Will my kitty like it?  Will my kitty get sick?  Won't the meat get contaminated?  Do I add any supplements?  What kind of meat do I use?  How often should I feed them?

These are questions that I asked when I first started all my cats and kittens on the raw diet. It can be intimidating at first but once you get into it, you will find that it is more convenient and better both financially and health-wise for your kitty than commerical food.  It is very easy to get discouraged when you first start, so take it slow.  Don't go and buy a grinder and all the supplements yet.  First start with a small amount of chicken or beef cut into cubes to see how your cats like it.  You may have to even mix some with the food you currently feed them.  Some cats may walk away but in time you will likely finding them devour it.

Please keep in mind that when your cat starts eating a more appropriately hydrated diet of raw food, the output of solid waste and odor will decrease significantly.  The urine output however, seems to increase significantly which is a very good thing for bladder health. This is likely because raw food is moist unlike dry kibble.

Why Raw?

In their natural setting, Cats would consume high levels of protein (meats/organ) and very small amount of carbohydrates and plant-based proteins (grains/vegetables).  They would not be picking berries and grazing in the grass.  They are true carnivores and would be hunting:

• mice and other rodents
• small mammals
• birds
• fish
• snakes and other reptiles
• insects

The protein in commerical food, which is often heavily plant-based, is not equal in quality to the protein in fresh meat.  Because plant proteins are cheaper than meat proteins, pet food companies will have a higher profit margin when using corn, wheat, soy, rice, etc.  Additionally, Taurine, one of the most important amino acids that is present in meat, is missing from plants.  Taurine deficiency will cause blindness and heart problems in cats.

Recipes

Ingredients
75% Chicken parts with bone
15% Beef
10% Heart & Liver (beef or chicken)

Grind all together.  Dawn grinds 100lbs at a time using a high quality meat grinder.  It just depends on how many cats you have and how much you want to make and and store at a time.  Put mixture in small packages and freeze.

Dr. Pierson's Raw Diet - Click here to read more about raw and to learn about her fantastic diet recipe.