Should I Just Go All Raw??

[ginamarie1221]

Well, just got back from the vet (little one has a respiritory infection) and she was strongly against my raw chicken routine. She advised me to slowly get him off of it and get him on dry/wet food. I kinda had a feeling this would happen She gave me the talk about bacteria, disease, dangers, etc; especially with toddlers in the house.

At the end of the appt, she told me that in the end, I'm the one who makes the decisions and I can do whatever I please, but she doesn't support it.

What are your experiences with vets??

 

[scorpius]

My last cat nearly died from eating dry kibble (Mg levels and FLUTD). I'd also say that wet foods likely exhibit as much bacteria as raw (I'd be surprised if they do not). I'm not following her (your vet's) advice, honestly. I do understand where you'd want to keep your toddler away from eating raw, but the same could be said of wet or dry kibble I'd think. That's an entirely different issue (separation of toddler from cat food). For me at least, I think raw is healthier, just as long as they like it (mine do). Cats eat it in the wild . Many people eat sushi. Just one of many opinions

As a followup, my vet had no issues with me feeding my SV's raw. The choice is yours, so do what you feel is best for your cats . cheers, dj

 

[Jacq]

My vet's all for it.

 

[Anatole Cannon]

Personally I would feed raw exclusively if I could. Since i'm a breeder and I have to think about what new owners will want to feed, I feed both kibble and raw. Personally I wouldn't use ground, especially commercial raw that's ground, because you are taking the bacteria that is primarily present on just the outside surface of the meat, and mixing that up to permiate the entire meal. If you are not raising your own meat, i recommend owners blanche the outside of the chicken before feeding it. (Dunking it in boiling water for 30 seconds; just long enough to make just the outside white, but long enough to kill most of the surface bacteria). You will also need to feed 10% organ meats, half of which must be liver. I'd also give a daily vitamin as well.

 

[admin]

Many vets will tell you the not to feed raw. Mine did as well and of course, I did what I thought was best...he is fine with it now - he just wants to ensure they get all the right nutrients.

I have started feeding whole carcass ground rabbit and when speaking to Tracy from Hare-Today, she suggested adding Taurine, but said I really did not need to add anything else, since it was the entire rabbit ground up.

I do also feed some canned though as well...

 

[Dantes]

What are your experiences with vets??

I take my boys to several different vets. One prescribed raw for my boy. Of course the others disagree, but they have no solutions, and raw helps the situation. Incidentally, the vet that prescribed raw also helped me with other cats that had seemingly "incurable" issues. I doubt this is coincidence.

I also had a cat die from kibble and would never go there again.

If I were you I'd find a better vet.

 

[ginamarie1221]

I had no idea that kibble could affect cats like that! Thanks to all who have given their opinion/advice. Sounds like there's many feeding options out there. I will probably end up somewhere in the middle

 

[SlugMaster]

I had no idea that kibble could affect cats like that! Thanks to all who have given their opinion/advice. Sounds like there's many feeding options out there. I will probably end up somewhere in the middle

Gina,

I am also a relative new owner of two savannahs. After grinding my own food with supplements, both my cats soon grew tired of eating the mixture. So I have gone to a canned food with limited kibble in the morning and raw in the evening. The raw is whole chicken or turkey cut up into chunks, including bones. Then I add giblets and organ meat. The only issues I have had now is the the one year old kitten likes to toss the meat chunks in the air, which I have found globs stuck to the wall.. He was also "hiding" bits on my bed. I now close my door when I feed him.


Bruce

 

[admin]

Gina,

I am also a relative new owner of two savannahs. After grinding my own food with supplements, both my cats soon grew tired of eating the mixture. So I have gone to a canned food with limited kibble in the morning and raw in the evening. The raw is whole chicken or turkey cut up into chunks, including bones. Then I add giblets and organ meat. The only issues I have had now is the the one year old kitten likes to toss the meat chunks in the air, which I have found globs stuck to the wall.. He was also "hiding" bits on my bed. I now close my door when I feed him.


Bruce

Bruce, how do you add the bones with the chunks?

 

[Niels]

The i/d you talk about paige is it the same as hills i/d ?

My vet also is letting me feed it to themba because of bad stools.

I'm not a big fan of hills anyway but it helps a bit.