You’ve read about the many benefits of raw feeding for your cat’s health and are thinking about switching your cat to a raw food diet. That’s amazing! 😻👍 Here are some steps to get started:

1. Understand your cat’s dietary needs 🤓

Cats are obligate carnivores, which means that your cat requires a diet that consists mainly of meat. Unlike dogs, cats have more specific dietary needs, and their bodies are designed to digest and absorb nutrients from animal protein. This means that cats cannot survive on a vegetarian or vegan diet.

2. Decide if you want to prepare the food on your own or buy from a trusted raw food supplier 🤔

Whichever route you go, it is most important that the raw food is balanced.

The recommended ratio for a balanced raw diet is 70 to 80% muscle meat, 10 to 20% bone, and 10% secreting organ, which includes liver (at least half the organ should be liver), kidney, spleen, testicle, ovary, brain, and sweetbread. Lung, tripe, gizzards and heart are considered muscle meat.

3. Prepare the raw food 🔪

Any meat that is safe for human consumption is safe for your cats, so hit up your favorite supermarket or butcher. You can make your own recipe with the help of a calculator or use a simple recipe.

By preparing on your own, you have control over the ingredients and can ensure that your cat is getting the best quality food, and it is usually more cost-effective than buying from a supplier. Click here for a simple recipe to get you started.

4. Alternatively, look for a trusted raw food supplier 👩‍🍳

Preparing your can be time-consuming and require a lot of effort to prepare, so you may want to look for a trusted supplier. In the UK, you can buy balanced raw cat food from Luna & Me’s bare range, Stef’s Pet Pantry, or Kiezebrink (stockists of many brands). Read the ingredients to ensure that the food does not include any vegetables, as cats are obligate carnivores.

5. Introduce the raw food 😺

Finally, it is time to make the switch! I still remember the excitement I felt when I dished up my homemade batch to our two princesses.

Raw food can be left out for up to 12 hours or longer in a room of comfortable temperature without going bad, but it might dry out on top.

It is important not to fast or starve a cat into switching. If they turn their noses up at the raw food initially, you can try to mix a small amount of raw food with their current food and gradually increase the amount over time.

You can replace every other meal with raw and gradually increase the frequency until your pets are fully transitioned to raw feeding. Remember to stop free feeding and get your pets used to eating 2-3 meals a day before switching to raw.

6. Monitor your cat’s health 👀

Raw feeding can have many benefits, but it’s important to monitor your cat’s health and make sure they are getting all the nutrients they need. Raw-fed cats may have less frequent bowel movements, but this is normal and does not necessarily indicate constipation.

🍀 Good luck on your raw feeding journey! 🐾😻