Can Cats Eat Raw Meat?

A raw diet for cats is a meal plan that composes of raw meat, bone matter and vegetables to give them a fresh diet full of vitamins and minerals. The cooking process for pet food can sometimes remove a lot of the nutrients by using high temperatures. When simply freezing good quality meat and vegetable matter, they stay fresh for longer and it locks in all the nutrients.

When you’re considering feeding your cat a raw diet, you have the choice between commercially made diets and homemade meals. By preparing your own raw meat you can know exactly what goes into it, so you don’t have to worry about where it’s sourced or the quality of it.

Commercially made diets on the other hand are simply easier. Provided you do your research and find a brand to suit your pet's needs, you can find a complete diet that suits them. Making your own food at home can be super rewarding, but balancing the nutritional content is a bit more of a challenge.

Cats are perfectly capable of eating and digesting raw meat and still getting all the same benefits of eating a cooked diet. Arguably the freezing process makes it easier for them to get more nutrients from the diet.

When you’re considering feeding your cat raw, you just need to consider what type of meat you’re going to include. There’s always a minor risk of contamination with all food or parasites but getting your meat from a reputable source or using a trusted, good brand will help reduce these risks.

There are meats that are great for feeding raw while there are others that are too risky and should be avoided.

If you can provide a balanced and nutritional raw diet for your beloved pet, the benefits are numerous. They can gain access to nutrients while eating fewer waste products that will never be digested. Most dry ca diets bought from the store must contain lots of added ingredients to keep it fresh for as long as possible while freezing meat effectively stops it from losing any nutritional value.

Other benefits of feeding raw include:

Overall, you should find yourself having to make fewer trips to your vet if you can feed your feline friend a meal packed with goodness to keep them in prime health.

Yes, cats can absolutely be fed raw chicken. It’s a very popular meat for raw diets. It’s lean and contains a lot of protein for the few calories it contains. There are some minor risks of chicken carrying salmonella causing stomach upsets, but these cases are very limited and raw chicken is usually eaten with no issue.

Raw chicken is a great source of protein and a popular meat for cats with sensitive stomachs or any food intolerances. Provided it is stored correctly and not defrosted until you’re ready to use it, so it doesn’t start growing bacteria, it’s generally a very good option.

In a very technical sense, cats are perfectly able to eat raw bacon and the risks from it are minimal. A small amount of bacon is not a bad thing for a cat, however if you feed your beloved pet a raw diet with the main protein source being bacon, you may run into a few issues regarding their health. Bacon is not toxic but just like with people, it’s not the healthiest choice of meat to add to a diet. Bacon is a fatty cut of meat that is usually very salty too which can be detrimental to their health.

It’s fine for a treat occasionally, and in small amounts, but raw bacon should not be a main protein source. If you think your cat has eaten a large amount of uncooked bacon, it’s worth giving your vet a call.

Raw fish isn’t a very good option for raw feeding cats. Fish can contain lots of different bacteria and can upset stomachs when it doesn’t sit well. Raw fish also contains thiaminase, an enzyme that breaks down vitamin B which is essential for your feline friend’s health.

Feeding raw fish over a long period raises the risk of giving them meat with sufficient bacteria to make them sick or can lead to a vitamin B deficiency. Cooked fish is a much better option if your cat needs a fish-based diet.

Cats can eat raw beef and many raw diets consist of beef as a main protein source. Beef contains a high amount of protein, and the fat content isn’t too high for a good, balanced diet. It’s less likely to contain parasites or bacteria compared to raw chicken but there is always a slim chance with any raw meat could be hiding something nasty. Without blasting it in an oven at high temperatures and reducing the nutritional value, unfortunately, there is always a small amount of risk involved.

Nutriment Cat Food Beef is a good place to start if you’re considering raw feeding beef to your beloved pet. It’s a complete diet and free from any grain so suitable for sensitive tummies and allergies. When you’re looking for a source of raw beef to feed your cat, you should always make sure it’s from a trustworthy brand, so you know they’re only getting the best cuts.

Cats can eat several kinds of raw meat in their diet including:

There are also some pork recipes and some less common protein sources like venison for those that have sensitivities to many of the common meats available in raw diets. There are only a few types of meat that you should avoid like fish and bacon but for the most part, cats have evolved to be able to break down raw meat and extract all the best nutrients from it.

To find the best diet for your cat and all your other feline essentials, check out our ever-expanding range both online and in-store. Why not find one of our raw stores near you.