Raw Diet

We've been asked often what and why we feed our felines raw and so we've written this article to share what we feed and why. However, we must stress our strong opposition to freeze-dried as a raw diet due to several compelling reasons explained here and we truly hope this is helpful.

We're not veterinarians or scientists but have gathered enough consistent and positive data with zero negative results to feel this way about how we choose to feed our felines.

The removal of substantial water content from raw meat (up to 70%) can have detrimental effects on feline kidney health, regardless of water availability. It's just not worth the risk and not natural. This alone concerns us greatly.

Moreover, relying solely on freeze-dried raw can become extremely costly, making it an unsustainable choice and feeding high quality consistently is important to us.

The cost of frozen raw is comparable to high-end kibble and or can, making it a feasible option for our budget, as we were already spending a significant amount but not getting the healthy and robust results we desired for our cats.

Customers have expressed concern that the handling of frozen/thawed raw aspect is detrimental but actually both raw and freeze-dried diets necessitate careful handling, as freeze-drying does not eliminate all bacteria.

Feeding raw is relatively straightforward, using safe handling practices and is similar to preparing one's own meal, such as handling steak, hamburger, or pork.

Some say that space is an issue but this has not been a deterrent to us as giving up the extra freezer space is worth it for our cats although many choose to simply buy an extra freezer to accommodate the frozen raw. Alternatively some decide to purchase in smaller quantities.

Making your own is an option, and a lot of people use online calculators or consultants to offer raw with great results.

Purchasing commercially prepared raw is another practical choice because it eliminates the need for math, time, and effort to prepare the raw without sacrificing quality.

Basically there are 2 main choices to address the importance of nutritional balance:

Commercial complete raw is fortified with necessary vitamins, minerals, and taurine to meet strict AAFCO or NRC standards out of the bag. Very easy and simple to feed without mixing or measuring additional nutrients but is slightly more expensive.

PMR relies entirely on specific ratios (e.g., 80% muscle meat, 10% raw bone, 10% organs), meaning you must ensure proper nutritional by adding a predetermined amount of powder mix to assure the kitty has the necessary nutrition and this option is slightly more but you have more control if this is important to your setup and kitties. This powder is readily available online.

Our decision to switch to a raw diet (excluding freeze-dried options) has been highly successful, as all of our cats are thriving and satisfied, including those who had previously experienced health issues such as lack of weight and muscle gain, diabetes, allergies,  periodontal disease, and stomatitis.

Bonus: We have great peace of mind and enjoy watching our cats finish all their meals without any fussing, or finicky behavior and they are satisfied and muscular.

Feel free to reach out for any additional advice, tips or links to where you can source high quality raw for your feline♥

Note:Here is an article that we've included for your convenience if you would like to read more about raw vs freeze dried.

https://www.petmd.com/cat/nutrition/freeze-dried-cat-food-better

Kibble is linked to kidney stress because cats are desert-dwelling obligate carnivores that evolved to get nearly all their moisture from prey (around 70%) rather than drinking from bowls. Dry kibble contains only 10% water compared to the 70-80% found in wet food. This forces kibble-fed cats into a state of chronic, low-level dehydration, producing highly concentrated urine that strains the kidneys. Because the feline body relies on kidneys to filter blood and remove waste, this constant dehydration forces the organs to work much harder. Over time, this chronic stress is a major contributing factor to the high rates of Chronic Kidney Disease (CKD) seen in aging cats. Additionally, many standard kibbles are cooked at high rates of Chronic Kidney Disease (CKD) seen in aging cats. Additionally, many standard kibbles are cooked at high temperatures and contain high levels of carbohydrates, which can lead to obesity, diabetes, and inflammation—conditions that further damage kidney function.

 https://www.fallsroad.com/site/tips-resources-blog-baltimore-vet/2021/06/16/does-dry-food-cause-kidney-failure-cats