Naturally, felines are obligate carnivores. This means they will be naturally drawn to raw pet food more than processed foods. They thrive on uncooked meat, organ and muscle meats, and ground bones. Usually, they digest food better than humans, thanks to their acidic digestive tracts that allow no pathogens to survive. It helps to note that cats do not have sufficient digestive enzymes to digest carbohydrates, so they will not thrive on carbohydrate-rich diets.
However, they are better off with protein-rich, high-moisture diets like meats. Meats supply all the nourishment they need, including fatty acids, essential vitamins, minerals & Amino Acids such as taurine, which is a building block of all amino acids.
What’s more, taurine is only found in animal protein and is needed in daily supplies of 35 – 250mg. It is also important to the cat’s immune system, good vision, fetus development, and heart muscle functioning. Therefore, you should consider giving your cat at least four protein sources throughout the week.
Note that darker meats have higher amounts of taurine compared to lighter meats and thus should be used more.
Switching your cat to a raw diet will come with several benefits. Below are some of the gains you will witness within the first week.
- Cleaner teeth
- No stinky litter boxes
- Reduced allergies
- Stronger immune system
Transitioning your cat
When transitioning your cat to a raw diet, consider using pure meats first. High-quality meat sources like that have not been mixed like those found at Houston Raw Pet Food are the best way to introduce and make them accustomed to the texture, taste, and smell. Consider the following tips.
- Make them fast for at least 12 hours if they are a year older and new to raw food
- Warm the food to about room temperature for the first three days before serving it directly from the fridge
- Add fish oil to the diet since the cats need omega-three oils too.
What to Look for When Transitioning your Cat
Cats can be easy to transition especially if you are changing to raw food. They will enjoy the food more. However, this does not mean that there will be no resistance. You have to be smart and ensure that your cat transitions quickly. There are a few things you could do to ensure this.
- Mix the raw food with their favorite treat or food they are already used to. This way the cat can associated the new food with their favorite one and slowly grow accustomed to the new diet.
- Warm the food to room temperature when introducing it. This can happen in the first seven days when it is still unsure about the food. You can go back to giving frozen food once it has become accustomed.
- Choose foods whose textures are close to the food they are used to. Buy your pet food from reliable suppliers like Houston Raw Pet Food where you are sure of the quality.
