What the heck are raw fed cats eating?
I get A LOT of questions about what exactly I feed my fur monsters. Let’s start at the beginning. What do cats actually need to eat?
Cats are obligate carnivores. This means they NEED protein! Ideally, raw protein. They have NO requirement for carbohydrates. The little carbohydrates a cat may consume is found in the stomach of their prey (a very different quality from the processed stuff marketed to us for them on the shelves).
What about taurine? Yes, cats absolutely need taurine, as they cannot make it themselves. However, taurine is found in raw muscle and organ meat! If you’re feeding a complete raw diet, you’ll have taurine covered, but you can always add a supplement to be safe! Taurine is water soluble so they will excrete any excess!
In a nutshell, cats need meat, organs, and bones in a similar ratio to match that of a wild diet. Generally speaking about:
80% raw muscle meat
10% raw bones
10% raw organ meat
Ground chicken, turkey, and rabbit meat/organs/bones are favorites in my house! I also give venison cubes, chicken hearts, rabbit cubes, and chicken necks (meaty bones) as snacks. I add salmon or sardine oil (or supplement with occasional pieces of salmon or sardines) for omega-3s when feeding Hare Today. Darwin’s requires no supplementation - it’s already done for you! I don’t feed much fish due to heavy metal contamination and the fact that some cats can become addicted to it and refuse other foods.
A note about feeding bones: It’s very important to only feed raw bones - NEVER cooked! Cooked bones can splinter and become dangerous. Additionally, you should always supervise meaty bone meal time juuuuust to be safe! They are great for dental health and an amazing source of calcium, minerals, and enzymes!
**Important note: meaty bones may be painful if your cat has not had a dental recently and has some resorptive lesions or periodontal disease. Feline oral health is so important! Don’t neglect their mouth! Find a vet who is competent in dental surgery (yes, they absolutely need anesthesia if you want the job done thoroughly and you don’t want your baby tortured) and schedule a dental. I know, they’re expensive, but much like in your mouth, you cannot remove calculus (tartar) without the help of a dental professional. You CAN prevent it from returning with awesome home care!