I take the tub out the freezer and let it defrost in the fridge for 12 hours, then it's just soft enough to scoop some out with a spoon. After that, it stays in the fridge slowly continuing to defrost, and stays fresh for the next few days as I serve it.

 

Thank you for your reply. Going by the portion information on the packet she would be getting about 72 grams per day and the packet is 500g. My worry is that such a small amount each day will cause the food to go bad in the fridge over time. (Also kind of shocked at the tiny portion sizes but I'm aware raw feeding uses less food). It does say to dispose of 4 days after thawing. Obviously with her portion size this would mean a 500g packet would last 6.9 days. Dunno what to do as throwing out food is not something I'm keen on but also don't want her to get ill.

 

It;s safe to partially defrost just enough so that you can cut it and divide into portions. Then back into the freezer if there’s too much to keep in the fridge.

 

You can fully defrost in the fridge and refreeze, it’s safe as long as it never reaches room temp. The reason you don’t tend to do it for meat intended for human consumption is purely because it affects texture in a way humans don’t like.

Given your cat needs so little and you’re only just transitioning, I’d defrost to where you can easily fill her food into a few ice cube trays. Just make sure they’re used only for her food.

Rule of thumb with raw food is 3-5% of your cats’ weight depending on age and activity. If you have a scale I’d monitor weight and adjust intake as needed.

 

Hello all quick question. I recently bought Miri some raw food to try and it has the portioning advice on the back of the box. I know her weight so I know how much to give her but HOW do I give her it? How do I cut up a block of raw food into a specific weight? Surely the knife will not go through it when frozen? If i thaw it that obviously wastes the rest of the food as it's a small amount she'd be having at once.
Please help as I cannot wrap my head around this- will a knife genuinely cut through it?

When I fed commercial raw I let the tub thaw in a bowl of cold water for about a half an hour. Still frozen, but soft enough to cut. Weigh to meal size, put in ice cube trays freeze until solid then bag up. Take out meals as needed.

 

This is why I stopped using a company that only did 500g tubs. We now get 250g tubs and have 2 cats that ‘need’ 100g each. They actually get 125g as I spilt a tub between them each day (quarter each in the morning and quarter each in the evening) and then simply take a new tub out the freezer each night for the next day.

 

Thank you all for your help. Somehow I owned an ice cube tray that takes exactly 500g of food so I did that and put it back in the freezer. Offered her a tiny amount mixed in with her normal food but she ran away after sniffing it ): This is the only food she has ever refused rowning I will find a way though!

 

Late to the update, but I don't recommend this method. Introducing a new food is more successful if you put it separate and give the cat a chance to learn to associate it as food and choose to eat it on her own.

It took Mazy cat about 7-8 weeks to transition to raw. First time I put a tiny blob of Rad Cat next to her usual dish of wet food she balked. She wouldn't even eat her regular food. I watched her drag the dish of canned off her table and eat it with her paw. Next time she simply flat out refused to eat at all. But her life depended on it and I persevered. She's been raw fed now for almost 10 years.

 

I’d offer a tiny amount separately, on a plate. If she’s cautious of the smell, try some stinky toppers she likes. Small bit of a tube treat, a bit of nutritional yeast, some bonito flakes, etc.

 

I'd offer a tiny amount separately, on a plate. If she's cautious of the smell, try some stinky toppers she likes. Small bit of a tube treat, a bit of nutritional yeast, some bonito flakes, etc.

That's a good idea. When introducing new food brands I've always mixed it in with her usual foods but I'll try it on its own. I do have a fish loin saved which she goes wild for. What is the maximum time it can be left out at room temperature in her plate? I don't eat meat so not a clue about these kinds of things. She's free fed (somehow her weight is always stable) but I'll have to switch to structured feeding I think.

 

If your home is cool right now, I’d leave it for no more than an hour at room temp before chucking it out.

 

If your home is cool right now, I'd leave it for no more than an hour at room temp before chucking it out.

Living in Scotland our home is very cool all the time. I will have to find ideal times to feed her. That mean she's getting food in equal intervals. Thank you so much for your help

 

What protien are you currently trying? Is it one she likes in her wet food?

Not the most pleasant experience with raw, but hand feeding may help.

 

It's primarily duck (tiny bit of Ox included). She hasn't had Ox before but she's had just about everything else and always ate with no hesitation. The only food she's ever been picky about is the feringa veal variety which she eats but just slower. She loves treats because she rarely gets them so she's excited about the dried chicken cubes sprinkled on top but she's so stubborn she picks them out with her teeth and eats them on the floor- leaving the food! I'm going to keep trying because I have 13 cubes left anyway but it's very difficult figuring out why she isn't taking to it. I had one of the catit nibbly fish wrapped in chicken and when I took it out the packet she was bouncing on her back legs crying for me to give it to her. When I placed it on top of the raw food she looked at it, looked at me, and began crying again I'm determined to give this brand a fair trial before I move onto a different brand. I feel like maybe it's that it's raw? I dunno rowningrowningrowning

 

Have you tried warming up the raw a bit? Won’t keep as long, but may be worth a try. When a kitty of mine has a stuffy nose I find it helps to put some hot water under the bowl for a minute or two so the meat is warm to touch. Hand feeding may also be worth a shot.

She’s probably not quite understanding that raw meat is good yet, which is what’s causing her issues.

 

Have you tried warming up the raw a bit? Won't keep as long, but may be worth a try. When a kitty of mine has a stuffy nose I find it helps to put some hot water under the bowl for a minute or two so the meat is warm to touch. Hand feeding may also be worth a shot.

She's probably not quite understanding that raw meat is good yet, which is what's causing her issues.

Sorry, realised your mentioned hand feeding in your previous reply but it is late at night here so my brain had a blank moment. I will try hand feeding tomorrow. I have had to split open rat skulls before when feeding snakes so does not bother me at all thankfully! Will also try warming it to body temp if I can. Hopefully the increased smell might encourage her. I think we'll get there it might just be a long road :Hilarious