Best 5 Raw Foods for Cats | How to Approach Raw Feeding for Cats

Raw foods for cats can actually be quite great for their bodies. Healthy cats are able to digest raw food since their digestive tract is more acidic and short. Cats very rarely have health issues with raw food diets because of their digestive systems.

When you make the decision to switch to raw foods for your cat, you should take some considerations into notice. Here is a quick guide that you should keep in mind!

Preparing Raw Foods for Cats at Home

Your vet can better help you create a balanced diet plan for your cats and may even recommend some supplements. Here are the ingredients you should try to incorporate into your cat’s diet:

• Raw meat, including organs and muscles. It is important to choose human-grade meat since it is better for cats. Meat sources for cats include poultry, fish, and rabbit.
• Ground raw bones
• Eggs
• Supplements
• Taurine (a specific protein that cats needs from their diet)

Cats can definitely be quite fussy when it comes to their diet, so giving the same kind of food can become boring for them. You should offer some variety of new and different foods with strong odors and taste.

Cats should also have grass around too. Natural, non-chemically treated grass can be a great source of micronutrients and vegetable matter.

Toxic Foods

There are some foods that should absolutely not be given to cats at all. The following is not a complete list, but here are some common foods that you shouldn’t give to cats:

• Alcohol
• Onion
• Garlic
• Onion powder
• Coffee or caffeine products
• Chocolate
• Spoiled or moldy foods
• Bread or dough
• Avocado
• Grapes
• Raisins
• Sultanas
• Nuts
• Currants
• Fruit pits and seeds
• Tomatoes
• Corncobs
• Mushrooms
• Fatty trimmings
• Salt

Best Pre-Made Raw Foods for Cats

If you don’t always have time to create a properly balanced diet for your cats, you can also get pre-made raw foods for cats. Here are the freshest options available in most stores.

1. Stella & Chewy’s Raw Dinner Morsels 

Freeze-fried raw dinner morsels don’t have any antibiotics or hormones, making them safer for your cars. It contains 98% cage-free, raw chicken with organs and bones. There are some additives in the mixture, such as micronutrients, vitamins, probiotics, prebiotics, and pumpkin seed fatty acids.

You have to rehydrate the food with broth or water, making them a delicious treat for the cat. Morsels come in big sizes, but you can also crush them into smaller pieces for older cats and cats with dental issues.

If your cat is new to the raw diet, they may not appreciate some of the pieces of bones. You should try to incorporate this slowly before increasing it.

2. Nulo Freestyle Raw Cat Food

Nulo Freestyle freeze-dried cat food is grain-free and contains up to 98% duck, turkey, and organs. The organs are there to ensure they receive the much-needed taurine that all cats need to survive. The cat food is made with cranberries, kelp, and micronutrients to ensure a complete balanced diet. It is even packed with the necessary minerals and vitamins that cats need to survive.

This cat food is popular among cat owners since it is less expensive than other brands but includes all the vital ingredients that cats need. The food pieces are prone to crumbling, which is great for cats that can’t chew very well. You can start off but sprinkling some of the raw on their regular cat food and then weaning them off that slowly.

3. Primal Freeze-Dried Chicken Cat Food

Primal is the best in chicken food containing up to 90% meat. It is a great natural food option since it is made with high-quality meat. It also includes taurine and Vitamin E to ensure that your cat gets all the nutrients they need.

The product is made with a mixture of chicken necks, chicken meat, liver, gizzards, and salmon, as well as yams, carrots, apples, and kale. It does have some starchy vegetables, but the high protein content makes it one of the best raw foods for cats.

There are no added antibiotics or hormones, so you can be reassured that it is quite safe. Plus, the addition of salmon makes it quite enticing for cats.

4. Vital Freeze-Fried Rabbit Nibs for Cats

If your cat is used to kibbles, this is the best replacement for it. These rabbit meat nibbles are quite tasty and come in small sizes. They work for kittens as well, and you can even serve it without hydrating it. Felines love them as dry kibble!

It has a high protein content of 25% since it doesn’t contain any vegetables, fillers, or fruits. However, if your cat has lactose intolerance, you should avoid this product because it contains goat milk. Cats with dental issues may not enjoy them either since they are quite crunchy even after hydration. Since they only contain rabbit meat, they aren’t a highly-balanced option and will need to be switched out for other foods.

5. Northwest Naturals Raw Food Freeze-Dried Nibbles 

Northwest Naturals raw food nibbles are made with high-quality chicken necks, muscle meat, and organs. They also have a mixture of kelp, eggs, salmon oil, and flaxseed for a balanced diet. It is topped with crucial vitamins and taurine so that it perfect for cats. The protein content is 45%, so it’s not the most protein-rich option out of the bunch. However, the nibbles are quite small, making them the perfect size for cats.

Conclusion

The best raw food for cats is one you make at home with natural ingredients, but you need to make sure you are giving them a balanced diet of all the necessary ingredients they need to survive!