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Cats are obligate (strict) carnivores. What does it mean to be an ‘obligate carnivore’? Obligate carnivores or "true" carnivores depend on the nutrients only found in animal flesh for their survival. While they may consume small amounts of plant material, they lack the physiology required for the efficient digestion of vegetable matter.

The Feline Nutrition Foundation Archive, available on our website, is an excellent resource for learning about a biologically appropriate diet suitable for felines and so much more. Feline Nutrition - Feline Nutrition Home Page | Hare Today (hare-today.com)

Also, innovative pioneers, Anne Jablonski with catnutrition.org and Dr. Lisa A. Pierson with catinfo.org have laid out foundational roadwork for years and have a wealth of knowledge regarding feline nutrition in their websites linked below. Save these links today.

 

Ready to dive into, or continue your raw journey, with a focus on highly digestible proteins for those whiskered pals?

You’ve come to the right place.

 

Do your Homework:

Before making any changes to your cat's diet, do thorough research on the benefits and risks associated with a raw diet. Understanding the nutritional requirements is necessary for your feline to thrive. 

Below are the basic guidelines for feline raw feeding:

Tip: One thing that I have noticed in my own pets, and myself actually, is the older we get, the less bone content we tend to need (think calcium/phosphorus). As my pets age I will mix boneless meats alongside our meat/bone/organ grind to balance the bone content in the diet. If you feed even amounts, 1-1, of boneless meat to the 80/10/10 grinds, you would be at a ~90/5/5 ratio. A 1-2 ratio, respectively, could be favorable as well, resulting in a ~86/7/7 ratio.

Feline Nutrition - Answers: Kittens Go Through Teething, Too | Hare Today (hare-today.com)

     Created excessively by Hare Today to assist with meat to bone to organ calculations, check our Raw Food Ratio Calculator.

Consult Your Vet (preferably Holistic, if possible):

Always seek the advice of your veterinarian before switching your cat to a raw diet. They can provide valuable insights and guidance tailored to your cat's specific needs.

Seek Nutrition Guidance:

Given our products are labeled for supplemental or intermittent feeding, seeking nutritional advice from a feline and canine expert could be beneficial.

Commitment to Raw:

Once you switch it's best not to mix, with kibble that is. Feline Nutrition - Answers: Your Cat's Acid Stomach | Hare Today (hare-today.com)

Start a Journal and Monitor Health:

A journal can assist in monitoring your cat's weight, tracking when proteins are introduced, bowel movements, and more. Keep an eye on your cat's health and behavior after transitioning to a raw diet. Look out for any signs of digestive issues, allergies, or nutrient deficiencies.

Remember, stools can provide insights into your pet's diet:

  • Dark brown stools may indicate red meat consumption. Introducing more red meats to your cat's diet can darken their stool.
  • Black stool might result from consuming several meals rich in blood. Excessive blood in the diet can oxidize in the colon, leading to a very dark stool.
  • White, chalky stool may signal an excess of bone in the diet, while loose stools could indicate an overabundance of secreting organs in the diet.

Balanced Diet:

A balanced raw diet for cats should include a variety of proteins, fats, vitamins, and minerals. It's essential to provide a well-rounded diet to meet all of your cat's nutritional needs.

At Hare Today, we provide a variety of over 20 proteins. While many cats prefer *rabbit, poultry is also a popular choice. You can also consider offering novel proteins like *mice and *cavies (guinea pig). Some cats may enjoy red meats, such as Beef, but others simply will not tolerate it.

Here are a few ground products that I feed my cat on a normal basis, along with the meat/bone/organ percentages:

Ground Chicken/Bones/Organs 80/10/10
Ground Duck/Bones/Organs 80/10/10
Ground Quail/Bones/Organs 88/10/2
Ground Rabbit/Bones/Organs 75/15/10
Ground Turkey/Bones/Organs 80/10/10

Don't forget to incorporate raw meaty cubes/strips and bones, but keeping in mind that Raw Meaty Bones (RMB) should always be given under supervision. Incorporating some small chunks of meaty bones for kittens, and larger pieces for cats, adds benefits from jaw exercise to teeth cleaning.  You can also feed *whole prey foods for some meals. Adding in boneless cubes/strips and boneless ground products will also help balance your meat/bone/organs ratios. 

Feline Nutrition - Answers: Raw Food for Cats, What About Eating Bones? | Hare Today (hare-today.com) - Feline Nutrition - Raw Meaty Bones for Cats: Adult Supervision Required! | Hare Today (hare-today.com)

*Please note that Whole Carcass products such as Rabbit, Mice, Cavies and Quail should be feed with a balance of dressed proteins. Whole Carcass fiber has shown to be beneficial in feline diets, but high fiber may lead to lower amounts of pancreatic enzymes which can decline nutrient absorption.  More information here: Feline Nutrition - Answers: Do Cats Need Dietary Fiber? | Hare Today (hare-today.com)

A common mistake of many new raw feeders is to add too many new proteins at one time.  When starting a new raw diet it is important to go slow and steady, adding one new protein at a time. Remember, variety is also important in terms of feeding different proteins, goal of 4-5 different proteins, over time, for max nutrition. A variety of meats is crucial to a raw diet, more info here: Feline Nutrition - Answers: Are Exotic Meats Nutritious or a Novelty for Cats? | Hare Today (hare-today.com)

Gradual Transition and Patience:

Cats can be sensitive to sudden diet changes. If this is true for yours, start by mixing small amounts of raw food with their current diet and gradually increase the proportion of raw food over a few weeks, and decrease the current diet congruently. I have also been successful with a “cold-turkey” approach but keep in mind that you know your feline best.

Every cat is unique, and some may take longer to adjust to a raw diet than others. Be patient during the transition period and make adjustments as needed based on your cat's response.

  • Don't be discouraged, cats can be very cautious, sometimes stubborn and picky. Warming meat a bit with a warm water bath can be helpful, make sure the meat is in a sealed container and place the container in warm water. This brings out the natural juices of the meat and helps to entice them to eat. NEVER cook bones or microwave. Make sure the meat is fresh, cats are very particular as far as freshness goes, 1-2 days in fridge. 

Food Safety:

Practice proper food handling and hygiene when preparing and serving raw food to your cat. This includes storing raw ingredients correctly and cleaning their feeding dishes regularly.

You should NEVER feed any type of cooked bone to your pets! Cooking softens the bone tissue and can lead to bone splinters puncturing the digestive tract.

Handling Raw Food

  • Practice safe handling procedures similar to those used when preparing meat for your human family.
  • Refrigeration time: 2-3 days
  • Freezing time: Meats can be stored for a minimum of 1 year if the freezer temperature is maintained at 0°F or lower.
  • Defrosting: Avoid defrosting frozen meat and poultry products at room temperature. Keeping the products cold during defrosting is essential to prevent bacteria growth.
  • Thaw in the refrigerator. It's easier to open frozen chub bags by cutting down the side and placing the frozen meat in a bowl to thaw. It's important to retain the blood.
  • For cold water defrosting, keep the original packaging intact. Ensure the package is airtight or place it in a leak-proof bag before fully submerging it in cold water. Change the water every 30 minutes to facilitate defrosting.

Cleaning

  • Before and after touching meat and fresh foods, make sure to wash your hands thoroughly with hot, soapy water.
  • After handling meat and poultry, wash all utensils, cutting boards, and countertops with hot, soapy water. Consider using a different cutting board for meat and poultry.
  • To prevent contamination, store fresh meat and meat juices away from other foods in the refrigerator and during meal preparation.

 

Quick links to help with your Cat's Raw Diet:
  • Check out our Starter Kits here: for boneless and bone in DIY
  • ​Ice cube trays are extremely helpful in portioning out your cat's meals.  One standard ice cube is ~1 oz.  Check out these trays as well which hold 3-4 oz. of raw meat per cube.
  • Pyrex storage 2-cup round dishes provide a tight seal, keeping meat fresh, longer and are safe to use in the refrigerator and freezer. Each dish holds approximately 12 oz. of raw meat. 
  • This Pet Feeder, with ice pack included, makes feeding while you are away a little bit easier. 
  • Scale option.

 

Vitamins and Supplements:

Cats need a few basic supplements, especially taurine. We offer the Alnutrin supplement for both boneless and bone in ground meats. Cats should also be supplemented with fish oil for the omega 3 fatty acids.

Why you'll love Alnutrin Supplements: A Guide To A Balanced, Homemade Cat Food - Alnutrin Supplements (knowwhatyoufeed.com)

  • They can be used in raw or low-fat cooked meat formulations.
  • They are free of ingredients from China or India. All raw materials in our supplements are manufactured in the USA, Europe or Japan.
  • They are made with human food grade raw materials.
  • Made with mixed tocopherols (read more about benefits of mixed tocopherols bellow in Vitamin E section).
  • They are free of controversial chemical additives like BHT, BHA, ethoxyquin and menadione.
  • Free of non-essential ingredients like kelp, psyllium husk, flaxseed, soy, yeast, rosemary, garlic, fruits and veggies.
  • They are made with amino acid chelates for better absorption of iron and copper.
  • Formulated to meet AAFCO nutrient profiles.

What are Alnutrin Supplements?

  • They are designed be added to your homemade recipes according to Marta's specific directions.
  • They should not be used in combination with any other supplements.
  • They are not typical vitamin supplements for your cat. Please do not feed them to your cats without incorporating them into a homemade diet according to Marta's directions.
  • Do not add them to commercial cat food.

A quick how to:

I would recommend putting one of our ground packages directly into the refrigerator in a dish or Ziplock bag. Allow to thaw for 1-2 days in fridge. 

Once the meat is workable (semi-thawed), mix together with Alnutrin, water and fish oil, following the instructions on the Alnutrin bag. 

  • Add water first in a large mixing bowl
  • Then add Alnutrin and mix those together well
  • Next add fish oil (or add at mealtime)
  • Then meat

Once you have mixed and portioned your food, you can create a rotation from the freezer to the fridge.

How Much to Feed:

Adult cats, 2-4% of their ideal body weight per day. Kittens up to 10% of their current body weight or feed based on projected adult weight. Adult cats can be fed 2 times a day, kittens will need more frequent meals.  Feed calculator here

A Note on Bacteria:

Healthy companion animals can handle significant bacterial loads from food. Your cat's body is designed by nature to deal with considerable amounts of  bacteria– the type of bacteria he or she would encounter by eating wild prey. Your pet's stomach is naturally highly acidic there aren't many organisms that can survive it.

Do not be fooled into thinking a processed kibble is safer there has been many recalls of kibble due to salmonella.

 

Questions and Answers:

Q: I was so excited to see the new 80/10/10 chicken and turkey blends [duck also], as this makes life so much easier. The recommendation is not to feed cats more than 5% of organ meat from liver, however. So this essentially negates the convenience of the 80/10/10 blends. Do you have plans to make the blend 5% liver 5% other non-muscle organ meat?

A: The new blends for Chicken, Turkey and Duck were created with the 80/10/10 balance in mind. Also, keep in mind that cats require three times as much thiamine in their diet as dogs. Liver contains the highest amount of Thiamine and dogs and cats are not able to produce enough amounts on their own so this is essential to their diet*.

You may be asking why the full 10% secreting ratio is all liver. This is due to other secreting organs not available in Chicken, Turkey and Duck so the full 10% secreting organ is liver. I do understand the concern that liver can cause diarrhea in some cats if fed too much**.

Although the 80/10/10 ratio works well for many, the higher liver content of the ratios may be too high for some cats. Ratios can easily be balanced with boneless meats, meaty proteins, etc. For example, I like to add boneless ground products or boneless cubes/strips for my cat. The boneless cubes are great because of the additional dental benefits.

If you feed even amounts, 1-1, of boneless meat to the 80/10/10 grinds, you would be at a ~90/5/5 ratio. A 1-2 ratio, respectively, could be favorable as well, resulting in a ~86/7/7 ratio.

When mixing the bone-in-meat grinds with boneless, use the Alnutrin REGULAR, the Alnutrin+CALCIUM is not needed. 

Remember, you know you pet best so adjust as needed. 

I created this link to help with Ratio calculations as well: https://hare-today.com/raw_food_ratio_calculator.

*Feline Nutrition - Thiamine in Raw Food for Cats | Hare Today (hare-today.com)

**Feline Nutrition - Take Heart, But Not Too Much | Hare Today (hare-today.com)

 

Q: Do you include raw fish into the diet?

A: I believe in feeding as close to what our creator intended as possible. So for seafood, I base that on how often they would catch fish, for example, in the wild. This would typically be seasonally. I do supplement with fish oil for the benefits of omega 3 fatty acids. I follow the recommendations within our product description here: https://hare-today.com/product/other/unscented_sardineanchovy_oil_17_oz_bottle.

I typically will feed raw fish alongside both ruminants and poultry, feeding 1 ounce of fish for every pound of ruminant and 4 ounce for every pound of poultry, if fish oil is not already supplemented in the diet.

Also, check out this article: Feline Nutrition - Answers: Kitty That Only Wants Fish | Hare Today (hare-today.com)