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Saikou · #3 (**permalink**) 16-10-2008, 06:25 PM

Food is a very emotive subject, and I am just expressing my opinions but

I do think a completely raw diet is the best thing for kitties, it’s what they are designed to eat, and therefore makes them happy and healthy. That said, a completely raw diet does mean that you have to give them the right balance of supplements to ensure they are getting everything they need, vitamin and mineral wise, but there are a number of prepared supplements you can buy to help. Pet Plus is the best one that I have found. I think the reason a lot of people don’t feed raw is they think that raw meat is full of bacteria etc, which it is for humans, but cats digestive systems can cope with all that. They are carnivores and need a high level of protein in their diets. Cats with sensitive tums seem to do better on a raw diet, it certainly helps with chronic cases of IBS/IBD

I have always fed an amount of raw to mine and I am trying to move them more that way, but I give mine a mixture of high quality wet – Natures Variety, Almo Nature, Applaws, Hi Life, Natures Menu (and anything else interesting Zooplus have in stock), plus Sheba in between orders, and at least one meal of cooked and raw meat, cooked fish and scrambled egg. The more high quality wet is more expensive per can/pouch, but then you probably find you need to feed less than a cheaper brand because the cats get more out of it, so it evens itself out. I have never fed a lot of dry, as it didn’t seem the right thing to give them. For raw I give them mince beef, lean beef and lamb chopped, chicken drumsticks for their teeth although not everyone eats those and have recently tried them on raw rabbit and a game mix which they loved.

I take the view a little bit of everything and you should have everything covered. Plus feeding a mixture fits in with my life. It also helps ensure that the kittens I breed get used to a wide variety of foods before they leave for their new homes.

Mine are grazers too, and I give them scrambled egg and a variety of wet foods down whilst I am at work, then they have a snack of whatever is cooked in the fridge when I get in whilst I prepare their main evening meal which is always meat or fish.

At the end of the day you have to find what works for you and your babies. I would try a variety of things over a period of time, see what they like what they don’t and formulate a plan that works for you and them. I don’t see the need to consult your vet about changing their diet if they are over their sensitive tummy issue. As long as you take any change gradually then it shouldn’t affect them. A lot of vets are anti raw because they don’t really understand enough about it, preferring to push the latest dry diet on their clients.

There is a yahoo group called RawCats rawcat : Raw Cat there are over 2000 members world wide on there. Owners that are actually feeding raw are probably the best practical source of information if you have any questions.

Cats are usually fastidiously clean and I’ve never had to wipe their faces after them enjoying a chomp, although a few do have wet food gravy left on their chins for a while. There is something very satisfying watching them really chewing on a chicken drumstick or a cube of lamb. They really enjoy it.

Your babies are very lucky to have such a devoted Mum.