Your Guide to a Cat Raw Food Diet

There are lots of ways to make your cat happy: giving them some pets, making sure their kitty litter is clean, and serving them a delicious and nutritious meal each and every day. In fact, a cat’s diet is crucial to its overall health and well-being, so it’s important to make sure that they are getting the proper nourishment. These days, pet health has become an increasingly popular topic among cat owners, with raw diets being at the forefront of it all. 

Before you go out and drop a chunk of raw chicken breast into your feline’s bowl, there are a few things you need to know first. Let’s explore what the raw food diet for cats entails, the benefits of a raw food diet for cats, and how to properly transition your cat over.

What is a raw food diet for cats?

A raw food diet for cats is basically exactly how it sounds! It’s a type of diet for pets that consists of uncooked and unprocessed ingredients. This type of diet will typically include raw meats, bones, organs, and sometimes fruits and vegetables. The idea behind a raw food pet diet for cats is that it provides cats with a more natural diet that mimics what their ancestors would have eaten in the wild. The reason for feeding a raw food diet for cats is that it can help improve their overall health and may help to reduce the risk of certain health problems.

Simply put, raw cat food provides your pets with a diet that is high in protein and low in carbohydrates. As obligate carnivores, this is important for cats, as they naturally require a diet that is rich in animal protein to maintain good health and healthy muscles and organs.

Benefits of a raw food diet for cats

There’s more to a raw food diet than its amazing and irresistible taste. In fact, raw food diets like our Bold by Nature raw cat food formulas offer your pet several benefits:

High-quality ingredients

Bold by Nature raw cat food uses high-quality ingredients that are free from antibiotics, hormones, and artificial preservatives. The ingredients in our raw food diets are carefully selected to provide cats with the nutrients they need to maintain good health.

A digestive boost

Compared to processed food, raw food is more easily digestible for our pets. Dry foods and kibbles can contain additives, preservatives, or other ingredients that can be difficult for a cat’s system to digest. Bold by Nature raw food for cats are diets designed to be easily digestible, which can improve cats’ digestion and reduce cat digestive issues such as vomiting and digestive upset.

Improved coat quality

Raw food is rich in nutrients that can improve cats’ coat quality and overall appearance. Bold by Nature raw food is made with high-quality ingredients that can help our furry friends maintain a healthy and shiny coat.

Increased energy

Some cat owners report that their felines have more energy and are more active when on a raw food diet. Bold by Nature raw food is designed to provide cats with the energy they need to maintain an active and healthy lifestyle.

Dental health

Chewing on raw bones can help clean cats’ teeth and prevent dental problems. Bold by Nature raw food products include raw bones that can help keep cats’ teeth clean and healthy.

Natural hydrator

Our cat raw diets are high in moisture content, making them extremely beneficial to those pets that don’t make enough trips to their water bowl. This also aids them in healthy urinary tract support and nutrient absorption by providing increased digestibility.

Convenience

Bold by Nature raw food products are prepared beforehand, so all you have to do is thaw and serve!

What is the best way to transition a cat to a raw food diet?

If you’re thinking of switching of switching your cat over to a Bold by Nature raw diet, It’s literally as easy as going cold turkey! No kidding. This means you can feed them their last meal of whatever they’re currently eating at dinner and begin the next day with Bold by Nature Turkey for Cats.

Whether it is turkey, chicken, or another tasty protein, we suggest having your cat stick with the same raw food diet for a week. Afterwards, you can begin introducing a new protein weekly. This will help determine if they have any allergies or digestive sensitivity to that protein.

All pets are different, and whether or not we believe it’s the best food for your feline, you may want to consider consulting with your holistic veterinarian before making the switch to a raw food diet. Although it’s not completely necessary, they can help you determine whether this diet is appropriate for your cat.

How much raw do you feed a cat?

If you’re wondering how much raw food to feed a cat, it will all depend on its weight and size. Keep these raw food diet guidelines handy for reference!

Weight of Adult Cat (lb)       # of patties per day      Oz per day

6 – 9                                               3/4 – 1 ¼                             2.5 – 3.5

10 – 13                                           1 ⅓  – 1 ⅔                             4 – 5.5

14 – 17                                           1 ¾  – 2 ¼                             5.5 – 7

Can kittens have raw food too?

Absolutely! Just like human babies, young animals require robust immune systems to ensure healthy growth. During this stage, they are growing rapidly, transitioning from their mother’s care, exploring new sights and sounds, receiving vaccinations, and coping with the stress of moving to a new environment. All of these factors can leave their immune systems more vulnerable.

During adolescence, animals develop their preferences for food, much like human teenagers. This also holds true for wild cats, such as lions, tigers, and bobcats. Mother felines in the wild transition their young ones from milk to a diet consisting mainly of meat. Many breeders follow a similar approach, introducing a raw cat food diet to kittens after they are weaned. Cats are obligate carnivores, which means their survival depends on a diet rich in meat. Providing kittens with a raw cat food diet that includes meat, bones, and organs offers them essential nutrients necessary for proper brain and musculoskeletal development, such as proteins, omega-3 fats, vitamins, and minerals.

Although our Bold by Nature raw cat food diets aren’t specifically formulated for kittens, it is easier for young cats to digest since it mimics the diets of their ancestral counterparts. These diets are kept simple, consisting of blends of meat, bone, and organs that naturally contain digestive enzymes and probiotics.

Is raw food good for pets with health issues?

Just like us, a healthy diet can do a world of wonders for cats living with health issues. Cat raw food diets in particular can actually be a game-changer!

First, we recommend feeding a raw diet for cats with kidney disease. Diets with low protein content may cause weight loss in your cat with kidney disease, so our Bold by Nature cat formulas ensure they’re getting all the protein they need to pack on a few more pounds. Cats with kidney disease also need to drink more water, and each Bold by Nature formula is provides your pet with a hydrating boost at every meal. The American Veterinary Medical Association says that up to 20% of cats develop chronic kidney disease, so this is important information to keep in mind.

Raw is also a great choice of cat food that helps with allergies. As single-protein diets, they’re ideal to feed, as pinpointing specific allergens becomes much easier than traditional kibbles and dry foods, which can contain upwards of 30 ingredients.

How do you serve a cat raw food diet?

Once you have your raw food cat diet all planned out and it’s time to feast, there are a few important points to remember. Here are some recommended practices for serving your cat raw food:

• Always keep the raw food frozen. When you’re ready to serve the raw food, thaw the required portion in the refrigerator. Patties will typically thaw within approximately 12 hours.
• Store any unused portions in the fridge. Raw food should be consumed within 4 days. After this period, it should not be given to cats.
• While our pets may adore it, please refrain from trying it yourself. Raw food is not intended for human consumption.
• When feeding a raw food cat diet, handle the meat with proper care and maintain hygiene. After feeding, ensure to wash all surfaces, bowls, and utensils with hot, soapy water.
• A raw food cat diet is designed to be eaten without any additional preparation. Please avoid cooking it, as it contains ground bone.

Where can I find Bold by Nature products?

Now that you know a thing or two about a raw diet for cats, it’s time to find their first meal! You can purchase Bold by Nature products either online or at a local retailer that carries Bold by Nature products. If you’re unsure of which stores carry our products, you can use our location finder to explore retailers.