Everything You Need To Know About The Raw Diet For Cats

Being a cat owner, you must be familiar with the word raw diet. Providing your cat with raw meat simulates their hunting skills in the wild. Thus, it is essential to include raw meat, bones, organs, and occasionally supplements as part of their diet. Cats are bound to be carnivores and can survive on a raw diet that is balanced and safe. However, offering a raw diet to a cat comes with a lot of responsibilities. 

To kick things off, you might wonder, "What exactly is a raw diet? What makes it the cat's meow? Is it safe?" Well, let's dive into this together.

What Is A Raw Diet? 

Cats are naturally carnivorous, and in wild surroundings, they love to eat meat, just like their ancestors. Thus, a raw diet is defined as uncooked animal products that you can offer to your cats. It generally includes animal proteins like raw meat, bones, and organ meat. A raw diet is typically rich in proteins, vitamins, and minerals and provides some healthy fats for your pet. 

Petzi provides a variety of protein-rich cat food options, saving you the hassle of hunting down these essentials yourself. With Petzi, it's not just food we’ve curated; it's a culinary adventure for your cat.

What Are The Benefits Of Feeding Your Cat A Raw Diet? 

Offering your cat balanced raw food can have many benefits. Some of them are mentioned below:

For healthy body weight: 

A raw diet is rich in proteins and low in fats and carbohydrates, which helps to maintain your cat's body weight. 

Strong teeth: 

Raw food has lower carbs and hence is low in sugar, and sugar is the reason for all the bacteria present in the mouth. As your cat chews small chunks of meat, it minimizes the "hassle factor" that prevents them from having any gum problems. 

Better digestion: 

According to research, cats who are served with raw meat have healthier digestive systems and easily absorb more nutrients. 

Maximum water intake:

Eating raw food helps your cat to consume more water. Do You Know? Raw cat food has a moisture content of between 60% and 80%, which helps to keep the cat's water level stable in their body. Therefore, a diet high in meat contributes the same pH reduction as that of water. 

Higher energy levels: 

As mentioned above, a raw diet is rich in proteins, and proteins are the source of energy. Thus, protein in raw food provides the essential energy your cat needs to stay active and also assists in muscle development.

Is It Safe? 

While eating raw food, there is a chance of contracting well-known pathogens like Salmonella and E. Coli. Since their GI systems are shorter, which makes them less risky, they are thus exposed to less damage. Cats may also be allergic to uncooked foods. 

Therefore, in order to ensure safety, a food safety procedure is known as commercial applications of high-pressure processing (HPP), which uses pressure instead of heat to guarantee safe nutrition. Additionally, cat parents should always obey the supplier's advisable storage and feeding procedures. 

How Do You Switch Your Cat's Diet To Raw? 

1. Before switching your cat's diet, speak to your veterinarian. 
2. Step by step, add raw food to your cat's diet, noting their hunger, weight, energy levels, and the condition of their stools. 
3. It would help if you offered your cat a complete diet that contained raw meats, organs, and supplements and also avoided raw fish, pork, or poultry in their diet. 4. If your cat doesn't eat, do not force them. Conversely, you can try multiple flavors and textures that your cat likes to eat, such as gravy, solid, etc. 
4. Remember, the process is a bit slow, so keep trying, as switching to raw food can significantly enhance their health and well-being. 

We hope we have addressed all of your queries, and with that, this article comes to an end. Including a raw diet in your cat's diet plan can offer several benefits like stronger teeth, a better digestive system, a healthier coat, and a more robust immune system. 

But remember, there is some debate about the significant dangers of bacterial infections. It is conditional upon various circumstances, including your cat's age, health status, habits, and preferences. Therefore, it's essential that you speak with a veterinarian about your cat's individual dietary needs and if it's safe to provide raw food to them. And if you do decide to serve a raw diet to your cat, visit Petzi- your one-stop solution for all your pet's needs. 

Petzi offers a diverse assortment of all-natural, nutrient-dense products. And is willing to serve your kitty companion. So, pet owners, what are you waiting for? Visit Petzi to find your pet's favourite meal!