What could be the best diet for my kitties?

Originally Posted by lionessrampant

That's actually not true. You're actually more likely to get it from raw meat.

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Well if that's the case how come there are so many warnings to pregnant women about cat poop and cleaning the litterbox and no warnings about toxo and raw meat? Also, unless your a vegetarian you handle raw meat on probably a daily basis anyway to prepaire your own meals. Just be sensible and CLEAN and wash up after you handle raw meat.

Originally Posted by lionessrampant

Maybe it's the thing of the future, but until a group of people with degrees in the subject can come to a conclusion that endorses the effectiveness of this diet, I'm going to stick with a high quality commercial diet.

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Here's one guy with 2 degrees and a published book on it. Dr Richard H. Pitcairn, DVM, PHD.
My vet also has a degree and fully endorses a raw diet.
I have a degree as well.
Are we forming a group yet?

Originally Posted by lionessrampant

. I've also read numerous journal entries in Veterinary journals that doubt the effectiveness and complete-ness of a raw diet.

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Again, follow the money!

Originally Posted by Kai Bengals

Here's one guy with 2 degrees and a published book on it. Dr Richard H. Pitcairn, DVM, PHD.
My vet also has a degree and fully endorses a raw diet.
I have a degree as well.
Are we forming a group yet?

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My new vet also supports a raw diet .... though she did tell me that of the wet and dry foods I feed the few she would recommend ... Yes you can get Toxoplamosis( hey I know that aint the right way it is spelled ..from raw meat mainly poultry( it is quite rare))
No degree here yet but I think I have already written a theisis

Originally Posted by Kai Bengals

That is complete nonsense.

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http://www.felineleukemia.org I read it there. There are people who feed it to their aysmptomatic kitties...that's not what I was dealing with. When they get to the point that Lola reached, their bodies lack the defenses necessary to filter out the bacterial impurities in the uncooked meat.

My cats eat whatevers cheapest, and I have seven very healthy very spoiled cats. In fact my cats were getting sick when we were trying to feed them wet or raw, and I have one cat that absolutely refuses to eat anything but their kibble..well that and whatever's on my plate at the time.

I know I should be more concerned about what goes into their catfood, but honestly we're using Purina Indoor Formula at the moment (we had a coupon) and it seems to be working really well. Since we're all three back at work we're thinking of sticking witha that.

Originally Posted by G&G's Mom

My cats eat whatevers cheapest, and I have seven very healthy very spoiled cats. In fact my cats were getting sick when we were trying to feed them wet or raw, and I have one cat that absolutely refuses to eat anything but their kibble..well that and whatever's on my plate at the time.

I know I should be more concerned about what goes into their catfood, but honestly we're using Purina Indoor Formula at the moment (we had a coupon) and it seems to be working really well. Since we're all three back at work we're thinking of sticking witha that.

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Just because a cat looks healthy does not nessacerily mean they are healthy. There can be stuff going on that you don't see. Im not saying your cats aren't healthy but sometimes you just can't tell untill the problem shows itself. what was happinging to your kitties specifically when you fed raw? What was your recipe like? There are certian things you shouldn't feed when you feed raw and there are certian things that are absolutely nessacery.

Usually a mixture of ground up beef (not hamburger actual ground beef my uncle gave me fresh from his cows). Mostly it was a lot of diaharea and vomiting plus my two spunkiest cats Gremlin and Sox got very lethargic. I just vetted all of my cats last week, because we switched vets when we moved, and according to her they're all very healthy animals.

Originally Posted by G&G's Mom

Usually a mixture of ground up beef (not hamburger actual ground beef my uncle gave me fresh from his cows). Mostly it was a lot of diaharea and vomiting plus my two spunkiest cats Gremlin and Sox got very lethargic. I just vetted all of my cats last week, because we switched vets when we moved, and according to her they're all very healthy animals.

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Beef is not one of the meats recommended to feed cats on a raw diet.
Not a single one of my cats will even try beef. They are repulsed by the smell alone.

Like I addressed above, there are many people who either do not feel comfortable feeding a raw diet, or do not have the time and money to dedicate to doing so. Does that make them unfit? I should hope not, since then the vast majority of people that are members of this board are unfit. Please do not badger other members because they are not 100% sure based on their own personal research that raw diets are the best for their cats. We are all responsible for doing the research on our own and seeing how we feel about this diet. The best you can do is to be an advocate that is informed, and willing to offer that information to other pet owners. Degrading or demeaning your target audience will not help your cause.

It is a personal decision, and there are many high quality dry and wet foods commercially available that are healthy for cats, based on what binders and by-products are or are not used. These diets are good quality foods for the average consumer.

This forum is here for information, discussions, debates and so forth. I think you might be overly sensitive about what's happening in this thread. There is a discussion going on and it's a civil one, with all view points being expressed. If there were a problem with badgering, I'm sure a mod would have stepped in by now.
Each person can only speak for themselves as to what diet they will feed their cats. Your position is clear, but please allow others to speak for themselves.
If this is a sore subject on the boards, perhaps it's better discussed in the IMO forum, where there is more latitude for civil, but heated discussions.

I think its sentiments like this that cause people to feel somewhat disrespected or "badgered" as turtlecat stated:

The only real choice for "best diet" is a raw diet. This is what cats (and dogs) are designed by mother nature to eat.
There is a bunch of nonsense mis-information out there about salmonella and viciousness from eating raw meat. It's just hype.
All my cats get a raw diet. Why? Because I want the best for them and yes, I'm willing to pay more, do more and put up with the extra effort it takes to feed them this diet.
I feed myself well and I'm not going to feed my cats some dried up biscuit because it's more convenient for me to do so.

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No one wants to be told that they are feeding "dried up biscuits" or that they aren't doing it the other way, the "right way"..

That being said, I think this an interesting discussion and look forward to the comments on it. It reminds me of the heated discussions on my parenting board in the breastfeeding vs. bottlefeeding camps..
There, while I do think that breastfeeding is the best diet for children and adamantly uphold a woman's right and efforts to do so, I don't want to badger the bottlefeeders with my beliefs and tell them over and over they are doing it the "wrong way".
Its not for me to judge..

And to liken smoking, as a previous example, to feeding a superior commerical diet, is just too much of an exaggeration to me.

I would like to feed a raw diet. I think its likely a really great option.
I would also like to eat healthy every day, exercise and drink 8 glasses of water per day.
But I don't. I use moderation and do the best I can to the best of my ability.


To each his own. Speak your thoughts and arguments for the subject but respect other people's methods and choices.

for those of you who support raw diet? do u have any info / resources that you could share with us? like if i were to prepare raw diet for my kitty, what should / shouldn't i feed? certain websites that i should check out?

Originally Posted by Loveysmummy

To each his own. Speak your thoughts and arguments for the subject but respect other people's methods and choices.

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That's exactly what I have been doing, speaking my own mind and giving my own opinions. But since I go against the majority here, what I say, is considered badgering, even though I am giving just my own opinion. I have yet to disrespect anyone's choices in feeding their cats. But I have offered my own opinion as to what is best for cats to eat. This is not the first thread on this subject, although it will be the last one I participate in.

If you take offense to me calling a piece of kibble a dried up biscuit, I apologize, but that's exactly what it is.

I thought I might have a lot to offer this forum in the way of insight and education about raw feeding, feline health and breeder issues, but if people here are going to get their feelings hurt everytime I type something that goes against the majority opinion, I'll just remain silent. It's not worth the hassle for me.

I simply meant that certain attitudes about what people have said as a valid concern have been thrown back in their faces and thought that was inappropriate to tell them that their concerns are absurd. I'm sorry, I shan't be bothered then to continue with this thread.

This PARTICULAR thread was meant to inform a forum member as to what foods are good, not to have a debate as to whether raw food was the only way to go.

I have told people in other threads to seek for an informed view on the dietary needs of a cat while feeding raw. I will make sure to post your names in the future, but I just don't think that every "what food do you feed" should include unending amounts of scoffing at the concerns of non-raw-feeders.

I am sure that raw is best. It's even best for humans, but it's difficult to get the whole animal (at least if you live in London), as a lot of things are no longer sold since BSE. You can get Toxo from anything, including salad and fruit. Unless you are pregnant and never had a cat before, I wouldn't worry too much. But it is difficult to fit in, when you are working full time. Dry food is just easier.
Regarding salmonella and stuff... I guess no one checks food in the wild for it either. Cats have a lot more stomach acid than humans and not much survives a cat's tummy. So, unless the meat is utterly and completley rancid, it will be fine. My cat loves raw meat, and I give him some stuff during cooking, but I haven't (yet) made the switch to home-made food.
I found some italian pouches at the petshop the other day, which seemed very good. The ingedients sounded like they were made for human consumption, lol. It was basically just chicken and chicken soup with Jelly and egg. It had real chicken pieces, not the normal square-stuff. Freaked the cat out a bit first, but then he loved it. Will have a look next time what it was called. It may be available in the US as well.

I believe the original poster has received lots of information on their question so before this thread gets any more out of hand or disrespectful, I'm closing it.