of 37
2/22/12 at 4:54pm
Oh! As to the digestive enzymes and probiotics... I think all cats should be on probiotics for life. agree.gif It was the first thing the hoslitic vet had me do when we rescued Chum, was have me put him on probiotics. I take them daily. They promote healthy gut flora, and there's simply no reason not to use them, no matter the diet - but yes, even more important to maintain healthy gut flora when on a raw diet. agree.gif They are also absolutely ESSENTIAL if you have a sick kitty that needs antibiotics while on raw food. Antibiotics kill EVERYTHING, so a couple hours after you give antibiotics, you give the probiotic.

Digestive enzymes: I'm really glad I discovered these with the raw feeding. Both Lazlo and Spooky recently had x-rays, and it is clear from the x-rays that they are not digesting all of the bone bits in the commercial foods. A number of the sites recommend using the digestive enzymes for all cats for the first 4-6 weeks. Given that there can be issues as you introduce new proteins, I think that at least for the first month or two, it's just a good idea to use them, just to make the transition easier on their digestive system. I mean - if you're living on cereal and canned stew, and start eating raw veggies, your system is going to go through a lot of turmoil. laughing02.gif It's kind of the same thing, switching to raw. The digestive enzymes just help them... keep up. smile.gif And, of course, it can be used with the canned (with any food, in fact), so it's not like you have to wait until they're at 100% raw. In fact - it may help them get there. agree.gif
Reply
post #8 of 37
2/23/12 at 3:43pm
Thread Starter 
Quote:
Originally Posted by Willowy View Post

Are your kitties beggars? Do they hang around the kitchen hoping for scraps to fall? Do they show interest in "people food"? If so, it'll be easier to get them to accept raw meat. You might have to cook the meat at first just to get them used to eating something other than cat food, then gradually cook it less and less until they're taking it raw. If they're already on canned it'll be easier, too.


They do, actually.  I have them trained enough to back off with a hiss and a wave of the hand, but they still try.  When I cook I have spectators!  I am going to try the chicken breast tonight, maybe they will take to it readily!

 


 

Quote:
Originally Posted by Melesine View Post

I've done it, fed both raw and canned. This started because our kitties were stealing the dogs raw food when we were preparing it lol. As far as finances, home prepared raw is significantly cheaper than canned food and commercial raw. We don't supplement. 


I'm definitely hoping the homemade raw is cheaper.  When you say you don't supplement, what do you mean?  

 



Quote:
Originally Posted by LDG View Post
I got home, cut of a few small slices, and offered to each as a treat. Every single one of them ate it. So for dinner that night, I took out their bowls, and cut up one ounce of raw chicken meat chunks - small. They ate it! Tuxie and Lazlo looked at me funny, so I sprinkled some dehydrated Whole Life chicken on it to get them going... but they gobbled it up after that!
For me, I think, one of the main things is that the food has to be room temperature. If I forget to warm it up, a couple of them really balk at eating it. :nod:
But you can feed up to 15% of their daily intake in non-balanced food, and it won't hurt them.
And mine liked dark meat. I got them chicken thighs. I didn't offer them the bone. Mine are still working on getting used to all that chewing. :nod: I'd make sure they're good with chewing first, then worry about adding bones.
The best bones to start with are small. Chicken necks are not small, and something they have to work up to. Quail wings/ribs, chicken wings/ribs are the best place to start. :)


I'm hoping mine will be the same as far as eating the raw chicken chunks.  I'm going to start with smaller pieces, but not bite-sized.  They're still kittens after all, and I'm cross.gif that I haven't canned and kibbled them out of the knowledge that they are carnivores!  I'll definitely start with warm food - that way if they don't like it I'll know it's not because it's cold.  I'm warming up their chicken breast now!  Wish me luck!

 



Quote:
Originally Posted by LDG View Post

Oh! As to the digestive enzymes and probiotics... I think all cats should be on probiotics for life. :nod: It was the first thing the hoslitic vet had me do when we rescued Chum, was have me put him on probiotics. I take them daily. They promote healthy gut flora, and there's simply no reason not to use them, no matter the diet - but yes, even more important to maintain healthy gut flora when on a raw diet.


Sounds good!  I've read y'all using the ProZyme, I assume that's the digestive enzymes?  Any recommendation for probiotics?

 

Reply
post #9 of 37
2/23/12 at 3:48pm
ProZyme is a probiotic and enzyme product. There may be better brands. . .that's all I've used for an enzyme. For probiotics I've also used human probiotic brands.
Reply
post #10 of 37
2/23/12 at 4:13pm
Thread Starter 

They loved it!!!!!!!!!!!!!!  Wow - even though I had high expectations given the fact that they are young and so easy to feed in general, they exceeded them.  I gave them the raw chicken breast, warmed slightly (though some parts near the middle were still a bit chilly), cut into medium-sized chunks.  A bit larger than a quarter - something they definitely had to chew and couldn't swallow in a bite.  No encouragement needed whatsoever!  It was like I had put their normal food down - they just chowed down.  

 

Joni has this thing about any kind of food she gets that's not cat food specifically - she gets really possessive and runs off with it - so she did run amuck a bit with her raw pieces, and played with at least one of them, but ate them all!  The boys were all business - chowing down, chewing, it was so weird to hear them chewing! lol! I guess I've never heard it before.

 

I'm not sure how much I gave them - I chose a really small breast and some of it I didn't use because it was all fat (should I feed that part or not??) - so maybe 3 medium-sized chunks each?  They were definitely still hungry so I gave them canned afterwards, and they ate all of that, too, haha!  Oh well.  I'll definitely need a scale before I begin the full-time enterprise...

Reply
post #11 of 37
2/23/12 at 7:18pm
woohoo.gifclap.gifclap.gifclap.gif Little carnivores, ready-to-go! Gotta love it! biggthumpup.gifbiggrin.gif
Reply
post #12 of 37
2/24/12 at 8:43am
Good for your little carnies biggrin.gifclap.gifclap.gifclap.gif They are naturals. Great report biggrin.gifwavey.gif
Reply
post #13 of 37
2/24/12 at 9:28am

woohoo.gif(I must admit, I'm a little jealous)

Reply
post #14 of 37
2/24/12 at 10:05am
Quote:
Originally Posted by mrsgreenjeens View Post

woohoo.gif (I must admit, I'm a little jealous)

OMG - flail.gif I wanted to say that too anon.gif..... the jealous part.......
Reply
post #15 of 37
2/24/12 at 11:04am
Thread Starter 
Quote:
Originally Posted by Feralvr View Post


OMG - :flail: I wanted to say that too :anon:..... the jealous part.......


I knowwwwwww lol!  I felt so conflicted... like, "Hey guys... don't you want to at least sniff it and try to cover it a couple times?  Hold out for some Fortiflora or something?!"  I just got so lucky with their temperaments as well as the fact that they are young and haven't had any health problems or stomach/digestive issues that would cause them to be picky or suspicious.  I'll probably only pop in with questions, not document the whole transition process, since, "Ate another full raw meal with no problems!" would be both boring and cruel. hugs.gif I'm asking Simon, Garfunkel, & Joni to send vibes to y'all's kitty crews that HEY GUYS, RAW IS REALLY YUMMY!!!!!!!!!!!!!! DO YOU HEAR ME??! EAT, EAT, EAT! vibes.gif

Reply
post #16 of 37
2/24/12 at 11:06am
Quote:
Originally Posted by parsleysage View Post



I knowwwwwww lol!  I felt so conflicted... like, "Hey guys... don't you want to at least sniff it and try to cover it a couple times?  Hold out for some Fortiflora or something?!"  I just got so lucky with their temperaments as well as the fact that they are young and haven't had any health problems or stomach/digestive issues that would cause them to be picky or suspicious.  I'll probably only pop in with questions, not document the whole transition process, since, "Ate another full raw meal with no problems!" would be both boring and cruel. hugs.gif I'm asking Simon, Garfunkel, & Joni to send vibes to y'all's kitty crews that HEY GUYS, RAW IS REALLY YUMMY!!!!!!!!!!!!!! DO YOU HEAR ME??! EAT, EAT, EAT! vibes.gif

flail.gifflail.gifflail.gif Aw, I LOVE it! hugs.gif But do let us know when they're eating like... 50% raw, and 75% raw, or when you go 100%, OK? We can at least celebrate milestones for your GREAT little carnivores! biggthumpup.gifbiggrin.gif
Reply
post #17 of 37
3/11/12 at 10:30pm
Thread Starter 

Just wanted to pop in really quick and say we are on 100% canned now!!!!!!!!!!!!!! jive.gif  I finished up the last bag of Simply Nourish dry food about two weeks ago, intending to buy more as always and just... didn't!  laughing02.gif  I haven't noticed any real changes, but they were more than half canned anyway.  They are still eating mostly Sophistacat (now called Great Choice) but 1 meal per day is high-end grain free like Wellness Core.  (Sophistacat's label doesn't say grain free but there are no grain sources listed in the ingredients, so no corn or rice or wheat - but, it is primarily by-product based so not the best protein in the world.)  

 

As finances ease up I want to up that good quality grain-free to all meals, adding probiotics/enzymes along the way, then probably just drop "cold turkey" frankenprey on them by summer!  LOL!  ("Cold turkey" is such an interesting phrase to use in relation to raw feeding haha!  My kitties would say, better NOT be COLD turkey!!! walking_tall.gif)  As far as frankenprey goes I plan to set up a rotation pretty closely based on Laurie's hugs.gif All you raw pioneers are making this so easy for us stragglers!  WE LOVE YOU!!!!  

Reply
post #18 of 37
3/11/12 at 10:39pm
If you think it'll help them to adjust to raw faster, you can buy some plain old chicken breasts and/or thighs and just give them a few small pieces with every meal. Chicken is usually inexpensive and you could always use most of it for human meals! laughing02.gif
Reply
post #19 of 37
3/12/12 at 9:15am
woohoo.gif Isn't it fun just to ... NOT buy kibble? flail.gif

FYI, the only change I'm making to my rotation schedule for now is changing out chicken breast for chicken thigh. The dark meats are more nutritious. smile.gif

OH! I've discovered the kitties prefer the raw food a little chilly, NOT room temp! Go figure.
Reply
post #20 of 37
3/12/12 at 2:02pm
woohoo.gifjumping.gifbiggthumpup.gif TOTAL CANNED FOOD NOW !!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Good job on your part and I am sure there were a few of "those" sweat.gif days during the process. It seems all the cat's are liking fresh raw meat fairly well biggthumpup.gif I am about to offer up some Organic Chicken thigh for dinner tonight. I am finding that the cat's seem to like the raw meat better than the ground. I just am not ready to go boneless FP yet but like you, am reading and appreciating the "FP Raw Pioneer's" daily updates deg.gif Also - I am noticing too that my cat's are just fine with "chilled" meat dontknow.gif Go FIgure laughing02.gif Makes it easier on me anyway clap.gif Keep the updates coming - never boring :boring: laughing02.gif Love the positive news happy2.gif
Reply
post #21 of 37
3/12/12 at 2:52pm
Pioneers flail.gif I feel like I am inside of a carriage headed to California full speed in the middle of the Gold Rush days flail.gif

Congrats on all canned..................... arriba raw! hyper.gif
Reply
post #22 of 37
3/13/12 at 12:52pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by parsleysage View Post

Just wanted to pop in really quick and say we are on 100% canned now!!!!!!!!!!!!!! jive.gif  I finished up the last bag of Simply Nourish dry food about two weeks ago, intending to buy more as always and just... didn't!  laughing02.gif  I haven't noticed any real changes, but they were more than half canned anyway.  They are still eating mostly Sophistacat (now called Great Choice) but 1 meal per day is high-end grain free like Wellness Core.  (Sophistacat's label doesn't say grain free but there are no grain sources listed in the ingredients, so no corn or rice or wheat - but, it is primarily by-product based so not the best protein in the world.)  

 

As finances ease up I want to up that good quality grain-free to all meals, adding probiotics/enzymes along the way, then probably just drop "cold turkey" frankenprey on them by summer!  LOL!  ("Cold turkey" is such an interesting phrase to use in relation to raw feeding haha!  My kitties would say, better NOT be COLD turkey!!! walking_tall.gif)  As far as frankenprey goes I plan to set up a rotation pretty closely based on Laurie's hugs.gif All you raw pioneers are making this so easy for us stragglers!  WE LOVE YOU!!!!  

 

woohoo.gif

 

So, have you at least noticed they are drinking less water?  I've noticed a huge difference here, since they converted from dry to canned.  I used to have to fill up the reservoir on their fountain at least every 4 - 5 days, and not after a week it's still 1/3 full!  'Course, I put mine on grain free canned for all meals, to get them more used to what raw would be like.  Maybe that's why dontknow.gif

 

As far as moving them to Frankenprey "cold turkey", hopefully they'll take to it immediately!  That would be wonderful.  Your babies are pretty young, right?  Should be easier cross.gif

Reply
post #23 of 37
3/13/12 at 11:17pm
Thread Starter 
Quote:
Originally Posted by mrsgreenjeens View Post

 

woohoo.gif

 

So, have you at least noticed they are drinking less water?  I've noticed a huge difference here, since they converted from dry to canned.  I used to have to fill up the reservoir on their fountain at least every 4 - 5 days, and not after a week it's still 1/3 full!  'Course, I put mine on grain free canned for all meals, to get them more used to what raw would be like.  Maybe that's why dontknow.gif

 

As far as moving them to Frankenprey "cold turkey", hopefully they'll take to it immediately!  That would be wonderful.  Your babies are pretty young, right?  Should be easier cross.gif


It's funny - I hadn't checked the site all day and at our late-night meal I was thinking I needed to come write here that they are drinking WAY less!  I don't have a fountain, but I fill their bowls each night.  Usually they are more than half gone or even all the way gone (like some left in the bottom, not totally empty) sometimes, and now they are all still 3/4 full or more.  It's really something!!!!  It's amazing how you can "know" something - cats need water with their food as they will not drink enough on their own to be properly hydrated - but to SEE the difference now that they are on all canned, to know FOR SURE that they are getting more moisture with the wet food than with dry food + wet food + water bowls... it really lights a fire under your butt!  

 

Reply
post #24 of 37
3/13/12 at 11:23pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by parsleysage View Post



It's funny - I hadn't checked the site all day and at our late-night meal I was thinking I needed to come write here that they are drinking WAY less!  I don't have a fountain, but I fill their bowls each night.  Usually they are more than half gone or even all the way gone (like some left in the bottom, not totally empty) sometimes, and now they are all still 3/4 full or more.  It's really something!!!!  It's amazing how you can "know" something - cats need water with their food as they will not drink enough on their own to be properly hydrated - but to SEE the difference now that they are on all canned, to know FOR SURE that they are getting more moisture with the wet food than with dry food + wet food + water bowls... it really lights a fire under your butt!  

Yep.... mine drink NO water - none! That was weird when it started..... Especially because Bugsy pees and pees!
the only one who drank water was Lucky when she was on kibbles.... When she relapsed and had to go back on kibbles for a couple of weeks, that was the first thing that happened (and her gigantic poops too laughing02.gif) - it was just SO sad to see her drinking water frown.gif... Not because water is bad.... But because I knew she was thirsty - while when she was on raw, she was completely satisfied agree.gif Thank Goodness she is on raw again, and again, not drinking anymore - yey!! clap.gifclap.gifclap.gif
It is funny to see the theory in action, isn't it? wavey.gif
Reply
post #25 of 37
3/13/12 at 11:31pm
Thread Starter 

The other thing is that they are ALWAYS hungry... alright.gif as a meowmy it's so frustrating to hear them crying for food whenever I walk to the kitchen... or by the kitchen... or in the general direction of the kitchen... or thinking about going to the kitchen....  It used to just be Garfunkel but now it's everybody.  They are each eating 5.5oz of food per day, one can split between the three of them 3x per day.  Is this not enough?????  Joni's 9 pounds and the boys were 12 lbs in Jan, prob closer to 13 at this point.  2% of 12 lbs is 3.84 oz and 3% of 12 lbs is 5.76 oz, so I'm confused if they are eating 5.5oz why this is not a good amount for them.  

 

I am thinking I was way overfeeding them on dry.  I never measured it, just put down what filled their bowls.

 

I am going to take Willowy's suggestion and start offering them some raw chunks every day - just with one meal so they don't become unbalanced.  Or maybe as a snack would be better?  They eat at 7:30am, anywhere from 5:30-7:30pm, and between 11pm-midnight.  If a snack, where would I put it?  I am hoping that maybe this will help fill them up?  I give them the high quality grain-free at breakfast as they have the longest stretch after that meal - up to 12 hours - so my theory (or hope) is that the better protein has more staying power to keep them satisfied longer.  Maybe I could give the raw chunks then too?  Or maybe at night because of the lower quality food, to help it last longer?  Any ideas LOL

Reply
post #26 of 37
3/14/12 at 12:21am
Quote:
Originally Posted by parsleysage View Post

The other thing is that they are ALWAYS hungry... alright.gif  as a meowmy it's so frustrating to hear them crying for food whenever I walk to the kitchen... or by the kitchen... or in the general direction of the kitchen... or thinking about going to the kitchen....  It used to just be Garfunkel but now it's everybody.  They are each eating 5.5oz of food per day, one can split between the three of them 3x per day.  Is this not enough?????  Joni's 9 pounds and the boys were 12 lbs in Jan, prob closer to 13 at this point.  2% of 12 lbs is 3.84 oz and 3% of 12 lbs is 5.76 oz, so I'm confused if they are eating 5.5oz why this is not a good amount for them.  Ok.... Keep in mind that this rule is for raw - not for canned.... Raw is more nutrition packed than canned, so you generally feed less. It is richer too, so it is more satisfying... If you are feeding canned, I would suggest you feed the amount suggested on the label, rather than percentage, or go by calorie - 20-25 calories/lb of weight.
With that stated.... Bugsy weighs 20lbs 4oz..... and is eating 5.4oz a day - that is way below the 2% guideline.... if he eats ANYTHING more than that, he will gain weight. He needs to lose weight, and this is the QTY per meal that works for him. Hope, who is 13lbs 3.5oz, eats 4.8oz a day - again, more than that and she will gain weight. That is 2.26%
There is a reason why they go to the kitchen: now you have timed meals..... and there is where the meals come from.... naturally, they know where to go agree.gif Mine follow me every time I go to the kitchen - it doesn't mean they are hungry agree.gif It just means they know I make food in there..... Call that wishful thinking - get used to it - that comes with feeding raw too.... you will never prepare meals alone again laughing02.gif
Hungry? Lucky will flat out jump on bed, wake me up and raise hell laughing02.gif Bugsy will eat plastic - trash bags, will jump on my desk and look for plastic - the boy is a mess laughing02.gif That only happens right before feeding times though..... He makes sure to get his point across.... LOUD and CLEAR laughing02.gif

I am thinking I was way overfeeding them on dry.  I never measured it, just put down what filled their bowls.

I am going to take Willowy's suggestion and start offering them some raw chunks every day - just with one meal so they don't become unbalanced.  Or maybe as a snack would be better?  They eat at 7:30am, anywhere from 5:30-7:30pm, and between 11pm-midnight.  If a snack, where would I put it?  I am hoping that maybe this will help fill them up?  I give them the high quality grain-free at breakfast as they have the longest stretch after that meal - up to 12 hours - so my theory (or hope) is that the better protein has more staying power to keep them satisfied longer.  Maybe I could give the raw chunks then too?  Or maybe at night because of the lower quality food, to help it last longer?  Any ideas LOL
There is a very long stretch going on there.... Anyway you could make that less? It seems they are going almost 12 hours without food at times, and that is too much.... What time is the latest in the am you can feed them, and the earliest in the pm? If adding a snack, and if someone is available to do that, I would most definitely fit in that long stretch - right in the middle of it.... You will prevent over-acid production. Schedule feedings with long stretches in between like that can become problematic as the kitty starts producing too much acid - you can start getting vomiting.... Not good.... Meat is definitely quite filling, and IMHO the more the merrier! My crew is liking chunks better, and pretty much rejecting ground..... it is better for their teeth and jaws too - plus cheaper, which is truly awesome! It can actually end up being cheaper than all canned, which.... well... works out to be a good deal clap.gifclap.gifclap.gif So... do you intend to do a full switch, since they like it so much? Or you are going to be on canned/raw for now? What are your thoughts?
Reply
post #27 of 37
3/14/12 at 5:40am
Thread Starter 

Thanks Carolina!  You are right about the percentages... I don't know why I was thinking that.  I will recalculate based on calories later today and see what they should be eating.

 

There isn't really a way for me to limit that long stretch - 7:30am is the absolute latest I can feed them, and I need to walk out the door IMMEDIATELY after that in order to get to work on time.  Then the earliest I leave work is 5, getting home at 5:30, but I also sometimes have to pick up my niece & nephew and take them to my parents' house and feed them, getting home between 7-7:30.  I'm not sure how I can get around that.  My mom works from home so maybe she could come by in the afternoons and give them a snack?  But sometimes she has to go to the office, or she may not even want to do that.  sigh.gif  This has definitely been a factor in my decision to go raw.

 

But - despite that - to answer your other question, I do plan to go 100% raw! clap.gif I know it will definitely be cheaper than all canned.  It's just a matter of working out the logistics and getting started on a rotation!  I plan to do something pretty closely aligned with Laurie's rotation - just not sure when I can start.

Reply
post #28 of 37
3/14/12 at 8:33am
Oh you will SO see the difference between raw and canned in turns of that hunger thing. agree.gif On canned, my cats were driving me nuts at night. Flowerbelle would wake me up, chewing my hair, pulling my hair - I had scabs on my head from Shel when I'd forget to clip his claws. laughing02.gif On raw - no one bothers me! But like Carolina says... prepare anything that requires the refrigerator to be opened, and you'll have an audience. flail.gif Shen will actually howl at me - and that, right after eating almost 2 ounces of his meal (because I fix theirs before I fix ours). laughing02.gif He is definitely NOT hungry - just hoping. laughing02.gif
Reply
post #29 of 37
3/14/12 at 7:21pm
Thread Starter 

Here is a video I took a few minutes ago feeding the kids chicken breast.  This was after their canned meal.  They each got one long strip and one big chunk - you can see how big I cut them in the video and how much work it took for them to eat it!  These were also pretty chilly and they didn't mind the temperature, either.  Funny!  Anyway, sorry for the camera work - fingers over lenses, had to put the camera down for a few seconds at the beginning.  But I hope you enjoy watching my babies chowing down!

 

Reply
post #30 of 37
3/14/12 at 7:39pm
clap.gifclap.gifclap.gif Look at them go!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! biggthumpup.gif
Reply
New Posts  All Forums:Forum Nav:
  Return Home
  Back to Forum: Raw Feeding for Cats
TheCatSite.com › Forums › Our Feline Companions › Cat Nutrition › Raw Feeding for Cats › Part-time Raw! LOL! AKA eating canned and adding raw