Wanting to switch my cats to raw

Hi, new today here! I wondered if I could seek some advice from you? I have 4 cats and have been looking in to raw feeding. I know there are so many forums filled with advice and information and so many against raw feeding and so many for it - it is all so overwhelming. I really want the best diet for my cats and to ensure that they live out the rest of their [hopefully long] lives as healthy as possible with no health issues. My eldest cat is a boy and he is 15, he is very good for his age and still quite active and switched on. He has had 2 bouts of Struvite crystals (2 years ago (a month apart) and he was put on a veterinary diet. Before this health issue he was on mostly dry food with some wet as that was what he had always had (I was misinformed and as gullible as many). However, since then he has had nothing but wet food and all high quality - Ziwipeak etc.. He still vomits after his meals, I'd say once out of every three meals he regurgitates it (but he does eat fast!). He is looking healthy, the vet is happy with his weight but says he is a tad over, not much at all though....just to watch it as he is 16 nearly. My other cats are a 5 year old girl (she is obese) and on Metabolic wet and some dry...very little dry I may add. My other two are siblings, a boy and a girl - both nearly 8, they eat Ziwipeak and any other high quality wet, some kibble for the girl, as she is incredibly fussy and it's been a hard habit to break with the kibble - and as we are so busy (as like many) it is convenience. Having said that, it does not come without guilt! I know I am doing the best I can at the moment with feeding the higher quality, I'd never buy them commercial brands like Wiskas, Go Cat or Felix - no way! They are all in very good health, their teeth have been regularly checked and are good some tartar on the eldest to keep an eye on, but he is 15. He may need it removing at some point in the near future. Anyway (trying to keep this as short as I can, sorry!) I spend on average about £120 a month on all four cats, and have it delivered by Fetch pet foods. For the last couple days I have been doing as much research as I can on feeding, transitioning my cats to a completely raw diet but I am (to be totally honest) very scared of this unknown. I do not want to risk any health issues by possible lack of essential vitamins, nutrients, so I am seeking any help I can. I saw your reply on a topic on fb on this raw feeding and thought I would ask an unbiased person. All I need to know is a list of the meats, organs, bone (?) I need to feed each of them to ensure a balanced diet and if there is need to add any extra (supplements). I hear there is enough taurine present in beef heart (and any muscle meat) but what about the other important nutrients/vitamins....are they all present in the raw meats? Time is scarce, we are a very busy family and so we need to do this the easiest way we can. I do have a local butcher who would be very happy to help me out with any grinding and specific meat cuts - is this good enough, or does it have to be organic?? What is the percentage of muscle meat, to fatty meat, to organs, bone? So sorry to bother you but I really want to do this. I hate being one that is having to rely on processed meat, even if I do buy the best out there - it is still processed...not fresh. I want to rule out kibble completely, even though I feed very small amounts compared to the meat I feed them. So all I ask is what have you found works for you and how has your cat been health wise with a raw diet? Massive thanks in advance everyone. Have a good day! Emma x

I was very scared too, when I transitioned my cats to raw.  AND, they did NOT want to be transitioned.  What I might suggest to you is to possibly try a commercial raw first, just to see if your furkids seem to like it, THEN try making your own.  And how perfect tht you have a butcher who will help you with grinding, etc. 

With a commercial raw,you don't have to worry about it already being 100% nutritionally complete.  Tht's the beauty of it.  Yes, it's more expensive, but it's just for the trial run.  Then you can figure out  more about what you want to do.  For instance, whether you want to feed ground raw, or chunks, bone-in, or use a different source of calcium, like eggshell powder, or what. 

There should be enough taurine in the actual muscle meet and hearts to suffice, but some people add extra.  Many people add additional supplements, some use individual supplements, and some buy them already made up.  Did you see our resources thread?  http://www.thecatsite.com/t/264154/raw-feeding-resources

Above are all my beautiful babies - 

Thank you so much for your reply and helpful advice! I will certainly process all that and it will hopefully help me on my way! I'll report back soon

They ARE beautiful .  And I see at least two of them get along .  When I had four, only two of them got along.  It kind of made me sad that the other two were loners.  Never cuddled or groomed with the others.  They only liked humans, which was good for US, but not so good for them when we weren't home.

They all get along, but those two, who are in (we call it their cloud), are the brother and sister - Jack & Martha. Martha loves her cloud and is always in there away from the other cats - she tolerates them but likes only us human parents Yet she cannot resist a warm cuddle also with her brother if it means she gets to stay in the cloud (he loves it too). But they all get along as well as can be, no fighting ever, just the occasional spit or nudge (like any family, ha).  Eva (the white and grey with the huge eyes) - in the photo she is peeking around the fridge door as mummy has opened it and she can smell the goodies - she and Jack (Jack is Martha's brother) are joined at the hip almost - they adore each other and are always snuggled and grooming one another. Scampy (the red tabby who is nearly 16) is more of a loner, but does snuggle near the others. So yes, pretty lucky as they all get along