Raw food - dangers?

Mum who refuses to eat wet cat food has been wolfing down raw pork mince! I was looking into recipes
For raw food and came across some sites warning about the dangers of Salmonella and other harmful bacteria...

Feedback? Pros, cons?

 

I feed Idjit a raw meat diet with a commercially prepared nutrition supplement. You just have to be very careful about where you prepare it, what utensils you use, and how you prepare the food. Cleanliness is #1. I always clean up with very hot water and detergent, and I use a bleach solution on my counters and sinks. I do not let the meat touch the counters or sink areas, but use clean glass plates for a base for cutting up the meats instead of a cutting board.

You need to be careful also, about where you get your meat and if it is processed or not. No meat with additives, extra sodium and I do not buy pre-ground meat to avoid any bacterial contamination.

I get the meat, keep it refrigerated and then prepare the food right away, I freeze it in ice cube trays, some special glass baby food containers and also use some larger glass containers I have. I make sure the food is frozen for at least 24 hours before I thaw in the fridge and only take out of the freezer what I'm going to use in the next day or two. No more than that.

Idjit loves his food + supplement and is very healthy. We transitioned him very slowly to prevent gastric upsets and he is always eager at mealtime. I alternate proteins and lean/fattier meats and he gets chicken breast and thigh, turkey breast and thigh and beef chuck so far.

You should not feed just plain raw meat for a full diet, it doesn't have all the nutritional components a cat needs, but it is an alternate to canned wet food. A chunk of muscle meat or gizzards & hearts, as well as raw chicken wings and necks are said to help dental health, if the cat goes for it.

There may be some raw food nutritional supplements in the UK. You would have to do further research and see what's available. I use a supplement that uses egg shell instead of bone, because I wanted to get a lower phosphorus content in his food.

Unfortunately, we can get salmonella from our lettuce or other fresh vegetables these days, not only meat products. Plus, there have been reports of recalls of commercially prepared canned and dry pet food that has not been contamination free. We do the absolute best we can, though, right?

 

As usual, the wisest, most helpful response I’ve come to expect from you! Thank you Lou...

 

Ps. We have some supplements here.. I thought I might try to prefer a small ‘trial’ size first...

 

That's a very good idea. I did the same, ordered a sample packet and made the food, just a small amount. Idjit wasn't too keen at first, but then he changed his mind.

 

Thank you, I just muddle along most of the time, normal old lady stuff I don't know enough about enough, but I know a little about a few things. Glad to help out.

 

Idjit must be very proud of his Mum...

 

Doubt it, I am a good backrest, door opener, food prepper and server, massage therapist, fur conditioner/brush person, environmental control worker...well you get the picture. LOL

 

I agree with all Lou has said. Great post @Idjit's mom
I feed a raw diet and only buy human grade meat I would eat myself that is well in date and fresh.

 

That’s the plan...

 

https://www.zooplus.co.uk/shop/cats/supplements_specialty_cat_food/vitamins/155860


Hi Zee
Yes, you need to add a supplement to raw food if you feed it exclusively, ie not alternating with commercial "complete" foods. I'm not sure what's available off the shelf in the UK but Zooplus is a good go-to online store and the link to the product above will at least tell you what you're looking for.
Good luck!

 

Yup. Already done...

 

Everything Lou said is extremely important but especially where you get your meat. Generally a local butcher depends on return customers and takes more care with his product.

[Extraneous comments redacted by Moderator]

 

Seen my cats half consume a rat, moths and all manner of other disgusting stuff.. I will however take extreme care...

 

For a million years cats have evolved to cope with almost anything they eat or swallow, rats and moths included. There is no kibble found in nature.
I've given up arguing with the new owner of my local pet food store over the "incredible advancements" made in kibble, especially the 80 pound bag now on sale.
Cats are carnivores, carnivores eat meat and not corn. End of story.

 

Sadly, the "advancements" (excuse me while I scream very loudly indeed) are 100% for the pet-owner's benefit ("easy, quick, clean", etc etc etc). Certainly not for the poor kitties. I know there's stuff in it that's irresistible to cats, but to me it would be like living on a diet of biscuits and crisps and after a very short space of time I'd be desperate for a nice cheese salad...

 

And when I move out of my parents basement I'll just have pizza delivered every night and use paper plates. Like the ads say, "It's good and it's good for you". They have no reason to lie to me do they? The cats can lick the box clean, all that cheese and grease. Yummy!

 

In defense of many cat parents - the amount of different wet food I’ve had to throw away when both mine turned their nose at it.. sometimes in despair you’d do anything to get cats to eat...

 

I know, it's such a waste of time, energy and money. Zee, when you have selected the supplement you are going to sample, please let me know what it is, or send me a link. I would like to compare the ingredients and the preparation procedure to what I use. There are more supplement products out there now, that do make it more convenient than trying to locate the different essentials that our cats need, and I am curious.
Does your other cat like the raw food too, or just Mum?

 

Eric (below) is so so - had a bit but left most of it.. I WD obviously like to feed them both good food but... I’ll most definitely let you know when my stuff arrives...
Happy Easter all...

 

Oh, I think I have a a little crush on Eric. I hope he will get the to point of liking it, then you won't have to feed two different diets. But we do what we gotta do for these fur kids.

 

Eric is a sod! He’s a street cat from Liverpool where I lived for a bit - basically forced his way in.. he’s an ankle biter when I’m bare footed, he occasionally bites wherever he can, he resents Mum and chases her if he can and his joy in life is brilliant! I adore him!
Ps - AND HIS WONDERFUL HABBIT OF RUNNING TO AND FRO ON THE BED HEAD AT 2 AM UNTIL HE GETS ME OUT OF BED...

 

For Dickson and Noah and Lou and all other cat folks - here’s a SMALL selection of all the different bits I try not to mention stuff in the bin - and this is just today... - sometimes to NO AVAILE.. so give us a break if we resort to the dreaded dry food...

 

Oh Zee, you made me laugh so hard! I was AWOL the last few days, and didn't see this post until now. I have to admire his perseverance on getting a home, but I wish was kinder to Mum. And..wasn't an ankle biter too.

 

We aren't here to judge Zee, it's just that we know a wet low carb diet is the best for sugar cats, and all cats. But you do what you need to do, and hopefully some wonderful day, Mum and Eric (the sod ) will decide that what you are offering is good food. Paws crossed! I'm going to be AWOL again for a short while, going to visit daughter and then we both are coming back here for her to visit for a week. I will be looking in, but may not be posting a lot..I don't want to waste a moment that I will have with her. You keep loving Mum and Eric and taking such good care of them.

 

Thank you Lou.. I’m battling so hard to feed the right food.. but when it comes to injecting time and I’ve tried and tried I do give in a bit... just bought a mincer...

Have a wonderful time with your daughter...

 

More Eric the sod ...