Space, IMHO that website only tells one story, very biased, anti-raw.... I could not find one link that has anything to do about actually feeding raw and its benefits, which IMHO are many. There are links provided here that you can read about the benefits of the diet.Is that website saying it's a bit risky to give home made raw to cats? How about commercial raw?
There is no reason to believe that feeding homemade raw is any riskier than feeding commercial processed foods.Is that website saying it's a bit risky to give home made raw to cats? How about commercial raw?
Yes, that website is saying it's risky to give home made raw to cats.Is that website saying it's a bit risky to give home made raw to cats? How about commercial raw?
In this thread: Human food that's great for cats?...This is a wierd question, but can a cat get salmonella from raw meat? :dk:
Well, now, that's a very interesting question, and one that's been subject to great debate on this site. :lol3:
The answer is yes, cats can get salmonella. BUT, that needs to be qualified from three perspecitves:
1) The problem of salmonella exists in kibble
2) The prevalence of salmonella and other pathogens in human grade meat, and
3) The ability of a cat to contract illness as a results of ingesting contaminated kibble or meat
1) problem of salmonella exists in kibble.
Many commercial dry food recalls have been due to salmonella. Here's a list of pet food recalls since 2009 as hosted at the AVMA (American Veterinary Medical Association). Not all of them have the reason for the recall listed in the title, but a quick perusal of the list and it's clear - salmonella is the primary reason for recalls. That's why "safe handling" procedures are recommended by the CDC for handling cat kibble:
http://www.cdc.gov/Features/SalmonellaDryPetFood/
2) Prevalence of salmonella in our human meat supplies has fallen over the past decade: http://www.fsis.usda.gov/science/progress_report_salmonella_testing/index.asp
According to the USDA:
As it is typically the outside of the meat that may have a problem, the CDC has established safe-handling procedures for prepping/preparing meat for human consumption... so if you wash the outside of your meat, as you would before you cook it, wash your hands the the prep utensils and area, there shouldn't be any problem feeding raw meat to your cat. In fact - many people feed their cats an all raw diet (which would include bones and organs, mimicing the profile of prey they would eat in the wild). Thus the Raw Feeding subforum.
3) The real source of debate is not whether there is salmonella contamination of our cat food or our human meat - but the extent to which it impacts our cats. If your cat has been on antibiotics, all the "good" flora in their gut is wiped out, and this definitely makes them susceptible to pathogens like salmonella. :nod: (Which is why people feeding raw ought to cook the meat while their cat is on antibiotics - or at least sear the outside, and put their cats on a probiotic, to help re-establish the good gut flora). But normal, healthy cats SEEM (there are no studies) to be able to handle some exposure to salmonella with no adverse effects. Cats are carnivores, and have a very simple digestive systems. The theory is that the very acidic environment of the stomach destroys most pathogens/bacteria they ingest, as with their natural diet (mice, small rodents, rabbits, bugs, small reptiles, etc) they are exposed to these pathogens. Here is anecdotal evidence in support of that theory: http://www.peterdobias.com/community/2012/01/2664/
According to the vet (responding to criticism of another vet about feeding cats a raw diet):
That said, no doubt about it, cats can get sick from salmonella or other pathogens. It APPEARS more common (no studies to support this) from eating contaminated kibble, because the LOAD is so unnatural. It is very rarely deadly - that would be if contracted by an already sick (health compromised) cat. Symptoms are usually mild: vomiting or diarrhea. Far less common are a fever and severe vomiting and/or diarrhea.
Hope that helps you make an informed decision.
You don't need to get a grinder for home made.... you give whole pieces of meat, organs, bones..... cut them up, and serve - not need to grind. All on the right proportion, of course..... Much better for the teeth :nod: When I move mine to a homemade raw, that's how I am going to do it - frankerprey..... I was thinking about getting a grinder..... But pieces of meat is just so much healthier and more beneficial for their oral health..... that's what I am going to do :nod: My Bugsy can use that for sure :nod:I also think I should do more research before I give them home made raw since I'm not confident enough to do it. I probably would have to get a grinder first...
Carolina, my cats also like Nature's variety and primal. They always lick the dish very clean so there is no waste of food. About Hills, my cats have been on Hills dry for years because my vets recommended it. I decided to switch to wet after I joined this forum, and I notice my cats have better digestive system and appetite than before. Now I don't trust my vets' advice on nutrition any more. XD.
I feel the same way about "homemade" raw right now. I don't feel I have the knowledge needed to add in all of the nutritional supplements and it is much easier for the novice to start with commercial raw IMO. If someone asked me a year ago if I would even consider raw - the answer would have been - NO .... Never say never :lol3:. I just started feeding commercially made raw meat to my cats. I feel confident in the three HPP brands and my cats love their new diet. If cats are already eating wet food the transition to commercially made raw is very, very simple. The changes I have seen in my cats has been tremendous in just ten days of eating a mixture of raw meat and high quality wet food. Just incredible and at this point - I am convinced that this IS the best thing for my cats and I am so very excited to see even more positive changes as the days go on. :happy3:I also think I should do more research before I give them home made raw since I'm not confident enough to do it. I probably would have to get a grinder first...
Carolina, my cats also like Nature's variety and primal. They always lick the dish very clean so there is no waste of food. About Hills, my cats have been on Hills dry for years because my vets recommended it. I decided to switch to wet after I joined this forum, and I notice my cats have better digestive system and appetite than before. Now I don't trust my vets' advice on nutrition any more. XD.
And commercial dry food also runs the salmonella risk. :nod:Thanks for links LDG, I was reading this article yesterday and was worried about the statement that " In the June report, 45 percent of commercial raw meat diets fed to greyhounds tested positive for salmonella."
http://well.blogs.nytimes.com/2011/08/11/salmonella-lurks-in-pet-foods-too/ But after reading your explanation, I now know we just need to make sure they have healthy gut flora, and both commercial raw, home made raw have the same level of risk.
Feralvr, would you consider feeding them 100% commercial raw? For some reason, my cats still enjoy all those varieties of canned with beautiful labels. (God, they have been eating the same boring Hills dry from breakfast to dinner for years) I'm still not sure what the best diet is, that's why I feed both...
Sorry, felt I should add something to this! It's not just ensuring healthy gut flora. If doing home-made raw, because of the prevalence of salmonella or whatever in the food chain, normal safe handling practices ARE important. It's just it's usually the outside of the meat where the problem is IF there is one, so washing it down is more important because you're not going to cook it.Thanks for links LDG, I was reading this article yesterday and was worried about the statement that " In the June report, 45 percent of commercial raw meat diets fed to greyhounds tested positive for salmonella."
http://well.blogs.nytimes.com/2011/08/11/salmonella-lurks-in-pet-foods-too/ But after reading your explanation, I now know we just need to make sure they have healthy gut flora, and both commercial raw, home made raw have the same level of risk.
Feralvr, would you consider feeding them 100% commercial raw? For some reason, my cats still enjoy all those varieties of canned with beautiful labels. (God, they have been eating the same boring Hills dry from breakfast to dinner for years) I'm still not sure what the best diet is, that's why I feed both...