A study published in the Journal of Animal Science, concludes that raw diets should be fed to pet cats with caution. The results of the study “Evaluation of four raw meat diets using domestic cats, captive exotic felids, and cecectomized roosters,” by K.R. Kerr, et. al., states that due to the wide variation of nutritional content of raw diets, steps should be taken to ensure that the diet is nutritionally complete.
With more pet owners dishing commercial pet food and turning to a raw food diet, this study is important. The study compared different types of meat used in raw diets. In particular, the study feels that when meat is trimmed of all fat, it is possible for a pet cat to have a deficiency in fat intake.
Pet cats that are fed elk are at the highest risk of having a fat deficiency. As a pet owner, there are steps you can take to make sure that the raw diet you are feeding your cat is nutritionally complete.
Take a sample of the raw diet you usually feed your cat to your vet and ask them to run a nutritional analysis on the mixture. Once the results of the test are available, you will know where your pet’s diet is lacking. Although this might be a costly test, it is money well spent. If you want the best for your cat and you are willing to take the effort to feed a raw diet, then go the extra mile and get the diet analyzed to be sure it is nutritionally complete.
If your cat’s raw diet is lacking, discuss with your vet ways to improve the nutritional value. He might suggest vitamin supplementation for trace nutrients or you may have to adjust the amount or type of vegetables you are serving.
Before embarking on the raw diet journey with your pet cat, have a discussion with your veterinarian about the best way to get your cat the best nutrition possible. Not all vets agree with a raw diet, so look for one that will support your decision.
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