I’m certain that some of you are checking out this blog post on the best raw cat food out of morbid curiosity. Isn’t raw food really bad for cats? Wouldn’t your kitty get an upset stomach? Don’t vets always tell you to provide cooked food to pets?
Well, all those are right, there really is a lot of confusion and controversy surrounding raw cat foods. Once upon a time, I too wouldn’t have touched raw cat food with a ten foot long stick. But I’ve seen how some of my friends give their cats raw food, and it made me rethink.
At the end of the day, you’re the one who has to choose what to feed your cat(s). My job is to tell you about the pros and cons of raw cat food, and the best options that are available for you. But first, let’s have a look at what’s all the fuss about feeding your cat raw food.
Top Rated Raw Cat Food That Won’t Make Your Kitty Sick
If you don’t want the hassle of preparing raw cat food at home, you can check out this list of raw food available for purchase online. These are all freeze-dried, so you have less to worry about on the pathogen front.
Top 3 – Best Raw Cat Foods
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Stella & Chewy’s Raw Morsels |
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Instinct Raw Boost Mixers |
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Nulo Freestyle Raw Cat Food |
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Here Are the Best Raw Cat Foods Review 2022
- Stella & Chewy’s Freeze-Dried Raw Dinner Morsels
- Instinct Raw Boost Mixers Cat Food Toppers
- Nulo Freestyle Freeze-Dried Raw Cat Food
- Sojos Complete Raw Natural Dry Cat Food Mix
- CANIDAE Grain Free Pure Ancestral Diet
- Northwest Naturals Freeze-Dried Raw Cat Food
- PureBites Freeze Dried Raw Cat Treats
1. Stella & Chewy’s Freeze-Dried Raw Dinner Morsels
Stella and Chewy’s is a known name among those who feed their pets raw, and it can be argued that this is the best raw cat food in the industry. Since you’re looking to feed your cat raw, why would you pay for anything other than the best? The Chick Chick Chicken formulation contains 98% meat sourced from cage free chicken, and as a cat mom that really appeals to me.
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It’s devoid of artificial ingredients and fillers. It can act as a complete meal for your cat when you follow the guidance on the package and rehydrate. You can feed this to a cat of any age, though I’d suggest not giving raw food to kittens and aged cats. It’s also quite reasonably priced, so you might want to grab a pack soon.
2. Instinct Raw Boost Mixers Cat Food Toppers
For those who have a tight budget, but want to sneak in some raw food in their cat’s diet or want to entice them to eat more, Instinct is the best raw cat food that I’d vouch for. It’s essentially a kibble topper, but can also be used as a delicious treat.
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What’s really great about this food topper is that it works exactly the way it should: it makes the food irresistible to your cat. Even picky eaters go crazy when this bag of treats is opened. It doesn’t hurt that these nuggets are jam-packed with healthy ingredients.
3. Nulo Freestyle Freeze-Dried Raw Cat Food
If a highly nourishing and healthy raw cat food is what you’re looking for, I’d recommend this Nulo product as the best nutritional raw cat food in the town. This high quality cat food will certainly tick all the boxes for improving your cat’s health and quality of life.
The shining feature of this food is that it is balanced, especially the fat portion. A common complaint I’ve seen is that some raw food makes cats sick because of the high fat content. But this raw food will be a safer bet in that case.
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Another thing I like is that this manufacturer offers a full refund if your cat doesn’t like it, or if you aren’t happy with the quality. That doesn’t often happen, though. I’ve seen reports that cats tend to chew and paw through the resealable bag to get to these delicious nuggets.
4. Sojos Complete Raw Natural Dry Cat Food Mix
You’ve probably realised by now that raw cat food tends to be quite pricey. Because commercial raw food comprises mostly meat, that’s natural, but at the end of the day our bank balance suffers. If you’re wondering about inexpensive raw cat food, it’s worth checking out Sojos.
I’d ordered a 1-pound package, and opening it up I could instantly notice the chunks of meat among bits of dehydrated vegetable and fruits. You need to soak each cup of this food in 1.5 cup of warm water for 15 minutes, then let your fur baby have a go at it. It’ll vanish in no time!
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Some prefer raw cat food that is almost entirely meat, but this kind of mix is good too, as it might help cats with constipation issues. Since this food expands a lot after adding water, it also offers great value for money.
5. CANIDAE Grain Free Pure Ancestral Diet
CANIDAE is another option for those who are going slow to introduce raw food to their cats. It’s a standard dry kibble which is coated in raw ingredients. This method reduces the price quite a bit, making it the best raw cat food I could recommend.
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It comes in quite a few types including fish formula, high protein and indoor health variety. They’re all pretty high in protein. Additionally, this food is free of fillers like soy, wheat or corn.
Also Read: Best Crystal Cat Litter – All You Need to Know
6. Northwest Naturals Freeze-Dried Raw Cat Food
If you want your cat to feed on the same quality of meat that you pick for your steaks and stews, then I’d say the Northwest surely produces the best raw cat food in that regard. It’s mostly meat based and has no added hormones or antibiotics.
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Moreover, it’s also quite easy to prepare this food. Scoop out the small pieces, add water and wait for it to rehydrate, no need to break it up using your hands or mash with a fork. This reduces the chance of cross contamination.
7. PureBites Freeze Dried Raw Cat Treats
While you’re new in the world of feeding your cat uncooked food, it’s best to venture cautiously. Trying out a raw treat is more convenient than trying to replace your cat’s whole meal with raw food. This also helps to see if your cat likes raw or cooked food. In this case, this best raw cat food from PureBites can be a good choice.
If the ingredients list at the back of cat food packages scare you, you’ll be happy to know these treats only have one ingredient. They’re great tools to discipline your cat!
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These treats come in varieties such as beef liver, turkey, salmon, duck, ocean whitefish etc. They’re freeze dried and will expand once they’re in the kitty’s stomach, so dispense them in small amounts and make sure your cat drinks a lot of water afterwards.
Also Read: Best Cat Brush for Shedding – Tackle Fur in Style!
How I Chose a Safe Yet Tasty Raw Food for My Cat
It’s a great idea to go through raw cat food reviews before deciding to buy for your cat. You can get an idea about the possibility of your cat not being okay with it. You can just pick one from the list I’ve provided, and these factors should be in your mind while you’re doing that:
Ingredients
It’s true that while feeding raw, most cat parents choose a heavily meat-based formula as that’s basically what cats eat out in the wild. This doesn’t only include muscle meat but also organ meat such as liver and heart. Aside from that, ground up bone is also present in raw food.
While you’re picking an almost completely meat based raw food, you should take into consideration the fat percentage. If it’s too high, it could cause health issues down the road. On the other hand, some raw cat food comes with a considerable dose of vegetables and fruits.
These are sources of vitamins, minerals and fiber, which may facilitate some cats’ health. If you don’t really like going through the ingredients list every time you’re making a choice, you can pick out a raw food such as the PureBites one, as this is made of literally one ingredient.
You may also want to pick GMO-free food if that’s something you worry about. However, if you’re looking for the best raw cat food I’m afraid you’re better off preparing it at home, as there aren’t any good commercially available options for that.
Allergens
Just like humans, cats can develop allergies to certain food ingredients. If you know your cat is allergic to an ingredient (chicken, beef, grains, gluten etc.), make sure the raw food you’re picking does not contain it.
Flavor Preferences
As a cat parent, you should have an idea about the flavor your cat likes or dislikes. Just because a duck formulation seems to be popular among your friends who have cats, doesn’t mean your cat would like it as well.
History of Recall
Food products tend to get recalled quite often, and raw cat food is more likely to get recalled. You should check out the manufacturer company to see how often their food gets recalled or criticised. It’s a good way to stay safe.
Formulation
I know I’ve only talked about freeze-dried raw cat food here, but it doesn’t hurt to know about the other formulations, such as air dried or raw frozen. I tend to lean towards freeze-drying as it is the one that reduces the chance of cross-contamination best by reducing pathogens.
Also Read: How to Raise a Kitten – Necessary Tips for Beginners
Is Raw Food Safe for My Cat?
I hope I don’t have to tell you from the scratch what kind of food is appropriate for a cat. They’re obligate carnivores, which means you can’t feed them plant based food even if you’re a die-hard vegan. They need meat, and some cat parents think this meat should be fed to them raw.
Their thinking isn’t too hard to grasp. Strays, ferals and wild cats do subsist on raw meat. Believers of raw food also insist that feeding cats a diet that’s mostly uncooked muscle meat, organ meat and ground up bones is a great way to keep them healthy. Some even claim that it increases their beauty, making their coat full and shiny and improving dental health.
This belief essentially comes from the thought that cooking meat reduces the amount of fatty acids, some amino acids such as taurins and some other nutritious substances that are essential for a cat’s survival. Providing raw food ensures the cats are getting a full dose of them.
However, vets are usually against providing a raw diet for cats and insist that it can cause your cat to catch fatal infections caused by E. coli and salmonella that lurk in uncooked food. However, if you follow some handling precautions, you might give raw cat food a try. Who knows, maybe your feline friend will love it!
Unsafe handling of the raw food might also cause cross contamination and make you and your family sick. You can never be too safe, so don’t adopt a raw diet for your cat if you have children, elderly or immunocompromised people in the house. It shouldn’t be taken as an option for kittens, old and ill cats either.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Q: Is Raw Food a Good Diet for Cats?
A: Cats can digest raw food better than humans as they have a shorter, more acidic digestive system. But some cats that have immune-mediated diseases may need cooked food as well.
You should choose good quality raw meat & bones for your cat and check if it’s the same as human-grade food. So, yes, you can offer raw food to your cat, but it should be fresh, and the cat’s health should be checked beforehand to see if raw food would be harmful to it.
Q: Is It More Expensive to Feed Raw Food to Cats?
A: Feeding raw food is less expensive than packed premium cats’ meals. However, the cost depends on where you are living and if raw meat is available there or not. Fish, heart, liver, muscle meat, whole prey, etc., are a good source of raw food for cats.
Muscle meat is considered the most expensive, and whole prey is the cheapest. However, you need not feed your cat only high-quality muscle meat. You should add organ meat as well for wholesome nutrition. Consult with your vet about your cat’s diet, and you’ll get a better idea.
Q: How Long Can I Leave Raw Food Out for My Cat?
A: Half an hour. You shouldn’t leave out raw cat food for longer than that. Before serving, take the cat food out of the freezer and thaw it in the fridge. Then serve it to your cat once it is at room temperature. Make sure to not leave it out for too long or allow your cat to overfeed.
Q: How Long Can You Keep Raw Cat Food in the Fridge?
A: Up to 4 days. After you’ve thawed raw cat food from its frozen state, you can keep it in the fridge for 2-3 days, at best four days. It’s not advisable to keep it for longer than that.
Pick Only the Best for Your Feline
Now that you know which is the best raw cat food for your situation, let me again warn you to handle it carefully. First, use nitrile or latex gloves while handling it, and discard the gloves later. After that, clean and disinfect the utensils with a 1:32 bleach to water solution if possible.
Finally, if possible, disinfect the area where they’re eating as well. Despite the precautions, your cat might get sick, but that can happen with standard cat food as well. So don’t fret and remember to contact a veterinarian as soon as you think your cat isn’t doing well.
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