There are many differing opinions about giving our cats raw meat. We made a complete guide about whether cats can eat raw meat. Feeding raw food to cats is an interesting topic and can be risky for you and your pet. Talk to your vet first to feed your cat raw meat.
They can give you tips on how to do it safely, ensure your cat gets all the nutrients it needs, and point out any health and cleanliness issues to be aware of.
Raw Food Diet for Cats
Raw cat food is a diet that includes raw meat, sometimes with raw organs and bones, along with other uncooked things like vegetables. A raw diet can be homemade or bought from a store. Store-bought raw diets can be split into two types: complete and complementary.
A complete diet has all the nutrients your pet needs and can be fed independently. However, complementary food needs to be given along with other foods, following the instructions from the maker. Homemade raw diets are not recommended because ensuring they always meet your pet’s needs is hard. They should only be given under expert advice and might need extra vitamins and minerals to prevent deficiencies.
How risky is a raw food diet for cats?
To decide whether raw cat food is right, we must consider the safety risks for our feline friends and ourselves.
1. Parasites
Raw meat can contain parasites and bacteria that can make cats sick. Cats can also spread these germs to people and around the house. Store-bought raw cat food is tested to ensure its safety, but homemade raw cat food can be riskier. Pet owners must always get their ingredients from safe and trusted places to keep their cats healthy.
2. Lack of Food
Homemade raw food diets for cats might not have all the right nutrients because the ingredients can vary, making it easier for cats to miss out on important vitamins and minerals. That’s why making your cat food, whether raw or not, isn’t the best idea without help from an expert. You can learn more about feeding your cat a balanced diet in our article.
3. Bone pieces might be hazardous
It’s important to be careful with raw meat for your cat. The tiny bone pieces can pose a risk if they get stuck in their tummy and hurt their teeth. For your furry friend’s safety and health, it’s best to avoid raw meat with small bones.
Can Cats Eat Raw Hamburger Meat?
Ground beef is a favorite treat for many pet owners because it has a good amount of protein (14 g per 100 g). But can cats eat raw minced beef, or is it risky for their health?
Feeding cats raw beef is not as dangerous as giving them raw pork, but you still shouldn’t do it often. Uncooked hamburger meat can have germs like listeria and salmonella that can make your cat very sick and might even cause a hospital visit.
Besides the bad bacteria, beef isn’t the best snack because it has a lot of fat. In 100 g of minced beef, there are 30 g of different fats, which is more than the recommended amount.
Even though animal fat is important for cats, too much of it can cause health problems both now and later.
What raw meats can cats eat?
Chicken
Lean meat has little fat and salt, making it easy to digest. Chicken is full of protein and fatty acids, which help keep skin, muscles, and fur healthy. It also has taurine and important vitamins like phosphorus. These nutrients help cats grow strong muscles, stay at a healthy weight, and have strong teeth and bones.
Bacon
Can cats eat bacon? Yes, but not in large quantities. because they have high fat and salt and they are not good for the cat’s health.
Beef
Beef has lots of protein, which is good for your cat’s heart, and eyes, and helps keep your cat muscles and body tissues strong and healthy.
