A Raw Diet for Felines: A Personal Journey

Raw Meat using catnutrition recipe with bone

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When I started breeding, I wanted to feed my Kings and Queens a healthy, nutritional diet that would provide them with everything they needed, especially for my Queens because their bodies would be doing all the work to grow and nourish their kittens. I tried so many different brands: Instinct, Royal Canin, GO! There were others, but these three were the ones that I used for the longest period of time. The whole time I was feeding my Kings and Queens dry food, I kept asking myself, why not raw? I had so many reasons why not.

1. It’s expensive

2. It’s messy

3. It’s time consuming

4. I need a grinder

5. It can’t stay out

6. What if I don't do it right?

7. Who says it will even help my cats?

8. People have been feeding dry for ages, it must be good for my cats.

9. Will my families even want to continue with it?

I confidently chose to feed my cats both dry and wet food, as it proved to be the simplest and least troublesome option. Whenever a litter began eating wet food, I often encountered one or two kittens developing diarrhea, which persisted despite my efforts. I managed the challenge of sending kittens home with gastric issues due to their sensitivity to the dry or wet food I provided. Despite numerous YouTube videos criticizing dry food, I remained steadfast in my decision not to switch.

Royal Canin Kitten Food

When I began breeding, I confidently chose this brand to feed all my cats, both wet and dry. Every breeder I found online reported success with it, and even the breeders from whom I acquired my cats were using it for their Queens and kittens. I used this brand for two years, tolerating the unpleasant odor of my cats’ excrement and occasional diarrhea. While its nutritional data was comparable to other cat foods, it was an American company, and when COVID hit, supply issues made it unavailable in every store.

GO! Chicken, Turkey, Duck

During the Covid pandemic, when Royal Canin was hard to find, I confidently turned to a Canadian company, and that's when GO! became a part of my life. Proudly made in Canada, this high-quality cat food allowed me to support local businesses. For three years, it was my top choice—I even purchased a year's supply at once because I valued it so much. Did I encounter stool issues? Yes, occasionally my adult cats experienced loose stools or diarrhea, but these issues resolved quickly. Were there any problems with my kittens? Sometimes, but not every kitten was affected, so I continued using it. Did my cats’ poop smell? Naturally, all poop does, and I wouldn't expect anything less from my regal cats. However, I faced a challenge when one of my Queens developed diarrhea shortly before giving birth, which is typically normal, but this time it persisted.

Homemade Wet Food

While providing Go! dry food to my cats, I also began introducing a homemade wet cat food, primarily consisting of whole cooked chicken blended to a smooth consistency. I observed an improvement in the health of both my adult cats and kittens, although occasional gastric upset still occurred. Despite this, I continued to feed them the homemade wet food, as they were faring better compared to when they consumed store-bought canned wet food.

Raw Food

When my Queen Ursula developed diarrhea, I initially attempted to address the issue by transitioning her to an all-dry food diet, which proved ineffective. Increasing her probiotics similarly yielded no results, as did switching to an all-wet food diet. Faced with these setbacks, I turned to the advice of others who had encountered similar challenges. Conversations with breeders who had experienced the same problem revealed that extensive testing, including PCR tests and the use of antibiotics, had not resolved the issue for them. The only effective solution they found was transitioning their cats to a raw diet. Given this insight, I was presented with two options: replicate the extensive testing that others had undertaken or directly implement a raw diet. After conducting further research on how to properly feed my cats a raw diet, I decided to proceed with this approach. Utilizing a recipe from https://catnutrition.org/, I began feeding it to Ursula and her kittens. Within two weeks, the diarrhea subsided, and I was elated. For the past year, all of my Kings, Queens, and kittens have been on a raw diet, and I have not encountered a single instance of diarrhea. Indeed, the health and growth of my kittens have improved significantly, my Queens recover more quickly postpartum, and their coats are exceptional.

A Year on Raw 2024-2025

After a year of feeding raw is it still true?

1. It’s expensive, NO. While a raw food diet for cats may seem expensive initially, it is cost-effective in the long run due to its health benefits. It reduces the risk of health issues like urinary tract infections (UTIs), which are costly and painful, by providing higher hydration levels than dry kibble. Raw food contains 60% to 80% moisture compared to dry food's 10%, promoting better urinary tract health. Adding extra water to raw food further enhances hydration, preventing UTIs and reducing vet visits and medical expenses. Thus, investing in a raw diet ensures a healthier, happier cat and saves money over time.

2. It’s messy, NO. By opting for ground raw food, I minimize the risk of one cat snatching a larger piece from another, which can lead to stress and competition during meal times. Additionally, this method ensures that each cat receives a balanced portion of nutrients. I have noticed that this feeding approach not only keeps the feeding area cleaner but also contributes to a more harmonious atmosphere among my felines. In the long run, this method has proven beneficial for both my cats' health and my cattery’s cleanliness.

3. It’s time consuming, NO. In my quest to provide the best nutrition for my beloved feline companions, I have transitioned to purchasing my raw food, specifically an 80/10/10 mix, which consists of 80% protein, 10% organs, and 10% bones. This carefully balanced blend is designed to meet the dietary needs of cats, ensuring they receive the essential nutrients required for optimal health and vitality. The preparation process is remarkably straightforward and efficient, as all I have to do is combine the raw food with water and a nutrient completer to create a wholesome meal. This simple mixing process takes me a total of just 5-10 minutes each day, allowing me to efficiently prepare all the food that my cats require for their daily sustenance. I can also premix it and store it in the fridge for a day or two in advance making some days food prep free.

4. I need a grinder, NO. I now purchase all of my raw food, No grinder required.

5. It can’t stay out. YES and NO. It is not advisable to leave raw food out for extended periods. However, there are a couple of techniques you can employ to maintain its freshness. First, use a freezer pack placed in a bowl, then position the raw food on a plate above the bowl. The freezer pack will help keep the raw food at a cooler temperature for a longer duration. Another method is to freeze a portion of the raw food into large meatball-sized portions and insert one meatball into the center of the food. As the raw meatball gradually thaws, it will help keep the entire dish at a cooler temperature for a longer time.

6. What if I don't do it right? Opting for an 80/10/10 mix, adding water, and using a high-quality completer ensures success.

7. Who says it will even help my cats? It has undoubtedly improved their health. They no longer experience diarrhea or gastrointestinal issues, and they now have better coats, healthier weights, and improved gum and dental health.

8. People have been feeding dry food for a long time, so it must be good for my cats. After all the challenges I've faced with feeding my Kings and Queens a dry diet, I would never return to it. All of my cats have thrived much more on a raw diet.

9. Will the families even want to continue with it? I always encourage families to stick with raw, but it's not a requirement. I'm delighted that most families choose to keep their kittens on raw, which I greatly appreciate.

Benefits of My Raw Fed Felines

1. My cats have less hairballs.

2. Their coats are healthier, not dry and brittle which also means they get less knots.

3. Their coats are shiny, but that is mainly due to the completer, KittyBloom, that I am now using.

4. They get all of their water from their raw diet and no longer drink out of a water dish.

5. Their poop does not smell, SERIOUSLY it does not smell!

6. Better dental health.

7. More energy and they fight with each other less.

8. Better gut health, I have not had a single cat or kitten develop diarrhea in the last year.

9. They poop less, their bodies are able to process more of the nutrients in the raw food so there is less waste coming out the other end.

10. I have quite a few cats who LOVE their raw food and eat A LOT, and I do mean A LOT, of it but not a single one is overweight.