What Raw Meat Can Cats Eat?

Over recent years, raw food has been a favourite diet for cat parents due to its various health benefits and nutritional value. Nevertheless, many are still unclear about which raw meat their kitty can consume.

Hence, this article will talk about the various raw meat your cat can eat and why those options are good for their health.

Photo by Henda Watani from Pexels

Why feed raw cat food?

Raw cat food usually contains ingredients that are natural and unprocessed. So, feeding raw actually will help your cat gain nutrients that will boost its health.  

Additionally, raw diets are low in carbohydrates and high in protein. This can supply your cat with amino acids that will aid them in sustaining a long and healthy life.

Here are some other benefits in feeding raw cat food:

• Improves skin and coat health 
• Boost water intake
• Better and stronger joints and bones
• Improves digestion 
• Better oral health

Is it ok to give cats raw meat? 

Yes, it is safe to feed your cat raw meat that is hygienically prepared. Felines have short and acidic stomachs, making it possible for them to consume raw meat as the bacteria wouldn’t harm them.

However, you just have to be extremely careful when you prepare the meal, as the problem usually occurs when there is cross-contamination.

What kind of raw meat can I feed my cat?

Here’s a list of raw meat that you can include in your cat’s raw diet:

Chicken

Chicken is one of the most commonly consumed meats.

Protein, selenium, niacin, phosphorus, and vitamins B6 and B12 are among the essential components of chicken. 

The additional protein in chicken will aid in muscle maintenance and tissue repair and development of your cat.

Moreover, one of the main reasons doctors prescribe white meat, like chicken, is to maintain a healthy heart. Chicken, particularly chicken breast, helps to keep your cat's homocysteine levels in check. 

Venison

Venison has lower fat and calories than other meats, such as beef. So, it may be an appealing alternative to include in your cat’s diet plan.

Venison, like lamb, is less likely to produce an allergic reaction in your cat than some other foods, such as beef.

Moreover, it is a beautiful source of meat-based nutrition for your cat, although it lacks the protein content of other meats. 

As a result, before giving venison to your cat, you should consider its protein requirements and the quantity of protein it is getting in its diet.

Salmon

Salmon has a lot of omega three fatty acids, which offer a lot of health advantages. This sort of fatty acid protects your cat's skin and coat from damage. It may also help your cat's immune system.

Potassium, B vitamins, selenium, and niacin are all abundant in salmon. All of these vitamins are essential for your cat's health, and salmon is high in them. However, while salmon is a high-quality alternative, your cat will not be able to survive only on salmon. Thus, salmon should be given only as an occasional “fancy meal” or as a treat

Duck

Duck meat is a high-protein food that will meet many of your cat's nutritional needs. Duck is also a good source of zinc, iron, and B vitamins.

Cats with allergies to chicken may be able to accept food like duck in some circumstances.

Duck is distinguished from other bird meats because approximately 80% of its muscle fibres are red, making it red meat. Duck legs, on the other hand, are white flesh, but duck breasts, also known as fillets, are incredibly red.

Lamb 

Lamb is high in a variety of nutrients that are good for cats. For example, it's a good source of heme-iron, which is easier for your cat's body to absorb. 

Heme iron is an accessible type of iron present in animal-derived meals that also aids in the absorption of nonheme iron, the iron found in plants.

Moreover, iron is necessary for your cat's body to operate correctly since it aids in transporting oxygen via the bloodstream.

Lamb has a lot of fat compared to other leaner meats like chicken. Therefore it should be fed to your cat in much smaller quantities.

It's also advantageous to remove the fat from the meat before giving it to your cat as excess fat can be detrimental to its health. 

Besides that, lamb is also high in Vitamin B12, which supports your cat's neurological system, as well as brain growth and function.

Where to buy raw meat for cats?

You can purchase raw meat for your cat at any local supermarket. However, you have to pay extra attention to the labels on the packaging to ensure that the raw meat is fresh and is certified with pet food quality standards.

If you get your ingredients from supermarkets, the meats should be contamination-free as they have to adhere to safety guidelines set by the government before selling it.

On the other hand, you can also get pre-made raw meals for your cat. For instance, you can try out PetCubes’ Raw Cat Food. Our raw food is curated with fresh ingredients to ensure your cat gets all the nutrients it needs from this one meal.

In addition to that, our meals are easy to make. So, it will save some time for you when you’re preparing food for your cat.

How do I get my cat started on a raw diet?

Because cats are imprint eaters, starting them on a raw food diet while they're a kitten will yield the most significant results. 

Cats are notoriously sensitive to new stimuli. Therefore, the transition to a raw diet for your cat should be gradual. 

For the first three days, we recommend combining 25% of raw food with 75% of their existing pet food to help them acclimatise to the new texture and flavour. 

Then, every two to three days, increase the proportion of raw cat food by 25%. After that, you’ll be able to switch entirely to raw once your cat has been accustomed to raw food.

What age can cats eat raw meat?

You can start feeding your cat raw meat even when it’s a kitten. However, do start getting it into a raw diet only after it turns 20 weeks of age, as their immune system is still developing before that.

Concluding remarks

Reviewed by: 

Dr Francis Cabana

Dr Francis is one of the top wildlife nutritionists in Asia. Originating from Montreal, Canada, he left at 21 to pursue his Masters and subsequently a PhD in wildlife nutrition at Oxford Brookes University. Instead of taking the path of common animal science to learn about farm animals, or through the veterinarian space and taking a certificate in nutrition, he took the road less travelled to dive deep into the world of animal ecology, metabolism and nutrition.