Before we switched our cats to a raw food diet we did a lot of research to understand whether raw meat is safe for cats to eat. We wanted to be sure it was safe for our cats to eat raw food, but also to fully understand the risks for us and know how to handle raw foods for our cats safely.
Why vets say a raw food diet for cats is not safe
Many veterinarians advise against feeding a raw food diet because of safety fears or lack of knowledge about raw cat food diets. They often talk about the dangers of raw food for cats and of seeing feline patients who are malnourished as a result of being fed a raw food diet. The problem isn’t with the raw food diet, it’s often because cat owners aren’t well-informed enough to ensure their cat’s diet is nutritionally balanced.
At the same time, there isn’t the same amount of research into raw food diets for cats as there is into commercial pet food brands. Backed by research, veterinarians are therefore more likely to trust and recommend commercial pet foods, which can make it difficult to know what is best for your cat.
No scientific studies have shown benefits of raw diets. Their appeal is based on word of mouth, testimonials and perceived benefits.
Dr. Lisa M. Freeman, Cummings School of Veterinary Medicine, Tufts University.
Veterinarians themselves have also told me, that their veterinary degree did not include comprehensive training in cat nutrition. If your vet has not undertaken further specialised study in pet nutrition, there may a knowledge gap. Your vet may not be aware of the value of nutritionally balanced raw food diets for cats.
Why we tried a raw diet against veterinary advice
Charlie developed inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) as a kitten. We consulted with multiple vets and tried everything they recommended, but he remained very sick with a poor quality of life. No one recommended a raw food diet to us, and some of the vets we spoke to warned us against it. We discovered raw feeding for cats through our own research. We were determined to get Charlie back on track to good health, and switching to a homemade raw food diet with quality ingredients was our last hope. Thankfully, it worked and today he is happy and healthy with no signs of inflammatory bowel disease. Since switching to a raw food diet over 10 years ago, Charlie has only had one IBD flare up triggered after an unrelated and routine specialist exam in a veterinary teaching hospital.
So, just because your vet doesn’t agree with feeding raw, doesn’t mean you should abandon the idea. But, it is important to be aware of the potential safety concerns – bacteria, parasites, bones and nutritional deficiencies – so that you can take the necessary precautions and prepare your cat’s raw meals safely.
Remember, you don’t have to prepare raw food from scratch; there are many good quality pre-packaged commercial raw cat foods available, or meal completers such as EZComplete for you to choose from which are balanced with the nutrients and minerals your cat needs.
–> We recommend this homemade Raw Cat Food Recipe. It’s what we feed our cats!
Understanding safety concerns when feeding raw
Risk of bacteria
Salmonella and e-coli are usually the biggest concerns when it comes to bacteria. You can minimise the risk by learning how to safely handle raw food for cats and by purchasing raw meat only from reputable sources. Essentially, you should take the same food safety precautions when handling raw meat for cats, as you do when preparing it for humans.
It is also important to note that cats have extremely efficient and very acidic digestive systems. They evolved from hunting and eating small prey animals so their digestive systems tolerate raw meat very well. This means a protein meal usually takes a short 12 hours to pass through – this doesn’t give bacteria any time to take hold and become a problem.
Parasites in raw meat
You’ve probably heard that toxoplasmosis (from venison, pork and lamb) and trichinosis (from pork and game animals) can be present in raw meats. That’s true, but they’re usually killed or inactivated by freezing.
Intestinal parasites such as roundworm, hookworm or tapeworm are also cited as a safety concern when feeding raw to cats. They aren’t generally an issue either, unless you feed the guts of prey animals to your cat.
Are bones okay?
Some owners worry about whether raw bones are safe for their cats to eat. Remember though, in the wild a cat will eat the entire prey animal (e.g. mouse or bird), raw bones and all. Cats can chew and digest small raw bones with no problems, and bones actually contain beneficial nutrients including calcium. Just make sure that bones are small enough so that they don’t become a potential choking or obstruction hazard.
Cooked bones on the other hand, can cause problems and should never be fed to your cat. They become brittle during cooking, which mean they’re likely to splinter once swallowed and may cause internal damage. You don’t want to run that risk.
Risk of nutritional deficiencies
A raw diet is a ‘natural’ diet, but it’s up to you to make sure your cat is getting the appropriate nutrients. Commercial raw food will be nutritionally balanced so it may be an easier option for some people.
If you plan to feed a homemade raw food diet, do your research, follow a recipe from a trusted source e.g. a holistic vet who specialises in raw food nutrition, and take the time to get the balance right. Feeding raw might seem complicated at first, but once you get into a routine it’ll become second nature.
How to safety feed raw to your cats
Follow these safety tips to prevent any bacterial risk when handling and storing raw meat and preparing raw cat food.
Buy meat from a reputable source
Make sure the raw meat you use comes from a reputable source and is as fresh as possible. We recommend buying raw meat from supermarkets, butchers (retail and wholesale), online meat retailers, and local farmer’s markets.
Grind raw meat yourself
If you’re feeding ground meat rather than chunks of meat, make sure your grind it yourself to reduce the risk of bacteria. Ground meat has more surface area to attract bacteria and other nasties. You don’t know where or for how long it’s been sitting around unless you grind it yourself.
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We use a heavy duty grinder which is also strong enough to grind small, soft bones such as chicken frames if you are using a raw cat food recipe that includes bone.
Handle raw meat safely
When you’re removing raw meat from the packaging be careful not to splash any of the raw meat juices to other food surfaces. Wear disposable food safe gloves when handling raw meat to minimise risk of cross contamination to other surfaces.
You should also wash your hands thoroughly (for at least 20-30 seconds) after handling raw meat, raw cat food or anything (bowls, surfaces etc.) that come in contact with raw meat.
Disinfect all surfaces
Wash chopping boards, surfaces, knives and bowls that have come into contact with the raw meat or raw cat food with hot soapy water and then in disinfectant to make sure there are no germs. A mix of 1 tablespoon bleach to 4 cups water is an effective disinfectant. Alternatively, you can run used items through the dishwasher.
Store and thaw raw meat safely
The best way to store raw meat is to freeze it before you’re ready to use it. Keep raw meat well wrapped and separate from other foods in the freezer.
Thaw frozen raw meat properly, by defrosting it slowly in the fridge. Never try to speed up thawing times by leaving frozen meat out at room temperature on the kitchen counter or kitchen sink, or in the microwave.
Storing cat food leftovers
If you cat doesn’t eat their entire raw food meal in one sitting, immediately cover the leftovers and place them in the fridge or dispose of them safely. We freeze raw food leftovers separately in our freezer and dispose of them on rubbish day.
Don’t use plastic bowls
Serve raw food to your pets in stainless steel or glass bowls rather than plastic, which can harbour bacteria and are the main cause of feline chin acne.
We hope that knowing how to handle raw meat for cats safely will give you the confidence to prepare raw food for your cat. We have been feeding our cats a raw diet for over 10 years, and would not have done so if we didn’t believe raw meat is safe for cats to eat!
Thank you for explaining the pros and cons, I didn’t know for example that the reason cats are not susceptible to poisoning as humans are is because their digestion is so much faster.
This is a FANTASTIC article! I love how you address the most common concerns about raw feeding with factual data instead of just opinion. Wonderful!
Quite balanced article indeed, have seen others which seems are inclined to support pet food companies, I have Siamese, 3,year old and 7 kg, has been eating raw sirloin steak for two years now, he eats around 220 grams a day, also eats some biscuits and fresk milk, he is doing fine thank you
Good write up – lots of times we get dehydrated foods, it's easier and momma puts nutritional additions in! It's important to know how to handles raw food (in particular da protein) – for dogs and humans!
I am not sure if raw feeding is right for my pets (and me), but I know a lot of people think it is the only way to go. I appreciate that you address the concerns and safety issues instead of just talking about the pros.
Wonderful info for anyone thinking about switching over to raw, which can seem intimidating to most of us. Thanks for breaking it down into a simple format, makes it seem much more possible for those of us looking to give it a try.
So important to be committed and well educated before embarking into raw food territory – this is nice and thorough!
Great tips! The head peep would like to feed us raw, but she realized that raw has to be frozen immediately after grinding, and we don't have enough freezer space. She's trying to figure out that piece of the puzzle first.
Mum has suspicions we get a bit of raw outside – but it would be a serious mission for all nine of us. There is plenty of good information here to help mum weigh the pros and cons – for which we thank you!
Mom Paula is about like Summer's mom. She doesn't even prepare food for herself at home. Our vet is a little concerned about anything "raw" so Mom Paula hasn't considered it yet. Thank you for the information though!
Thanks for such an informative post! The potential safety issues are one reason I haven't tried raw feeding my dogs. The other is that one of my dogs is a Therapy Dog and the organization she's registered with doesn't allow a raw diet due to the potential of transmitting bacteria. This post is very helpful, thank you.
Great tips! People don't know a lot of those things. I was surprised to find out that Salmonella bacteria is a part of the normal healthy gut flora of cats and many other animals (but not humans). It takes a lot more Salmonella to cause harm to a cat than it does to cause harm to a human. The tip about freezing the meat to remove pathogens and parasites is great too.
This was a great post. I have been looking into raw feeding for quite some time, and haven't been able to make a decision. I have dabbled with some raw treats for the huskies. Two of them loved it, the other wouldn't even go near it! LOL
Good info about feeding raw. Thanks. The mom gives us a little raw food, but it’s mostly the already prepared kind; she doesn’t want to make it herself.
Mum is interested, but afraid of the nutriments stuff. She thinks she’s not informed enough. But she gives us the best canned food. Purrs
I am not against a raw food diet, just a bit squeamish! I also am hesitant about which recipe to try as their are so many out there, but a holistic vet would be a great place to start.
My cats prefer turkey and fish. I try to limit the amount of fish due to mercury and the toxic pollutants in water. I have prepared homemade cooked food for my cats and feel it is just as good, yet I have many tell me nothing can replace the superiority of raw. I think as long as the food is pure, not processed, has adequate nutrients, is fresh, and your cat enjoys it then raw or cooked are pretty equal choices. I do not shame someone for doing one over the other, it is a personal choice and there is already enough confusion and anger on the subject! Thank you for the in depth information as always.
I wish my human was more ambitious about feeding us! But she’s not great about feeding herself either – she just tosses a frozen dinner in the microwave and give us canned food. Granted, she gives us the best, premium, carageenan and grain-free food, but still… she’s kind of lazy!