getting started - cats & kittens

To ensure a raw diet is nutritious & balanced we need the diet to include the following components:

• MINCES – Containing muscle meat, organ & bone. 
• RAW MEATY BONES – Appropriately sized bones that they have to chew on – not swallow whole. We will advise you which ones will be appropriate for your cat. Never feed cooked bones.
• GREEN TRIPE – Cats can have tripe but do not require it.
• ORGAN MEAT – If organ meat is not contained within the mince mixes then it should be fed once or twice a week.
• FISH – Either whole fish or even sardines/mackerel from a tin (spring water – not oil) up to 3 times weekly.

A minimum of 3 different protein sources should be fed weekly including wild varieties.

To make life easier, and so you have less to think about, we stock mixes that have most of these components included. No having to think about ratios and add too many extra things in. Raw feeding made easy!

General Feeding Guides

Try not to mix feed your pet with both raw & processed foods.  This is due to the inability of your pet to be able to digest efficiently the combination of proteins & bone from the raw diet & the carbohydrates found in processed foods.  To digest a raw diet, the gut needs to be very acidic. By adding processed food groups, especially those higher in carbohydrates & preservatives, it reduces stomach acidity therefore making it very hard for your pet to digest a raw diet. This can lead to digestive issues for your pet including vomiting, diarrhoea, blockages in the digestive tract & inflammation. For further information in this see our section on gastric acidity & good gut health.

Feeding Amounts

The average healthy cat should be fed 3% of their body weight daily. (eg 3kg cat 90g/day; 5kg cat 150g/day)

Active cats may need more like 5%. (eg 3kg cat 150g/day; 5kg cat 250g/day)

Kittens require between 5 & 10% of their body weight.  The higher amounts during growth spurts. (eg 500g kitten 25g-50g/day)

Every cat is an individual though so we adjust to each individual's requirements. As each pet is different we recommend close monitoring of your pet's weight & body condition in the first few weeks.

Some cats can be difficult to transition to raw food due to the addictive nature of processed foods.  It can take a month or more to transition fully.

Things you can expect when feeding a raw diet:

• A small amount of weight loss, usually due to the removal of carbohydrates from the diet – daily amounts may need adjusting.
• Cats can appear very hungry to begin with – they are usually just loving their food – this will settle.
• Cats may drink less due to the high water content now in their food.
• The bowel movements will be smaller & firmer.  They should be less smelly.  May need to watch for constipation in some pets.

A Guide to Raw Meaty Bones

• Chicken necks
• Rabbit or Hare shoulders/pieces
• Possum Back Steak Nuggets

NOTE: Not all cats are suited to being fed whole bones, while it is a massive health benefit some cats are unable to eat or digest them properly so it is best to stick to mince mixes with bone included. Generally, old, sick, pregnancy & lactating queens, brachycephalic breeds (Persians for example) or pets on medications may need changes made to their whole bone intake.

Please discuss with a staff member if you are concerned about your pet's ability to consume whole bones in a diet regimen.

How to Transition a Healthy Adult Cat to a Raw Diet

Stop all other foods including processed treats. However, cats cannot afford to go without food for an extended period so if you are having any issues please read the Troubled Cat Transition section or contact us directly and we can help you through the transition period.

• Start with between 3 & 5% of body weight per day (see our feeding guide for help)
• Cats require a mixture of minces (including muscle meat, organ & bone) and meaty chunks (boneless meat). The ratio is usually 2/3 mince mixes to 1/3 meaty chunks.
• Start with one mince mix. Our Only Raw Lamb, Chicken & Heart Mix is a popular option or the Only Raw Rabbit & Heart Mix can often sway the fussiest felines.
• Turkey, Hare, Veal or Goat are often good starters of boneless meat options.
• The use of bone broth can help settle cats into raw feeding.
• Keep feeding the all-inclusive mince mixtures (meat, bone & organ) with the boneless meat chunks for 2 weeks to allow the digestive system to adjust & settle into its new range of gastric acidity & health.
• If the digestion is nice & healthy & your cat is having no issues with the diet after 2 weeks we will start your cat on size appropriate raw meaty bones.  Use one variety at a time.
• Once we have added raw meaty bones to the diet we will continue to gradually introduce more variety of proteins through mince mixes and raw meaty bones.
• Watch cats - they easily get hooked on flavours so make sure you add in a variety of flavours reasonably quickly.
• A minimum of 3 different proteins should be fed per week including some wild varieties to ensure enough balance in the nutrients.
• Fish portions can also be added up to 3 times weekly

How to Transition a Healthy Kitten to a Raw Diet

Stop all other foods including processed treats. However, cats & kittens cannot afford to go without food for an extended period so if you are having any issues please read the Troubled Cat Transition section or contact us directly and we can help you through the transition period.

• Start with between 5 & 10% of body weight per day (see our feeding guide for help) Because we aren’t always aware of where our kittens are at in their growth schedule we suggest start feeding your kitten at 7% to 8% of their body weight and adjust as we need to depending on their growth spurts.  Monitor their condition & adjust as required.
• Kittens require a mixture of minces (including muscle meat, organ & bone) and meaty chunks (boneless meat). The ratio is usually 2/3 mince mixes to 1/3 meaty chunks.
• Start with one mince mix. Our Only Raw Lamb, Chicken & Heart Mix is a popular option or the Only Raw Rabbit & Heart Mix can often sway the fussiest felines.
• Turkey, Hare, Veal or Goat are often good starters of boneless meat options.
• The use of bone broth can help settle kittens into raw feeding.
• Keep feeding the all-inclusive mince mixtures (meat, bone & organ) with the boneless meat chunks for 1 week to allow the digestive system to adjust & settle into its new range of gastric acidity & health.
• As with cats - kittens need to be taught to eat a wide variety of flavours and as they easily get hooked on certain proteins, it is good to start adding in a different mince mix after 1 week as long as the digestion ok.
• If the digestion is nice & healthy & your kitten is having no issues with the diet after 2 weeks we will start your kitten on size appropriate raw meaty bones.  Use one variety at a time.
• Kittens over 12 weeks old should have regular raw meaty bones – a minimum twice weekly but some will like them daily. Raw meaty bones are important for kittens particularly to ensure that get the right balance of vitamins & minerals such as calcium & phosphorus in their diet for growth & development.  They are also great for dental hygiene & mental stimulation for cats of any age.
• Use one variety at a time - we can assist you on what bones are appropriate for your puppy.
• Once we have added raw meaty bones to the diet we will continue to gradually introduce more variety of proteins through mince mixes, boneless meaty chunks and raw meaty bones.
• Watch for constipation in kittens & young cats.
• Feed 3-4 times daily for kittens & then twice daily when 6 months +.
• A minimum of 3 different proteins should be fed per week including some wild varieties to ensure enough balance in the nutrients.
• Fish portions can also be added up to 3 times weekly.