Really Raw?

Hi all,

this may sounds silly for you, but I am new to all this. Can I really give raw meat to my cat? You know aftr years of this fearmongering on American TV I have come to believe you get every kind of disease known to mankind if you eat uncooked meat.

Especially chicken, you know, that you fall over dead if you touch uncooked chicken.

So seriously, can I give raw meat to my cat? I got some ground meat and also some liver from the store to try if she eats it. I understand that serious home diet involves adding powder with necessary additives, but for me it's about finding out if she eats it or not first.

So can I give raw beef, liver? And how about chicken? Or ground turkey from the store?

Thanks all

Yes, you can but you should freeze at least chicken and turkey I believe for 3 days prior to feeding. Also buy whole meat and cut it or grind it yourself rather than buying supermarket mince which often has many additives to stop it going brown.

Liver is fine but don't give too much. Too much isn't good for them.

I give lamb and beef to my boy without freezing on occasion (human grade meat) and he's been fine.

Thanks, yes I want to try if they eat it at all, if they do, I will read up on this topic here and find out.

I have one cat with allergy and although I have ruled out the food allergen components in the foods I buy I suspect maybe there may be other ingredients she is allergic to and which didnt show up in the test or maybe the food is contaminated from the machines and contains allergens from previous batches, so I would like to make my own food if they eat it, but first I have to find out.

Yes, raw meat can be given to a cat or a dog

If you are not planning on making raw a main part of the diet, please keep the raw meats and organs to no more than 10% of the diet basically as treats. You don't want to throw your cat's nutrition off.

Ground supermarket meat is not recommended. Who knows how clean the supermarket grinders are. Bacteria is likely mixed throughout the meat which can cause an upset tummy for your cat. Cooking kills off the bacteria so it's fine for Humans. It's better to buy whole cuts of meat, like chicken breast, and chop or grind it yourself at home.

Some brands of supermarket meats may be enhanced with things like chicken broth and flavorings and sodium solutions. Try to buy only non-enhanced meats.

Liver is ok but too much can cause vitamin A toxicity. Limit the liver to small pieces as an occasional treat.

Any type of raw meat or organ is fine to give to a cat. Your cat will let you know what he likes and doesn't like Chicken and other poultry are a hit with most cats.

Cool, I see how it goes first, I do have supermarket meat now but its only for tryouts. I know in a few days and if I stay with it, I will read up on the recipes and get the powder stuff