But what we really wanted to understand was, is it safe for cats to eat raw meat? ... Game meats are an excellent alternative source of protein for cats. Let’s Find Out. Granted, she gives us the best, premium, carageenan and grain-free food, but still… she’s kind of lazy! Cats need meat every day and fresh beef is a good source of animal protein. What are the safety concerns that make most veterinarians hesitant or even opposed to recommending a raw food diet for cats? Too much fat can also harm your cats health. Permethrin Poisoning in Cats: What You Need to Know, Cat Scooting: What it Means and What to Do, High Blood Pressure in Cats: Signs and Treatment. Chicken flesh on its own is unlikely to cause your cat any harm—after all, they are carnivores whose bodies are designed to process uncooked meat—but the chicken we buy at supermarkets is often so contaminated that it poses a serious poisoning risk for our cats. Just make sure that bones are small enough so that they don’t become a potential choking or obstruction hazard. They evolved eating a prey-based diet, and more importantly, eating that food raw. Two of them loved it, the other wouldn't even go near it! Ground beef is easy to prepare, cheap and is easily digested by cats. How can we ensure that the raw food we feed our cats is prepared with safety in mind? Most cats love eating raw meat and animal meat stays on top of their priority list. They become brittle during cooking, which mean they’re likely to splinter once swallowed and may cause internal damage. You can start by feeding in small quantities and slowly graduating to large amounts according to their age. Any kind of meat you eat attracts the attention of your feline friend. Quite balanced article indeed, have seen others which seems are inclined to support pet food companies, I have Siamese, 3,year old and 7 kg, has been eating raw sirloin steak for two years now, he eats around 220 grams a day, also eats some biscuits and fresk milk, he is doing fine thank you. The answer: no, cats should not eat any quantity of raw chicken. It is good for a cats health to give cats a variety of different meat. If you are introducing beef in your cats diet for the first time, then it should be in tiny amounts. Can My Cat Eat Raw Meat or Fish? Their bodies are designed to digest proteins found in beef. Raw chunks of steak. Thank you for the information though! Thanks for breaking it down into a simple format, makes it seem much more possible for those of us looking to give it a try. The … However, there are food safety concerns to both pet and owner, which will be discussed in more detail below. Thanks. Cat knows when to stop eating. They also have stronger stomach acids so they can break down foods that we could never safely eat. I love how you address the most common concerns about raw feeding with factual data instead of just opinion. The potential safety issues are one reason I haven't tried raw feeding my dogs. Thaw frozen raw meat properly, by defrosting it slowly in the fridge. If possible avoid giving the fatty portions in the beef. Updated 19 September 2020 By Pawesome Cats 16 Comments. It's not actually good for the cat, it's pandering to silly humans. Top Pros and Cons of Probiotics for Cats & Kittens, How To Make A Tiny Stuffed Cat Toys DIY Cat Toys…, 20 Fat Cats That You Will Certainly Wish To Cuddle Right…, Almost Nobody Could Find The Cat Hiding In These Pictures, Then v/s Meow: How Technology Has Changed Cat’s lives. Cats are predators. In the wild, cats kill animals and eat most of the carcass. However, if she likes raw meat you might want to pop over to the raw feeding forum and consider feeding her raw. Beef must be cooked to an internal temperature of at least 145 F to be considered safe. Our vet is a little concerned about anything "raw" so Mom Paula hasn't considered it yet. The following chart compares one ounce (28 g) of raw liver from cattle, raw kidney from cattle, and raw, grass fed beef (Source: nutritiondata.self.com): As you can see, skeletal muscle is relatively higher in calories and fat per ounce, but is good source of omega-3 fatty acids and calcium. Serve raw food to your pets in stainless steel or glass bowls rather than plastic, which can harbour bacteria. Cats who are feral or avid mousers consume raw meat on a regular basis with few ill effects. The tip about freezing the meat to remove pathogens and parasites is great too. Keep raw meat well wrapped and separated from other foods in the freezer. Should dogs eat raw meat, though? Cats evolved to be carnivores and hunters. a holistic vet who specialises in raw food nutrition, and take the time to get the balance right. If you’re feeding ground meat, be sure to grind it yourself to reduce the risk of bacteria. A mix of 1 tablespoon bleach to 4 cups water is an effective disinfectant. She's trying to figure out that piece of the puzzle first. Make sure the raw beef you feed to your cat is suitable for humans to consume as human-grade meat will be fresh and free of diseases. The best way to store raw meat is to freeze it before you’re ready to use it. Stale meat can cause digestive problems in cats. Copyright © 2021 Pawesome Cats - All Rights Reserved. Just because your vet doesn’t agree with feeding raw, doesn’t mean you should abandon the idea. Raw or spoiled meat could make your cat sick. Cats In Care will guide you to know how to care for cat. You can start by placing the ground beef in a small bowl and allow him to decide whether to eat or not. Do Cats Eat Roaches and It is Safe for Them? The cheaper cuts are chewier, and your cat has to work harder to chew it, which is good for the teeth and gums. This will enable your feline friend’s body to get adjusted to the new food and gives you ample time to check if the meat is causing any health problems. Beef can be served cooked or raw although there is a great deal of debate as to whether raw meat should be fed to cats. Image: US Department of Agriculture via Flickr. Ground meat has more surface area to attract bacteria and other nasties. Can Cats Eat Catnip without Harming Their Health? They will love to eat them the whole day as they are carnivores in nature and thrive on animal meat. This was a great post. I have prepared homemade cooked food for my cats and feel it is just as good, yet I have many tell me nothing can replace the superiority of raw. Cats need at least 80 percent proteins from meat and around 20 percent fat. Mom Paula is about like Summer's mom. Their gastrointestinal system is shorter than ours which means that food passes through it faster. Your cat will enjoy the ground beef without any spices and with all its natural flavors. My cats prefer turkey and fish. He never overeat. Cats living in the wild chase and kill small prey such as rodents, mice, squirrels, rabbits, reptiles, amphibians, birds, insects and small fish. I was surprised to find out that Salmonella bacteria is a part of the normal healthy gut flora of cats and many other animals (but not humans). Beef or lamb liver can be fed to cats but only in small quantities. You can even feed the leanest available beef and not worry about less nutrition. Choosing a cat food can be overwhelming, especially when we have to worry about commercial pet food recalls. Beef organs can also be given to cats, but in small quantities. Cats are obligate carnivores. Backed by research, veterinarians are therefore more likely to trust and recommend commercial pet foods, which can make it difficult to know what is best for your cat. Mum is interested, but afraid of the nutriments stuff. Apr 23, 2017 But, raw beef meat should be given in small amounts and should be always fresh. The problem here isn’t with the raw food diet, it’s often because the cat owner wasn’t well-informed enough to ensure their cat’s diet was nutritionally balanced. In general, cats can theoretically eat dried beef – although too much is not good for them! Some owners worry about whether raw bones are safe for their cats to eat. In fact, as Jodie Gruenstern, DVM, points out, a raw food diet may be even more important for cats than it is for dogs “because they are stricter carnivores than dogs.” Raw beef should be always fresh and not stale. Great tips! That’s true, but they’re usually killed or inactivated by freezing. Cooked bones on the other hand, can cause problems and should never be fed to your cat. The head peep would like to feed us raw, but she realized that raw has to be frozen immediately after grinding, and we don't have enough freezer space. I appreciate that you address the concerns and safety issues instead of just talking about the pros. If you wouldn't eat it, don't give it to your pet. that has come in contact with raw meat. Ground beef is cheap, easy to prepare and easy for cats to digest. Salmonella and e-coli are usually the biggest concerns when it comes to bacteria. –> We recommend this Balanced Raw Cat Food Recipe. Wash chopping boards, surfaces, knives and bowls with hot soapy water and disinfectant to make sure there are no germs. This post is very helpful, thank you. They need meat every day to stay healthy, and ground beef can be one of these meats. People don't know a lot of those things. Cats like their cousins in the wild like lions and leopard are able to digest uncooked raw meat and organs of other animals efficiently.Fresh and uncooked beef provides them with all the required nutrition they need for their development. I also am hesitant about which recipe to try as their are so many out there, but a holistic vet would be a great place to start. Raw beef should be always fresh and not stale. Chewing on raw bones, meat, connective tissue, skin and fur will help the cat’s teeth remain clean whereas carbohydrates create starchy films that will encourage gum problems and plaque. The answer here is yes, if you feed them in small doses initially.Cats are carnivores and love eating meat. Most cats just love eating normal cat food like the raw chicken as well as another raw meat. At the same time, there isn’t the same amount of research into raw food diets for cats as there is into commercial pet food brands. The other is that one of my dogs is a Therapy Dog and the organization she's registered with doesn't allow a raw diet due to the potential of transmitting bacteria. The most important thing to consider is the source of the raw meat. They often talk about the dangers of raw food and of seeing feline patients who are malnourished as a result of being feed a raw food diet. Other owners choose a raw diet. These tasty snacks were created for humans and not designed with cats in mind. Cooking degrades nutrients in meat, causing the loss of vitamins, minerals and amino acids. You can do that now and then and get by, but you would never raise your child on an exclusive diet of meal replacement bars. Ive had my dogs on a raw diet for a week now and since day one they’ve had diarrhea and one of them had a little blood only once. Commercial raw food will be nutritionally balanced so it may be an easier option for some people. I wish my human was more ambitious about feeding us! In the wild cats would eat raw meat, not cooked meat, but this needs to be really fresh. If you plan to feed a homemade raw food diet, do your research, follow a recipe from a trusted source e.g. Cats, like dogs, can be fed a raw food diet, and some holistic veterinarians even recommend that pet parents should have this as part of their cat’s lifestyle. Some owners choose to feed their cats home-prepared diets, so they know exactly what is in the cat food. If he likes it you can gradually introduce more of it. Ground fresh beef is a good source of protein. You don’t know where or for how long it’s been sitting around unless you grind it yourself. Can Cats Eat Raw Beef ? You can though, minimise the risk by following safe meat handling procedures and purchasing raw meat only from reputable sources. Can cats eat beef? So, can dogs eat raw meat? It’s what we feed our cats! The diet for cats has evolved and they do not require grains in their diet chart. Good write up – lots of times we get dehydrated foods, it's easier and momma puts nutritional additions in! Raw meat will help cats stay fit so if you have an overweight cat a raw diet will balance their weight. A lot of pet owners love feeding natural foods for their cats. Feeding raw food for cats is our way of getting as close as is practical to a diet that they evolved to eat. Yes, dogs can eat raw meat. Stick to … The health of our cats and yours is of the utmost importance to us, so we recommend you follow these tips to ensure the raw meat you feed your cats is safe for them eat. She thinks she’s not informed enough. Yes, we knew cats can eat raw meat. Cats can chew and digest small raw bones with no problems, and bones actually contain beneficial nutrients including calcium. Slightly saute the ground beef and allow it to cool before serving it in a bowl. I think as long as the food is pure, not processed, has adequate nutrients, is fresh, and your cat enjoys it then raw or cooked are pretty equal choices. You can even try out commercial beef cat food instead of fresh grounded beef. But, it is important to be aware of the potential safety concerns – bacteria, parasites, bones and nutritional deficiencies – so that you can take the necessary precautions and prepare your cat’s raw food safely. So important to be committed and well educated before embarking into raw food territory – this is nice and thorough! I am not sure if raw feeding is right for my pets (and me), but I know a lot of people think it is the only way to go. Ground beef should be cooked before serving it to cats. The mom gives us a little raw food, but it’s mostly the already prepared kind; she doesn’t want to make it herself. While beef is healthy for cats to consume, raw beef can lead to the same health complications in cats that it can in humans. Intestinal parasites such as roundworm, hookworm or tapeworm are also cited as a safety concern when feeding raw to cats. But she gives us the best canned food. You’ve probably heard that toxoplasmosis (from venison, pork and lamb) and trichinosis (from pork and game animals) can be present in raw meats. In the wild, wolves and dogs eat raw meat without much problem. They can be tempted to eat by slightly warming their food, offering foods that are tasty (due to high levels of protein or fat) or have a strong odour, and by offering variety, including new and different foods. Dogs have a digestive system that is designed to help them digest their prey quickly and efficiently. Common meats like beef, chicken, turkey, and lamb can sometimes trigger food allergies in cats but uncommon proteins like game meats (think duck, …