Information appreciated: raw diet for cats?

My 90lb black Lab, Bull, is on a half raw diet (some kibble, some raw). I've thought about doing the same with the kitties. Mason, my tuxedo goofball, has the struvite issue. We are currently feeding all 3 cats Hill's Prescription Diet c/d. That is what the vet recommended, and Mason does so well on it. He hasn't has any issues since being put on it. Except once, when I fed them something else for a week, the struvites came back. We went RIGHT back to the c/d. Anyway, would a half raw diet help or harm Mason? Or neither? I'd be feeding chicken, deer, and beef. Thank you so much!!

-Kristl and the animals

TALK with your VET... I do raw food on advice I got here and my Vet feeds raw to her animals ... when an animal is on a RX diet it is like a human on prescription meds dont discontinue or change anything without the dr s approval.. I am lucky to have found a holistic/conventional vet who knows both types and uses them together

I must admit, I'm confused by the whole raw food deal. Are you actually feeding raw meat to the cats? I want to find a food that reduces the bad breathe and stinky poop, but want my kittens to be healthy. I read not to feed them grains and by products. I currently feed mine some canned food, which they love, and dry cat food throughout the day, free feeding. Then I read not to do that.. Any guidance will be greatly appreciated. One more thing, the younger male kitten is getting heavy around the middle. The female kitten is svelt and doesn't eat nearly as much as the other.
Thank you

I do 100% raw and yes it is raw meat preferably with ground bone mixed in (not dangerous when raw, only when cooked does it splinter). It evens out weight if some cats are skinny and others are heavy. Its natures diet at the fullest. The poo does stink less (nothing gets rid of all the odor, and can improve breath too). My 3 cats do very well on it but supplementation is also good, I recommend: Wysong Call Of The Wild as its specifically formulated for the raw food diet, balancing organ meats, bone and taurine all in one.

Though talking with your vet is good, most won't approve. sharky is lucky to have a vet willing to work with him. Mine is neither here nor there with it. Most absolutely won't approve because they know nothing about it. The pet food companies wine and dine vets adn let them know how their food is the best on the market. Figures can look really good and be completely misleading (just look at polls!). The best thing is to do your own research and become an expert on the topic so you can answer every one of your vets questions regarding the subject.

Yeah, we live out in the sticks, and our vet is first and foremost a large animal vet. But, he's also open to new ideas, and is a very smart person. He's also a wonderful vet. He seems to be the kind of person who has the outlook "If it works, do it." He's not a cat person AT ALL!! LOL, but that's ok. He still knows whats best better than I do. I think I'll run it by him next time I'm in there. While I don't think there would be a problem feeding Thor and Angel half raw, I'm just not willing to compromise Mason's health. Thanks for the replies, gives me a lot to think about.

One fantastic site to read if considering this (and a good one to share with your vet) is www.catinfo.org

hth,

Is that farm-raised or wild venison you want to feed? Be aware there's "wasting disease" in the wild deer population in the Midwest. It is transmissible to cats. You might want to research what the risks are and/or how you can assure a disease-free source.

Originally Posted by coaster

Is that farm-raised or wild venison you want to feed? Be aware there's "wasting disease" in the wild deer population in the Midwest. It is transmissible to cats. You might want to research what the risks are and/or how you can assure a disease-free source.

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stats last I checked were wild 30% have in domestic 50% have it..

Originally Posted by sharky

TALK with your VET... I do raw food on advice I got here and my Vet feeds raw to her animals ... when an animal is on a RX diet it is like a human on prescription meds dont discontinue or change anything without the dr s approval.. I am lucky to have found a holistic/conventional vet who knows both types and uses them together

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where do yiy buy yoiur raw food? does this include fish or chicken? I ask because a friend of mine gives her cats salmon, cooked of course, but human salmon, not cat food. She also gives them cooked chicken cubes.

I have a few sources the main source is my vet ... i get chn rabbit and turkey from the vet ... I just got some beef that is a mix with veggies so far kitty doesnt like it doggy does... I was told to cook the fish because of possible parisites...

I did cooked homemade for a while because I could without my vets help... I have a vet helping I highly advise it

I don't know where you live, but I recently started feeding raw and get pre-ground, frozen tubes of meat and bone (rabbit, duck, pheasant) mailed to me from hare-today.com. There's another for west-coasters, wholefoods4pets.com.