So, you’ve decided to take the plunge into raw feeding. Now comes the fun (and sometimes slightly overwhelming) part: figuring out how you’re going to do it. There are many raw food diets for cats available. Some options are super convenient, some are more natural, some take more effort in the kitchen. The best one really depends on your lifestyle, how comfortable you are with raw meat, and, let’s be honest – what your cat will actually agree to eat.
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Ground raw food
If you’re new to raw, ground food is usually the easiest place to start. Cats who are used to eating canned food often transition to it without too much fuss. It’s basically meat, offal (organs like liver, heart, and kidney), and bone, all ground up together with the right supplements mixed in to ensure it’s nutritionally complete.
The downside of grinding food is that it removes the natural chewing action cats need to keep their teeth and jaws strong. An easy way to fix this is to include some meaty chunks or small edible bones, like chicken wing tips, so your cat still gets to chew which is important for dental health.
From here, you get to decide whether to buy commercial raw food (pre-packaged, ready to serve) or go all in with homemade meals, created in your own kitchen.
Commercial raw food diets for cats
Commercial raw is about as convenient as it gets. You buy it frozen in ready-to-use portions, let it thaw in the fridge, transfer it to your cat’s bowl, and their dinner is served. For cat parents who are short on time or not keen on handling raw meat, it’s a quick and easy raw feeding solution. The trade off? That convenience usually costs more than preparing it yourself.
Why people like it
- Convenience: No chopping raw meat and organs, no mess to clean up afterwards, and none of the strong raw offal smell lingering in your kitchen. You just open, serve, and you’re done.
- Balanced nutrition: Reputable brands are formulated to meet feline dietary standards. So the tricky part of balancing essential nutrients and adding supplements like taurine, calcium, and other vitamins is already taken care of.
Why it’s not perfect
- Bulk buying: Most commercial raw foods are sold in large packs, so they require a lot of space in your freezer. If your cat decides they don’t like this new raw food, then you’re stuck with a freezer full of unusuable raw, potentially wasting a lot of money.
- Soft texture: Many commercial raws are ground into a soft, mushy paste, more like baby food than meat. While that makes it easier for some cats, it doesn’t do much for chewing, and won’t help keep teeth and jaws strong the way real chunks of meat do.
- Label surprises: Some commercial raw foods sneak in ingredients that cats should never have, such as onion, garlic, or yoghurt. These can cause digestive and other issues, especially for cats with sensitivities or health conditions. Always check the ingredients list before buying.
- Cost: Between quality control, safe handling, and balanced formulas, the cost is usually higher than sourcing and preparing meat yourself. If you’re feeding multiple cats, that difference adds up quickly.
When choosing commercial raw food diets for cats, our advice is to look for brands that use quality human-grade meat and are transparent about where ingredients come from. The simpler the ingredient list, the better. And if the soft texture worries you, try mixing in a few meaty chunks or safe edible bones so your cat still gets some chewing practice.
When I first switched my cats to a raw diet, I relied on commercial raw food for the first six months, because it was just easier. Charlie has IBD, so I was extra careful about what went into his bowl. That’s when I discovered that some products marketed as being suitable ‘for dogs and cats’ really weren’t safe for cats at all. A few contained onion and garlic, which are toxic, while others had yoghurt, which can upset cats who are lactose intolerant.
My advice is to always read the label. Knowing exactly what’s in the food is especially important if your cat has health issues.
Homemade raw food diets for cats
Making raw food at home gives you complete control over what goes into the bowl. It really is just what it sounds like: fresh raw meat (either ground or left in chunks) organ meats, and raw bones (or a calcium source such as eggshell). Most people prepare larger batches, freeze them in portions, and then simply defrost what they need for each meal. Once you get into the routine, it’s fairly easy, and you will have peace of mind, knowing exactly what your cat is eating.
Here’s the homemade raw cat food recipe we feed our cats and recommend.
Why people like it
- Freshness and quality: You get to choose exactly what goes into your cat’s food. That means fresh ingredients, no fillers, and no preservatives.
- Cost-effective: While it takes some effort, making raw meals yourself is usually cheaper in the long run than buying commercial raw. Buying meat and organs in bulk can save even more.
- Tailored to your cat: You can adjust a homemade raw diet to fit your cat’s health needs, tastes, or any special restrictions. This flexibility can really help if your cat has issues like allergies or a sensitive stomach.
Why it can be tricky
- Time and effort: Making raw food at home does take commitment. You’ll need to plan meals, source ingredients, and spend time on preparation. For busy cat parents, and especially when you’re just starting out, this can feel like a hurdle.
- Getting the balance right: Cats need very specific ratios of nutrients to stay healthy. Making sure the diet has the right mix of vitamins, minerals, and amino acids can feel complicated. Sometimes extra research, or guidance from a vet or feline nutritionist is needed, and that can add to the cost.
- Handling raw meat: Not everyone is comfortable working with raw meat and offal. If the idea makes you squeamish, this may be a challenge. Good hygiene is also essential to prevent contamination and foodborne illness.
- Upfront investment: While homemade raw usually works out cheaper in the long run, there can be initial costs. A meat grinder, freezer space, storage containers, and the right supplements all add up when you’re first setting up. If you’re making food at home, a good meat grinder and digital kitchen scale are absolute musts.
Prey model diet
The prey model approach (often called frankenprey) skips grinding and instead feeds chunks of meat, organs, and edible bones in the right proportions spread over a week. The goal is to mimic the natural diet of a cat in the wild by combining different animal parts, and often different species, for balance and variety.
The standard breakdown looks like this:
- Muscle meat (80%) – the bulk of the diet providing essential proteins and fats.
- Bone (10%) – edible bones supply calcium, phosphorus and other minerals.
- Liver (5%) –a rich source of vitamins A and B.
- Other secreting organs (5%) – organs like kidney and pancreas add extra nutrients and enzymes.
Meals are usually served in chunks, which means your cat gets to chew, gnaw, and tear. That natural chewing action helps clean their teeth and strengthen jaw muscles, something ground diets can’t really offer. By rotating different meats and organs, you can create a complete and varied diet over time.
That said, there is a steep learning curve. Getting the proportions right is vital to ensure the diet is balanced. It takes careful planning, confidence with handling raw meat, and dedication to stick with a strict feeding routine. For those new to raw feeding, it can feel too big a challenge.
Whole prey diet
This whole prey diet is exactly what it sounds like: feeding whole prey animals such as mice, small birds, or rabbits. It’s the closest you can get to what cats would naturally eat in the wild.
Some cats understand it straight away and dive right in. Others, especially those raised on kibble or canned food, might just sit there staring at a mouse as if to say, “You expect me to eat that?”
There are a few challenges. Finding a reliable supplier can take effort, and whole prey usually costs more than other raw-feeding methods. Then there’s the reality that not every cat parent is comfortable storing, handling, or serving whole prey. And that’s completely okay, this raw feeding approach isn’t for everyone.
When it does work, though, whole prey offers benefits that other diets can’t fully match. Cats get to bite, chew, and tear the way nature intended, which helps with dental health, mental stimulation, and overall satisfaction at mealtime. It’s about as natural as it gets.
Final thoughts
There’s no single best way to raw feed, just the best way for you and your cat. Some people love the convenience of commercial raw food diets, others prefer the control of homemade raw food diets for cats. And other more adventurous cat parents even go down the prey-model or whole-prey path.
The most important thing is balance. A properly balanced raw food diet for cats can do wonders for your cat’s digestion, energy, teeth, and overall health.
