Putting my cats on raw.. (Oh no, not another thread!)

feralvr

TCS Member
Veteran
Joined
Dec 30, 2010
Messages
18,474
Purraise
689
Location
Northwest Indiana
OH yeah - A big nono on the ground meat from the market. The lambchop leg I am not sure about :dk: BUT Laurie or Carolina will know for sure. I am still feeding commercially made ground raw meats. I also feed organic vege-raised chicken breast and thigh. The cats love the raw strips. It is so cute to see them chew. Not all of mine will eat the fresh meat though. It is still a work in progress over here :rolleyes: :D
 

feralvr

TCS Member
Veteran
Joined
Dec 30, 2010
Messages
18,474
Purraise
689
Location
Northwest Indiana
I know you already saw the following wonderful post from Laurie but I thought I would copy it and add it to your thread !!! I think this is an excellent, helpful list of the best commercially made raw diets. I use a lot of these. Just thought you might like to look it over again and have it here to reference. :D :clap::clap::clap::clap::clap:


http://catcentric.org/wp-content/uploads/2012/02/Commercial-Raw-Product-Overview-Initial.pdf Here you go! All in one place, quite complete. It is a large table that indicates the protein sources, the ingredients, the make-up of the foods (95% meat/bones/organs, 5% other stuff, etc.), and indicates whether or not they're balanced and complete. It's a PDF file, downloadable and printable.
But to summarize, the "Complete and Balanced" foods with NO veggies, just meat and supplements are:
Rad Cat. No bones, uses a calcium supplement. An EXCELLENT food, great for transitioning (or long term feeding), most cats love it. Chicken, Lamb, Turkey. http://www.radfood.com/ Can be ordered via http://www.onlynaturalpet.com, but best to call, as shipping rates don't seem to calculate correctly if ordering online, so best to speak to someone.
Nature's Menu. Also no bones, uses a calcium supplement. VERY reasonable price, very reasonable shipping cost. The beef and lamb include kidney, so you get the 2nd secreting organ in addition to liver. :) Beef, chicken, organic chicken, lamb, and turkey. http://www.naturesmenu.com/
Fegnion. Chicken, rabbit, turkey. Rabbit is whole ground rabbit, so get ALL the organs. http://www.fegnion.com/index.html
Vital Essentials. Chicken (with beef liver); http://www.vitalessentialsraw.com/ (Not sure why I don't have the dog products in the list. If they're appropriate for cats, that adds beef, turkey and fish. :dk: ).
Darwin's Pet. Only issue with this food is you have to order 20 pounds at a time after the first 10 pound trial. It only comes in chicken and turkey. http://www.darwinspet.com/our-cat-food/
Feline's Pride. Chicken, Cornish Hen, Rabbit, Turkey. Touted as a great product on a lot of raw feeding sites, but has no 2nd secreting organ, and it has very expensive shipping!!!!! (Especially for what it is, IMO. :dk: ). https://www.felinespride.com/#/company
Quality foods, but with a 95% meat/bone/organ profile and 5% veggies and fruits (also all "Complete and Balanced") :
Nature's Variety. One of the few that includes kidney (another secreting organ) in addition to liver. They target 15% bone, which is too much for most cats. Great for transitioning, but other than the organic chicken, some of the products have mixed protein sources (just be aware of that), and because of the high bone content, it's best to "dilute" it with some fresh meat to avoid constipation. Chicken (chicken & turkey); Organic chicken (ONLY chicken); Bison (mostly bison, but does also have beef kidney); Beef (single source protein, includes kidney); Lamb (single source, includes kidney); Rabbit (includes pork fat and liver - cats seem to love it LOL); Venison (uses ground lamb bone, lamb heart, and lamb liver). http://www.naturesvariety.com/InstinctRaw/cat Not as juicy as other raw foods.
NV also has freeze-dried raw products.
Stella & Chewy's. Another one that includes kidney in most of the products. The cat products are freeze-dried only, but the frozen raw dog food is appropriate for cats, with the 95% meat/bones/organs, the 10% bone, and a taurine supplement. Beef (has liver & kidney); Chicken; Chicken & Beef (includes kidney); Salmon & chicken; Beef (kidney); Lamb (spleen and kidney in addition to liver); Salmon & beef. Juicier than NV or Primal, but still a little dry. http://www.stellaandchewys.com/index.php
Paw Naturaw Don't know bone content ratio. Organic chicken, Duck, Lamb, Pheasant (with turkey), Rabbit (with pork), Organic Turkey. http://www.pawnaturaw.com/
Primal. Targets 8-9% bone content. Beef & Salmon, Chicken & Salmon, Pheasant, Quail, Rabbit, Turkey, Venison. Not as juicy as other raw foods. http://www.primalpetfoods.com/
Bravo Balance. Bravo has a number of products for raw feeding, but only the "Balance" is balanced and complete. Chicken, Beef, and Turkey. Don't know percentages of meat/organs/bones and other stuff (though looks mostly like meat/bones/organs). Only the beef has kidney for a 2nd secreting organ. http://www.bravorawdiet.com/index.html
Nature's Logic (ratio is 90% meat/organs to 10% other stuff, and that "other stuff is a LONG list of various fruit and veggie powders, including spinach. Beef (includes kidney), chicken, rabbit. http://www.natureslogic.com/
Wild Kitty. Uses clams in everything (huge taurine content). Chicken & clam, Duck & clam, "Fish" and Conch (with clams), Turkey & clam. http://www.wildkittycatfood.com/
There are a number of other raw foods included in the spreadsheet that aren't covered in the summary in this post.
Should include:
Hare-Today. Their ground mixes are whole animal, but not "complete and balanced" unless you add the Alnutrin supplement (which is VERY easy to do!!!! Just mostly dethaw the chubs, add the supplement and the water as per directions, mix, bag up into the portions you want, and refreeze). You can either order ground meats and add the alnutrin supplement for mixes without bone, or order the bone-in mixes, and add the alnutrition supplement for meat/bones/organ mixes. Both alnutrin supplement options are available on the Hare-Today site. This gives you a HUGE variety of VERY reasonably-priced raw food with great shipping prices. http://www.hare-today.com You can also order organs (secreting or gizzards and hearts), and ground organ mixes.
I don't know how far Hare-Today ships, but they're based in Western PA. They do ship to the midwest and south, but how far west they ship, I don't know. There is a similar company based out of Indianapolis, I think it is: http://www.mypetcarnivore.com.
Meat with a supplement that makes it complete from Wysong. Also, if you want really quick & easy raw, just buy meat, and add the Wysong Call of the Wild Supplement. You just need to sprinkle on 1/2 a teaspoon per every 1.5 ounces. :D http://www.wysong.net/products/cotw-dog-cat-supplement.php Do NOT feed your cats liver, bones, or a calcium supplement if using this product
 
  • Thread Starter Thread Starter
  • #23

Draco

NOT Malfoy!
Thread starter
Veteran
Joined
Apr 26, 2011
Messages
8,745
Purraise
2,811
Location
LawnGuyLand, NY
Thanks Feralvr! I have been referring to that thread for that section quite often! lol.

I am looking forward to seeing the cats' reaction to the lambchop. I have to take it off the bone for them right?
 
  • Thread Starter Thread Starter
  • #24

Draco

NOT Malfoy!
Thread starter
Veteran
Joined
Apr 26, 2011
Messages
8,745
Purraise
2,811
Location
LawnGuyLand, NY
Sorry for posting, couldn't edit my last post.

I cleaned their boxes. The poo is small, yet firm, and few. I noticed more pee (and less water in their bowls). is that normal too?

Also, I took Cassie outside on the leash and harness today for the first time. She did better than when I tried with Monet! I decided not to try with Monet anymore, he's too high strung, but Cassie has a better chance. She was nervous, tried to hide under the bushes at first, but she did explore a little, and highly alert. 
 

ldg

TCS Member
Veteran
Joined
Jun 25, 2002
Messages
41,310
Purraise
843
Location
Fighting for ferals in NW NJ!
I am looking forward to seeing the cats' reaction to the lambchop. I have to take it off the bone for them right?
I do. You can see - they may be able to figure out how to pull it off the bone. I don't think you want them to eat that bone - it's probably too big for them, and they're new to raw, so don't necessarily know what they can tackle and what they can't. Mine are older and complete spazes when it comes to eating raw. :lol3: I still cut their meat up pretty small. Shel's doing well with strips, but Flowerbelle tried to swallow a duck heart whole, and I had to help her get it back up. So even those little duck hearts get cut up. :lol3:
 
Last edited:
  • Thread Starter Thread Starter
  • #26

Draco

NOT Malfoy!
Thread starter
Veteran
Joined
Apr 26, 2011
Messages
8,745
Purraise
2,811
Location
LawnGuyLand, NY
thanks :)

I did cut it off the bone for them. a little over 2 oz each, cut up. Cassie LOVED it. She clearly enjoyed eating the lamb. Monet was thrown off, being used to chicken only.. but he did eat it, though not as aggressively as Cassie).

I did not even put canned with the lamb. I was curious to see if they'd eat it without the smell of canned. 
 

ldg

TCS Member
Veteran
Joined
Jun 25, 2002
Messages
41,310
Purraise
843
Location
Fighting for ferals in NW NJ!
WTG Cassie!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! :clap: :clap: :clap: :D Yeah, lamb is a fatty meat. Looks like Monet prefers a low-fat meal, and Cassie likes those gourmet fatty foods. :lol3:
 
  • Thread Starter Thread Starter
  • #28

Draco

NOT Malfoy!
Thread starter
Veteran
Joined
Apr 26, 2011
Messages
8,745
Purraise
2,811
Location
LawnGuyLand, NY
Decided to see how they'd do with egg yolk today for lunch. Cassie gobbled it down. Monet wasn't impressed. He'd stick his paw in the yolk and lick it off his toes. He didn't eat it all.

What do you guys use for storage of meat? I have everything portioned in baggies.. then I realized that it'd get pricey if I keep tossing the baggies out, and I dont know if it's safe to wash and reuse the baggies?
 

misscherry

TCS Member
Kitten
Joined
Jun 2, 2012
Messages
12
Purraise
1
I like small tupperware containers. I feel bad wasting so much plastic with the baggies.
 

feralvr

TCS Member
Veteran
Joined
Dec 30, 2010
Messages
18,474
Purraise
689
Location
Northwest Indiana
Decided to see how they'd do with egg yolk today for lunch. Cassie gobbled it down. Monet wasn't impressed. He'd stick his paw in the yolk and lick it off his toes. He didn't eat it all.

What do you guys use for storage of meat? I have everything portioned in baggies.. then I realized that it'd get pricey if I keep tossing the baggies out, and I dont know if it's safe to wash and reuse the baggies?
YAY for Cassie :clap::clap::clap: I also use the small plastic baggies - buy them in bulk. I weigh and label with permanent marker each baggie as well. Simplifies thing during meal prep. Also, makes it so easy so smoosh then under cool or warm water to get the meat from cold to cool. My cats seem to love the meat a bit chilled. The baggies are great. I would not re-use them - just toss them out. :)
 
Last edited:
  • Thread Starter Thread Starter
  • #34

Draco

NOT Malfoy!
Thread starter
Veteran
Joined
Apr 26, 2011
Messages
8,745
Purraise
2,811
Location
LawnGuyLand, NY
I tried a tupperware last night with the patties.. and I agree, it's a little PIA because I can't exactly run it under water to warm it up a bit and I have to use a spoon to mash it up a bit. I will stop at Big Lots and pick up a few containers of baggies, lol.

This morning, I just poured the juice from Soulistic fish over mashed patties for Cassie. It took her half an hour to eat it, watching her pick at it, digging around it and sniff it. It was clear she wasn't thrilled with the patties

Monet ate his with juice over it as well. 
 

mschauer

TCS Member
Top Cat
Joined
Jun 17, 2007
Messages
6,755
Purraise
2,340
Location
Houston, Tx
I tried a tupperware last night with the patties.. and I agree, it's a little PIA because I can't exactly run it under water to warm it up a bit and I have to use a spoon to mash it up a bit. I will stop at Big Lots and pick up a few containers of baggies, lol.

This morning, I just poured the juice from Soulistic fish over mashed patties for Cassie. It took her half an hour to eat it, watching her pick at it, digging around it and sniff it. It was clear she wasn't thrilled with the patties

Monet ate his with juice over it as well. 
You might want to be careful about buying a bunch of an "off" brand of baggies if you haven't used them before. I've had a lot of bad luck with cheap baggies splitting at the seams. I won't buy the ones at the 99 cent store anymore for that reason.
 

mrsgreenjeens

Every Life Should Have Nine Cats
Staff Member
Advisor
Joined
Aug 13, 2009
Messages
16,498
Purraise
7,321
Location
Arizona
You might want to be careful about buying a bunch of an "off" brand of baggies if you haven't used them before. I've had a lot of bad luck with cheap baggies splitting at the seams. I won't buy the ones at the 99 cent store anymore for that reason.
Yep, that's why I always defrost mine in a bowl in the fridge!  (I set the little baggies in the bowl, in case of leakage).   since mine seem to prefer theirs on the colder side, I don't have to worry about trying to warm it up in warm water.  That's a good point about using all that plastic, though.  Bad for the landfills.  Gosh, dilemmas, dilemmas!
 

ldg

TCS Member
Veteran
Joined
Jun 25, 2002
Messages
41,310
Purraise
843
Location
Fighting for ferals in NW NJ!
Well, these days in most places it gets recycled into "post consumer products," so it doesn't IMMEDIATELY go into a landfill. But yeah, raw feeding isn't always exactly "green." :anon:


*******************************

Aw, poor Cassie, not loving her food! Maybe take it a little slower? (Or feed her more lamb? :lol3: ).
 
Last edited:
  • Thread Starter Thread Starter
  • #38

Draco

NOT Malfoy!
Thread starter
Veteran
Joined
Apr 26, 2011
Messages
8,745
Purraise
2,811
Location
LawnGuyLand, NY
the baggies I usually get at Big Lots are pretty good. never had an issue with them before.

I grabbed the wrong chicken from the freezer.. meant to get the deboned chicken.. instead, I defrosted the boned wings.

I coated both of them in leftover Soulistic fish.. and now I am watching both cats gnaw on them, even Cassie! She keeps dropping it and going back to it though, but at least she's giving it a shot

and being a proud Meowmy.. here's a video of Cassie's FIRST boned chicken! (Something that Monet is too lazy to give a try..) I love that little shake of the head!

and at the time of posting, video's processing. Might want to keep the volume off or you'd hear the HEPA filter, lol



Sure, after I typed "Something that Monet is too lazy to give a try..".. he picked up the other chicken and is gnawing on it, lol.
 
Last edited:

feralvr

TCS Member
Veteran
Joined
Dec 30, 2010
Messages
18,474
Purraise
689
Location
Northwest Indiana
:woohoo: Go Cassie :clap: :clap: Aw you must be SO proud of your little carnie :D :clap:

As for the baggies, I buy the Ziploc sandwich bags from Costco, The ginormous box :lol3: Yep, we do go through a lot of baggies with raw prep and feeding. Have not yet had a problem with them leaking or splitting and they can be recycled! :D
 
Top