Feeding cats a raw diet is a controversial topic: the wild ancestors of domestic cats certainly ate a raw diet, but does that mean our cats should do the same?
Let’s look at the pros and cons of raw cat diets to help you make an informed decision when choosing a healthy diet for your cat.
What is raw cat food?
Raw cat food is exactly what it sounds like: unprocessed food made from raw ingredients.
Cats are obligate carnivores and have unique nutritional needs that can be met with a diet consisting primarily of animal tissue. Raw cat foods achieve this by putting raw meat, fish and organ meats at the top of the ingredient list. Bone meal is often included as a source of calcium and phosphorus. Vitamin and mineral supplements and other ingredients are added to help balance the diet and prevent nutritional deficiencies.
Cats, unlike other animals, get their main source of energy from protein rather than carbohydrates, so they need high protein levels in their diet, as well as adequate amounts of certain amino acids such as taurine, arachidonic acid, vitamin A, vitamin D, and many of the B vitamins.
Commercial raw cat food vs. homemade raw cat food
Raw cat food comes in many different forms. Some owners prepare raw food for their cats at home. Others opt for commercial raw cat foods. These are usually sold in raw frozen or raw freeze-dried formulas.
There are many other options, including raw meat mixed with a premix of vegetables, vitamins and minerals, or pre-made raw pet meals available from your local butcher. Which option is best?
Homemade raw cat food
Making your cat’s food at home gives you the most control over what your cat eats, but it’s not as easy as it sounds: meat alone isn’t enough.
To thrive, cats need the right balance of amino acids, fats, vitamins and minerals, which are best obtained through a combination of meat, organ meats, vitamin and mineral supplements and other ingredients in the right amounts and proportions.
To make matters worse, many the study We’ve found that it’s virtually impossible to find nutritionally complete and balanced homemade pet food recipes online or in print.
Even if you start out with a great recipe, perhaps one designed by a veterinary nutritionist to suit your cat’s specific needs, it can be hard to stick to it. paper A study published in 2014 found that many pet owners who prepare their pets’ meals at home end up deviating from the recipe, which can lead to nutritional deficiencies or overnutrition over time.
Commercial raw cat food
Commercial raw cat food takes a lot of the guesswork out of feeding raw food, as reputable manufacturers follow the guidelines set forth by the Association of American Feed Control Officials (AAFCO).
Make sure the cat food you buy has an AAFCO nutritional adequacy statement on the label, like this one:
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Brand X cat food is formulated to meet the nutritional levels established by the AAFCO Cat Food Nutrient Profiles for the maintenance, growth and reproduction of adult cats or for all life stages.
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Animal feeding testing using AAFCO procedures has demonstrated that Brand X cat food provides complete and balanced nutrition for the maintenance, growth and reproduction of adult dogs or for all life stages.
If your cat food meets AAFCO standards, you can be sure it will provide your cat with at least the basic nutrition it needs, whether it’s raw or not.
Is a raw cat food diet the same as a BARF diet for cats?
The acronym BARF is sometimes used to describe homemade or commercial versions of raw cat food. BARF stands for “biologically appropriate raw food” or “bone and raw food.”
BARF advocates often emphasize the inclusion of raw bones and organs in the food, rather than simply adding raw meat to other ingredients to create a balanced diet. The pros and cons of BARF raw cat foods and non-BARF raw cat foods are similar.
Is raw cat food better than other cat foods?
Nutritionally inadequate cat foods are widely available and this applies to both processed cat foods (canned, dry, etc.) and raw cat foods.
Many of the commonly touted benefits of feeding your cat a raw diet can be achieved by simply switching to a higher quality, biologically appropriate cat food.
Here we look at factors to consider and compare different diets.
Water content
Cats get most of their moisture directly from their food. Dry cat food contains very little moisture, while canned cat food contains as much or more moisture as raw cat food.
High quality ingredients and digestibility
Both raw and cooked foods can be made from ingredients of varying quality. Raw foods are not necessarily “higher quality” or “more digestible.”
In fact, cooking certain foods improves their nutritional value. For example, many types of raw seafood contain thiaminase, an enzyme that breaks down thiamin. Cats who eat a diet of raw seafood are at risk of developing thiamin deficiency, which can lead to loss of appetite, seizures and death. Cooking breaks down the thiaminase, making these types of seafood safe for cats.
Nutritional value
There has been no scientific research to date that shows raw cat food is more nutritious than other types of cat food.
Of course, a high-quality raw diet is more nutritious than a low-quality processed food, but you can get similar benefits by switching to a high-quality canned cat food, for example.
Raw Cat Food Safety Considerations
Although some raw cat foods provide excellent nutrition for cats, they are not without drawbacks.
the study Commercial raw pet foods have been found to have elevated levels of contamination with potential pathogens, including: SalmonellaListeria, and E. coli Compared to “regular” pet food.
The situation is also not good when it comes to raw food prepared at home. USDA estimate About one-quarter of raw chicken in human food production facilities is contaminated with Salmonella or Campylobacter Bacteria. Toxoplasma Other parasites can also be spread through raw cat food.
You may have heard that healthy adult cats are naturally resistant to food poisoning bacteria. While this may be true in some cases, Reports There are cats out there who have actually become ill or even died from eating raw cat food.
People who live with cats that eat a raw diet can also be exposed to these pathogens by handling contaminated food or coming into contact with pathogens in the cat’s waste. The risk posed by a raw diet is highest for very young, very old, or immunocompromised people and cats.
How to Prepare Raw Cat Food Safely
If you strongly feel that raw cat food is right for you and your cat, be sure to follow the instructions below closely to protect the whole family. US Food and Drug Administration guidelines To prevent infection associated with handling these products:
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Wash your hands thoroughly with soap and water (for at least 20 seconds) after handling raw pet food and after touching any surfaces or objects that have come into contact with raw pet food. Potentially contaminated surfaces include countertops and the insides of refrigerators and microwaves. Potentially contaminated objects include utensils, food bowls, and cutting boards.
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Thoroughly clean and disinfect all surfaces and objects that have come into contact with raw pet food, first with hot, soapy water and then with a disinfectant. A solution of 1 tablespoon of bleach to 1 quart (4 cups) of water is an effective disinfectant. To increase the volume of the disinfectant solution, add ¼ cup of bleach to 1 gallon (16 cups) of water. Items can also be disinfected by washing them in the dishwasher after each use.
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Freeze raw meat and poultry products until ready to use, then thaw them in the refrigerator or microwave, not on the counter or in the sink.
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Handle raw and frozen meat and poultry products with care. Do not wash raw meat, poultry, fish or seafood, as bacteria from raw meat juices can splash and spread to other foods and surfaces.
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Store raw foods separately from other foods.
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Immediately cover and refrigerate any food not consumed by your pet, or safely discard any leftovers.
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If you make your own prepared pet food using raw ingredients, be sure to cook all foods to the correct internal temperature as measured with a food thermometer. Thorough cooking will destroy Salmonella, Listeria and other harmful food poisoning bacteria.
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Avoid kissing your pet around the mouth or letting them lick your face, this is especially important right after they have finished eating their raw food.
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Always wash your hands thoroughly after touching or being licked by a pet, and be sure to wash your face if your pet gives you “kisses.”
Featured Image: iStock.com/Nitiphonphat
