Do you receive any support from you OH's, housemates, friends etc?
A lot of my friends don't like the thought of it but I think a lot of that is lack of understanding. However, me and my H have just come to blows about it all. He thinks its gross, and doesn't agree with it, he thinks theres a much higher risk for us and the cats, he doesn't think it'll be cost effective and he is just pretty much going against me on everything!
We haven't begun the journey fully yet and I have already stated that I will be doing all the handling of the meat and cleaning up afterwards. I am going to make it as simple as opening a tupperware pot and tipping it into their dishes for the only feed he has to give before he goes to work. Did you have trouble convincing others? I know I'll get my way in the end, I want whats best for the cats and I'm sure he does too deep down.

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I'm sure everyone except my OH probably thinks I'm mad as a coot for wanting to feed raw, but I put it down to lack of knowledge and understanding.

I still have issues processing this very common phobia about it having to do with handling raw meat. People natter on and on about it being in the kitchen as if it's some alien life form, yet, when I prepare food for us, the chicken doesn't fall out of the packaging fully cooked. I have to handle it in its raw state, and then I chuck it in a pan and cook it however I plan to for the evening. I really do not understand how, if you're feeding human grade meat, that handling raw meat then putting it in a bowl and feeding it to the pet/s requires more sanitation of the kitchen than handling raw meat and putting it in a bowl to be, say, marinated. I've actually had people argue with me that you have to wipe everything down with bleach if you're feeding the pets, but not if you're feeding you.

Bottom line is it's really more natural and species appropriate than dried up little balls of meat and fillers and sprayed on supplements baked until they are crunchy, but then again, I know so many people who wouldn't understand freshly prepared food for people, as they subsist on Hot Pockets and McDonalds.

Okay, now I've depressed myself--off to make dinner (it's only 6pm over here) from scratch and NOT sanitize the kitchen afterwards. I really hope you can convince your OH that raw done right is healthier and better. Maybe start with some minces instead of bloody hunks of meat, just to ease into it?

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I have to say my DH is fine about raw feeding even when the girls drag a chicken wing all over the kitchen or take their food out of the dish to eat on the floor It's no different to preparing our food

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My OH hates it - specifically he doesn't like the fact that the boys drag raw food around the floor. And he also complains that if there were any bugs they are now all over the boys as they groom after eating and then walk everywhere.

However we've made progress and he doesn't mind the pre-done minces. I suspect seeing how much the boys loved them helped change his mind. And I do feed a type of bird once a week, either outside or if inside with a sheet down or mopping after. Easing him into it slowly seems to be working for me.

Thankfully, my OH comes from a family where dogs are raw fed, so there wasn't much resistance to the idea of feeding cats raw too. Though having said that, we went from just feeding the odd raw meat here and there to transforming our kitchen into a bona fide butchers one Saturday a week to prepare their food (and we are vegetarians to boot). So, babysteps for both the cats as well as us humans worked quite well.

Seeing the cats' satisfaction at mealtimes is priceless and soon breaks down any barriers that anyone might have to raw feeding I should think.

I don't make a habit out of talking about cat food with friends (unlike here where people just get bombarded with my knowledge/interest ). The people who know that we rawfeed probably found out in a roundabout way. Would I care whether they opposed it or not? Not really, as they aren't the ones who are feeding my cats so why should their opinion matter?

Just make yourself knowledgeable!

[QUOTE=hobbs2004;1061766869]Thankfully, my OH comes from a family where dogs are raw fed, so there wasn't much resistance to the idea of feeding cats raw too. Though having said that, we went from just feeding the odd raw meat here and there to transforming our kitchen into a bona fide butchers one Saturday a week to prepare their food (and we are vegetarians to boot). So, babysteps for both the cats as well as us humans worked quite well.

Seeing the cats' satisfaction at mealtimes is priceless and soon breaks down any barriers that anyone might have to raw feeding I should think.

I don't make a habit out of talking about cat food with friends (unlike here where people just get bombarded with my knowledge/interest ). The people who know that we rawfeed probably found out in a roundabout way. Would I care whether they opposed it or not? Not really, as they aren't the ones who are feeding my cats so why should their opinion matter?

Just make yourself knowledgeable![/QUOTE/]
my cats hate raw food, sisters dogs like it, but fight and steal eachothers! im gonna try the cats on raw chicken wing again soon, they should get the hang of it eventually lol

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I sort of understand how people can think it's disgusting and dangerous. What I don't get is how the same people will then happily deal with raw chicken or meat for human consumption and risk all sorts of cross contamination on their worktops, kitchen knives and in the fridge. As Hobbs says, knowledge is power and I do think those who feed their pets raw probably take more care and are more savvy than most.

Well, he will have no choice over the matter really My first order is due this friday and we bought a freezer last weekend under the agreement that it was to store cat/reptile food - so I have no idea why he's trying to fight me on it now.
I've harped on about it for some time as it's all I've been researching day in, day out. And I think he does see that it is natural but he also says 'that's why manufacturers make pouches and tins with everything they need in them' I told him to do his on research before trying to tell me that most commercial food is as good as a natural diet.
He's also freaked out about handling raw food, although it'll be me doing it! He says its not safe as I'm pregnant. I simply replied with 'ok, I'm no longer cooking us steaks, stir fry's, chicken because it's just not safe' he seems to think its different! I am always careful with raw meat, whoever it's for so this won't be any different.
I don't really care what anyone else thinks but it would be nice to have the support of him as he will play a small part in it. Although my mum doesn't like the thought of it, she's seen how much they're enjoying what they've tried so far and she said if I need help preparing any of it, she will pop round. Which is lovely. We used to have a very fussy Dobermann with a delicate tummy and she says she wishes she'd had the balls to try it with her!
Oh well - we'll see how it goes. Maybe I'll just give the bones and joints when he's at work so he can't watch with worry about it being over the floor

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I'd agree that it's a bit hypocritical when people don't take care in the kitchen but OH is at the other end of the spectrum. We have coded chopping boards for veg, meat (one for raw and one for cooked) etc and heaven forbid if you use the wrong one - even if you wash it straight after!

I've got him on board in principal, we just have to agree to a system that we can both live with (i.e. not wiping down the cats and mopping the floors after each meal) and get a few things like a larger freezer and we will be raw feeders. It's taken 6 months or more but worth it for the cats.

Also, a little aside, we have a new cat Sybil who is 7.5 months. She has been brought up on whiskas (now moved to other brands) and we gave her a bit of chicken wing on the weekend. She not only gobbled it up, crunching on all the bones but tried to muscle in on the other cats as well
As all three cats love eating raw on top of all the benefits, I feel like I need to make it happen

I don't tell too many people but the few that know probably think I'm even madder than they thought in the first place! Mum was pretty against the idea and found it quite gross that her little darling dog was chewing away on a raw chicken wing but again she doesn't even want to about what goes into dog food as long as it basically looks nice in a can or bag. I think she's come around to the idea now a little more, will empty raw food into a bowl so long as she doesn't have to touch it and will watch him eat it with a grossed out look on her face but at least it's progress! I forget sometimes that other's don't share my enthusiasm, was chopping up a quail and was quite pleased with myself naming all the anatomy (even found the trachea, really interesting seeing all the tiny rings of cartilage), she didn't appreciate it as much!

I told another nurse once and she basically told me I was killing my dog.