Cat Raw Meat: Dos and Don'ts for Safe Feeding

What Are the Benefits of Cats Eating Raw Meat?

1. Cats that consume raw meat can absorb a variety of trace minerals, which are essential for their growth and development. Typically, cats that regularly eat raw meat tend to have a stronger constitution.

2. Eating raw meat can also help clean a cat's teeth. Cats that eat raw meat usually have better teeth than those on a dry kibble diet. Chewing on raw meat can help cats clear away debris from their teeth, and it also exercises their chewing muscles.

3. Raw meat can provide cats with ample hydration. Cats' ancestors lived in desert environments where water was scarce, which made them less prone to thirst. Feeding cats dry kibble over time can lead to dehydration, affecting their coat and skin health, and may even cause kidney and urinary tract issues.

4. Feeding raw meat can help avoid unnecessary carbohydrates, reducing the risk of obesity and diabetes in cats. Cat food often contains carbohydrates for cost and convenience reasons. While some carbohydrates provide beneficial fiber, the rest are unnecessary. Since cats have a low utilization rate for carbohydrates, excessive intake can lead to weight gain.

What Should You Keep in Mind When Feeding Raw Meat to Cats?

Firstly, cats should only eat raw meat under certain conditions, such as having a strong digestive system. When feeding raw meat, it's best to opt for beef, as pork can carry more parasites, so it's not recommended to feed cats raw pork.

Secondly, regular deworming is important when feeding cats raw meat. Since commercial meats often contain parasites, cats that eat raw meat should be dewormed more frequently. It's advisable to use deworming medications like Fenbendazole tablets every 12 months to prevent and eliminate worms like roundworms, hookworms, and tapeworms.

Lastly, a cat's diet should include at least 40 different nutrients, with strict proportions for some, such as the calciumtophosphorus ratio, which should be maintained at 1:11.2:1 to support bone development and metabolism. Chicken, for example, has a calciumtophosphorus ratio of 1:17, so cats that eat a lot of raw meat may experience nutritional imbalances. It's not recommended to make raw meat the main part of their diet.

Generally, feeding cats 12 times a week with raw meat is sufficient, and it's not advisable to feed them the same type of raw meat longterm. Overfeeding can lead to picky eating or digestive issues. If a cat only prefers raw meat and not kibble, it can cause nutritional imbalances. Cat food should always be the mainstay of a cat's diet to ensure healthy growth.

For any questions regarding cats eating raw meat, it's also important to note that if a cat experiences digestive issues after eating raw meat, you can give them a small amount of probiotics to regulate their gut and reduce the frequency and amount of raw meat fed.