How to Whisk(er) Your Cat Away with Natural Feeding
Cat owners will know best that our feline friends can get picky during mealtime. What was once a beloved bag of kibble is suddenly less than a two-star meal—it can leave cat parents dumbstruck! Fortunately, nearly all cats thrive on a biologically appropriate diet. If your cat is snubbing their usual bowl of Friskies, learn how to make the switch to raw and holistic.
What Should Your Cat Eat?
Cats are partial to a carnivorous diet. In the wild, they’re privy to mice, birds, voles, and insects. Thus, your fruits and vegetables aren’t going to satisfy your finicky feline. In a domestic setting, you can replicate this diet with raw meat and raw bone. But first—kibble!
The Truth About Cat Kibble
Dry kibble is rife with carbohydrates, resulting in an addiction to the blood glucose high it provides. If you’ve noticed your companion begging for yet another meal, it could be the consequence of a high-carb diet.
Most processed food will come with palatability enhancers and sometimes even cause dehydration.
What a Raw Diet Looks Like
As we mentioned above, a raw diet primarily consists of meat and bone. Cats love variety, so experiment with different types of poultry, red meat, and fish. When possible, consider smaller prey such as rabbits, wild game, chicken, and duck.
Allow offal meat to account for 5% to 10% of their diet, while vegetables can occasionally make an appearance at the same amount. Provide your cat with taurine by feeding the occasional herring.
Unless you’re incorporating fish regularly, give your cat at least 500mg of fish oil per day. Contrary to popular belief, some cats are allergic to fish oil and will take better to coconut oil or milk, which are excellent sources of omega-3.
How to Make the Switch
The first rule of raw diets is to avoid falling for “puppy dog eyes.” Yes, your cat can do it too, but you won’t want to make food available to them whenever they ask for it. Instead, craft a mealtime schedule to ensure that your cat is hungry when they receive their bowl of raw food. If your cat doesn’t consume the meal within a few minutes, return it to the fridge until the following schedule.
If your cat prefers a warm meal, heat their dish with a few tablespoons of boiling water. Never use the microwave!
Don’t shock their system—be gradual about the transition by mixing their existing food into the new diet. Wean your cat off their kibble little by little, for as long as ten weeks. Be patient. Allow them to take the reigns.
Encourage a choosy cat by tossing in a little fresh fish, prawns, or scrambled egg. Because raw diets are far more hydrating, you won’t have to refill their water bowl as often as you used to.
Note whether your cat suddenly produces soft or wet stool and consult your veterinarian if the symptoms persist.
What if My Cat is Pregnant?
Just like their human counterparts, pregnant cats are hungry—all the time. When weaning her kittens into solid food, start by mincing raw meat and bone. Throw in a little cheese and yogurt for taste.
As soon as they’re capable, introduce them to hard bones such as chicken wings. Feed a newly-weaned kitten a tablespoon of raw food four times a day, cutting back three times daily between 12 and 16 weeks.
By six months, you should reduce feedings to once or twice a day. Remember, don’t fall for the adorable kitten look!
Conclusion
Along with the eco-friendly movement, healthy pet food is making waves across marketplaces all over the U.S. Regardless of breed, every cat deserves the best possible diet to enjoy a balanced lifestyle.
Shop all things holistic and get access to natural cat food with Wags to Wiskers! Do you have a demanding feline fellow? Not to worry—we’re sure to have something in store.