Q&A for How to Make Raw Cat Food

Yes. The increased risk of infection from bacteria and parasites is one of the arguments against feeding raw meat. Some people suggest freezing the meat and then defrosting, but some bugs will survive this. Another problem with freezing is that it damages the thiamin molecule and can cause accidental thiamin deficiency, leading to blindness and heart disease.

The biggest no-no is a vegetarian diet. Cats lack the ability to produce certain vital amino acids. When fed a vegetarian diet, the cat may develop heart problems and go blind. Just like dogs, there is a concern about feeding grapes, chocolate, xylitol, and yeast dough to cats. However, cats tend to be fussy eaters and are generally sensible enough to leave these alone.

Yes, but make sure the diet is balanced. Meat alone (without the bone, skin, hair, or stomach contents) is not a balanced diet, and will lead to weak bones that fracture easily. Also, avoid highly processed cooked meats; it's best to feed actual meat that has been roasted or boiled, rather than processed cooked meats which contain preservatives and additives.

Cats are carnivores so avoid giving highly processed foods that are high in sugars or carbohydrates. Choose non-processed meat products that are low in salt. As such, beef and chicken are good, while feeding a lot of pork or bacon is not.

Take up to two weeks to get the digestive system acclimatized to the new diet. Do this by adding in a little raw food to the existing diet. As the days go by, increase the amount of raw food and decrease the amount of kibble. If at any stage the cat refuses to eat or gets a stomach upset, then slightly decrease the amount of raw food and bump up the kibble.

The arguments for and against raw food for cats are numerous. While many owners find a raw diet extremely beneficial for their pets, most vets do not recommend a raw diet. This is because it can be difficult to feed the right balance of calcium and phosphate in the diet, and also because of a significantly greater risk of picking up an infection such as salmonella.

You have to have some source of calcium, but you can use bonemeal or eggshells in place of actual whole bones.

Cats are obligate carnivores, which means their diet dies not require anything other than meat products. If your cat does eat some bread, however, it won't harm the animal.

Yes, you can. But never can give just that. Always keep feeding it with kibble as well.

It depends on what's in the food and the size of your cat. I have a pretty small cat and I feed him 1/2 cup servings.

Yes, but they cannot make up the whole of a cat's diet. In the wild, cats eat lizards, birds, mice, squirrels, rabbits, voles, moles and insects, and get an intake of minerals and extra vitamins from the ground they eat off of. Eating only mice will result in nutrient deficiencies. Don't be afraid to dabble in such feeding, however. Just include a large variety of protein sources and feed the entire body, unless you would prefer to add the necessary supplements.

I wouldn't recommend it. Dairy is usually best avoided with cats.

Milk can often cause irritation to the cat's stomach, but a very small amount of milk is okay every once in a while. Also, try purchasing some cat milk from a pet store or online.