Organic home cooking for cats with compromised immune systems

Wondering if anyone here cooks for a cat with an immune disease and how they handle their cat's special needs.  I wanted to put my kitties on a raw diet, but that appears to be out of the question now due to the kitties' susceptibility to bacterial infection.  I know there are a couple of brands that use a high pressure treatment to destroy residual bacteria, but I was really hoping for a 100% organic formula, and I haven't been able to find any that have only organic ingredients *and* are pressure treated.  (Please correct me if I'm wrong!)  

I'd like to purchase organic meats and prepare them as a complete diet for the kitties, but I can only find recipes that call for semi-cooking the food.  Are there recipes out there that use thoroughly cooked meat?  Or would you simply substitute cooked meat in the semi-cooked recipe?  

And where do the organic meal makers get their meats?  I'm eagerly awaiting the opening of a Whole Foods nearish to me, but I need a plan of action to tide me over until then.  The grocery stores around here aren't big on organic, though this is slowly beginning to change.  This is Pittsburgh, PA area specific, if that helps.  

I don't cook for my cats, however, I do feed them HPP, hormone and antibiotic free raw foods; one of my cats is FHV and he is fine, no problem (despite my vets' "warning" not to do raw, he is thriving).

Not sure about "organic" -- i.e., that the animals used for meat have been raised on certified organic land and fed certified organic foods, however, both NV and Primal make HPP raw (although the latter doesn't use HPP on all meats - check the site) and both use mostly hormone and antibiotic free meats, which is what I look for.

NV:

http://www.naturesvariety.com/learning/raw

Quality, Integrity, and Care
Nature's Variety Raw Frozen Diets are made in the heart of the USA in an EU approved and USDA Certified Organic Processing Facility.  Each patty, medallion, and chub is individually quick frozen to seal in freshness, natural flavors, and nutrition.  Nature's Variety uses only high quality meat and poultry in our Raw Frozen Diets.

• Ingredients are sourced from USDA inspected facilities
• Chicken is certified organic or certified antibiotic-free with no added growth hormones*
• Lamb and Venison are pasture-fed and antibiotic-free with no added growth hormones; Venison is imported from New Zealand
• Rabbit is antibiotic-free with no added growth hormones

Primal:

http://www.primalpetfoods.com/education/benefits

All products in the Primal Pet Foods food and treat line contain 100% USDA, human-grade, all-natural ingredients. Primal Formulas, Mixes and Grinds incorporate fresh, antibiotic- and steroid-free whole muscle meat, organ meat and meaty bones with no additional hormones. This combination of high-quality protein provides the essential amino acids, fatty acids, active enzymes and natural-source calcium necessary to support your pet's overall health.

Primal Formulas and Mixes incorporate wholesome, certified organic fruits and vegetables providing essential food-based vitamins and minerals. The addition of certified organic unrefined supplements in our Formula line offers your pet the benefit of a complete and balanced diet without the addition of synthetic vitamins. All of the ingredients contained in the Primal products line are purveyed from suppliers who are recognized for their superior-quality, human-grade ingredients and the highest standards of safe food handling.

Primal Treats are produced using antibiotic- and steroid-free meats, poultry and game with no additional hormones from the United States and New Zealand. All treats in the Primal line are single-source protein and contain only natural ingredients without the use of preservatives.

I believe Stella & Chewy's is also hormone / antibiotic free; K9 Naturals raw boasts their food is "fit for human consumption".

That's a tough nut to crack -- finding commercially prepared organic meats that fulfill the criteria of how organic is defined.  Good luck, maybe others on this site will have some suggestions.

the3rdname said:

 
I'd like to purchase organic meats and prepare them as a complete diet for the kitties, but I can only find recipes that call for semi-cooking the food.  Are there recipes out there that use thoroughly cooked meat?  Or would you simply substitute cooked meat in the semi-cooked recipe?  

Click to expand...

I know of two cooked meat diets : one using the U Stew premix and one using the TC Feline premix. Using the specified premix is important because cooked meat on its own is not a complete balanced diet for cats. I'm not sure how one would se cooked meat with other supplements.

TCfeline uses xanthan gum as a thickener. That's an ingredient I personally like to avoid.

But we have very easy recipes on the site:

http://www.thecatsite.com/t/264153/home-cooked-cat-food-resources

In that thread (stickied at the top of the forum when you view the site in desktop mode) is a link to this thread: http://www.thecatsite.com/t/263751/cooked-recipes-thread

There is a list of supplements that can be used to complete meat.

One high quality supplement that many are very happy with is Alnutrin. There are recipes for using Alnutrin in that cooked recipes thread. It requires meat and liver. Adding salmon oil after you've mixed the supplement is optional, but a very healthy addition. Basic instructions for using it: http://www.ibdkitties.net/Homecooked.html

Alnutrin with eggshell (used with the meat and liver) is purchased here: http://www.knowwhatyoufeed.com/shop_online.html

one of my cats has a compromised immune system and i partially cook the chicken thighs; haven't had any issues.  dr. pierson cooks her turkey/chicken thighs for about 15 minutes; i put mine in for a little less than that.  the exposed part of the thighs looks just cooked and the insides are still raw.  my local costco sells organic bone-in chicken thighs in big packs of like 5lbs.  i've used them in the past but i'm not using bone-in thighs now and i hate deboning chicken.

You could try ordering from Hare Today Gone Tomorrow. They do not have organic meat but everything is of high quality. I have been very happy with it. I have been feeding raw to my 3 cats . One of whom was FIV+. I bought commercial Stella and Chewy's Freeze dried and partially cooked chicken and Turkey thighs ( per Dr. Pierson) for my Remy. I never, ever had a problem with his health that was due to his food. Remy passed away on Monday but he had many health problems that a good diet could not change.

 Organic meat would double the cost of feeding raw and so I am happy with HT as they use no hormones, anti-biotic etc. Their animals ( except the rabbits) are pasture raised. They are frozen directly after being butchered and ground frozen. This greatly lessens the chances of bacteria growth.

 I began feeding raw full time with the Primal Grind chubs. The cats liked them but I wanted to move on and make my own and get a ( presumably) higher quality of meat. I fed the Freeze dried so that Remy could have a more diverse diet.

Maureen Bradley said:

 
 Remy passed away on Monday but he had many health problems that a good diet could not change.

Click to expand...

Maureen, I'm fairly new to this site, however, I have followed several of your posts regarding Remy and food.

I'm so sorry about Remy, he was very fortunate to have you as his caregiver, paying such close attention and care with his diet.

Sending healing thoughts your way.

Lisamarie12- Thank you so much. It is a hard time for me. I miss little Remy and feel so badly that his life was not happier.When I adopted him in 2013 I was a fairly naïve cat person. I had only had 2 cats in my life. When I met Remy he had just been brought to a Pet store for adoption having spent 3 years in a cat rescue shelter. I liked him but had a feeling he was not healthy. The rescue group gave me his records and assured me he was ok. Later I found out all the health problems he had. The rescue offered to take him back but I could not give him back.I felt that for 3 years they had ignored his health and I wasn't going to let them do it again.

I just tried so hard to buy time for him.The rescue did pay for his first surgery but he needed more.He had 3. I had seen small glimpses of what a happy guy he could be if he felt well enough. In the end he was a miserable mess and I just couldn't put him through anything else.

Maureen Bradley said:

Remy passed away on Monday but he had many health problems that a good diet could not change.

Click to expand...

I'm so sorry for your loss    I'm dealing with a severely anemic FeLV kitty right now and we're at that critical juncture where things can go south at any moment.  He doesn't yet realize he's sick, silly boy!  I'm on tenterhooks waiting for a rapid downwards spiral, though.  

I understand what you're saying about the food not being a magic bullet and I agree that there's only so much you can do.  And it sounds like your kitties' diet is on the super healthy side, just like what a concerned mama would choose.  I'd always wanted to go raw but am getting really paranoid about bacteria, so I thought going organic would be a good trade-off.  

I appreciate all the helpful replies, and it's a lot to mull over.  I wanted to respond in more detail but am trying to spend as much time as possible cuddling and playing with my sick boy (not sure how much time he has left).  

Grateful hugs to all!

the3rdname said:

 
I'm so sorry for your loss 

  I'm dealing with a severely anemic FeLV kitty right now and we're at that critical juncture where things can go south at any moment.  He doesn't yet realize he's sick, silly boy!  I'm on tenterhooks waiting for a rapid downwards spiral, though.  

I understand what you're saying about the food not being a magic bullet and I agree that there's only so much you can do.  And it sounds like your kitties' diet is on the super healthy side, just like what a concerned mama would choose.  I'd always wanted to go raw but am getting really paranoid about bacteria, so I thought going organic would be a good trade-off.  

Click to expand...

I'm really sorry to hear you are dealing with this, I commend you for taking the time to research home cooked meals for kitty.  I hope you can also find additional support from members who have FeLV kitties and how they are managing. Sending best wishes your way.

Maureen Bradley said:

 
Remy passed away on Monday but he had many health problems that a good diet could not change.

Click to expand...

Just saw your post now.   My condolences for your loss.  It sounds like you made his life much better than he would have had otherwise.

Originally Posted by Maureen Bradley  

 I began feeding raw full time with the Primal Grind chubs. The cats liked them but I wanted to move on and make my own and get a ( presumably) higher quality of meat. I fed the Freeze dried so that Remy could have a more diverse diet.

Click to expand...

I also use the Primal Grind chubs, but I agree that either the Hare Today grinds or home-made using storebought ingredients would be better.  I suspect the chubs are made mainly from necks, backs, hearts and gizzards to keep costs down.  There may be nothing wrong with that, but I'm a bit concerned about nutritional imbalances e.g. too much sodium from the hearts.  

I've always thought the bacterial danger has nothing to do with whether the meat is organic or not, but in the processing of the meat through slaughter and storage afterward.  An animal may be healthier if raised organic, thus having a better nutritional profile and better Omega 3/6 ratios, and there's less risk to the consumer (meat eater) with respect to pesticides and antibiotics, but bacteria is everywhere.  If healthier meat is your goal, then buy organic.  If bacteria is your concern, then slightly cook the food as Dr. Pierson describes.  But one does not guarantee the other.    

I have a cat that is immune compromised and is currently taking Budesonide.  He eats both raw and cooked meats and is doing great.  I buy my meats from Sprouts, a smaller "healthy" grocery chain.  I buy their regular "natural" raised meats (not certified organic, but ...).  Occasionally I'll buy organic, depending on price.  I look at the dates and buy the freshest meat I can and I either cook or freeze immediately at home.  I use a variety of pre-mix supplements (see LDG's post above) to balance the meat.  We have never had a problem with the home prepped food.  

Two of my cats got sick once from eating an organic commercial raw food (not HPP), the cat mentioned above and my youngest.  I know that was the source of their illness because only those two cats ate from that tub and both were violently sick. The other cats were fine. They've eaten that food brand a lot, and still do, without a problem, so it had to be the way that particular tub was stored.  It was an expensive week at the vets, but they got better.  I don't blame the company.  

I certainly can't speak to your cat's particular health needs, and you don't say what your cat was eating before, but feeding a commercial raw and home made raw/cooked diet has certainly improved the overall health of my cats.  My immune compromised cat's (internist) vet discourages a raw diet because of bacterial concerns, but she said my cat looks great and to keep up with what we are doing.