Post by smilesbetter on Feb 6, 2015 15:11:50 GMT
Hello,
Just been to vets. Smudgie was 4.75kg last time (meant to be 3.5kg, eek) but I got mum to feed her a better canned meat (Carny by Animonda I think) and she's down to 4.35. Still a bit to lose!
Anyway I am starting her on raw. I managed to get Carlotta and Mieze onto raw successfully so now it's Smudgie's turn haha. We have had a good start, Smudgie LOVES raw turkey and seems to quite like chicken too. I've been feeding her her evening meal now of half a sachet of cat meat mixed with some muscle meat, some beef kidney and some beef liver (the last two in small chunks). She eats the muscle meat on its own and doesn't need it mixed in, and has been eating the two organ meats fine mixed in.
Anyway I've been looking around online and am making a cheat sheet for mum to get started on raw feeding, because for her to do it she needs it to be as uncomplicated as possible. I realise it is asking a lot to get her to feed both the cat and the dog raw! This is what I've come up with:
Boneless Meats/ Muscle Meats:
- chicken
- Turkey
- lamb
- beef
- fish (esp. Oily fish such as salmon, sardines, herring, and mackerel. Freeze fresh fish for 2 weeks first, canned fish and cooked fish can be fed straight away) [fish is only meat which can be fed cooked, as the bones stay soft and meat keeps its integrity]
- venison
- elk
- emu
- ostrich
- heart (is an organ meat but is super muscley so can be fed as muscle meat. VERY good source of taurine, feed at least once a week)
Raw Meaty Bones:
- Cornish game hens
- rabbits
- ducklings
- fish with small bones
- chicken ribs, wings & neck (neck is good starter bone as very soft and very meaty)
- small turkey ribs and wing tips
- small meaty lamb ribs (too large to eat, but cat can strip off meat which is good dental workout)
Organs:
- liver (half of organ content must be liver, but also do not feed too much liver or she'll get diarrhoea)
- kidney (very good vitamin source, I'd give that at least once every two weeks if possible but don't worry if you can't get it too much)
- pancreas
- spleen
- brain
- thymus
Can also feed:
- raw egg inc. shell (this counts as a full meal, you can give a couple a week no bother but don't need to)
- fresh greens (aka by growing cat grass, not needed in diet but if she wants to munch it then it doesn't harm her to have)
- whole mice/chicks (can get these from reptile shops, but check how they have been killed)
Good starter bones are small ribs from chicken, Cornish game hens, rabbits, quail or small fish, and chicken wings & necks. Give bones crushed at first and gradually increase size as she gets used to crunching on them, she should be able to happily eat chicken wings/necks eventually as her jaw muscles improve.
Got most of the info from www.rawfedcats.org/practicalguide.htm although I'd say don't feed fresh fish, freeze for 2 weeks first, and don't feed pork.
Anyway I'll keep you guys updated now and then on how Smudgie (and mum!) is getting on with raw feeding, and if she manages to finally reach her target weight. If anyone notices any startling mistakes in the list I've given mum there, let me know!
Just been to vets. Smudgie was 4.75kg last time (meant to be 3.5kg, eek) but I got mum to feed her a better canned meat (Carny by Animonda I think) and she's down to 4.35. Still a bit to lose!
Anyway I am starting her on raw. I managed to get Carlotta and Mieze onto raw successfully so now it's Smudgie's turn haha. We have had a good start, Smudgie LOVES raw turkey and seems to quite like chicken too. I've been feeding her her evening meal now of half a sachet of cat meat mixed with some muscle meat, some beef kidney and some beef liver (the last two in small chunks). She eats the muscle meat on its own and doesn't need it mixed in, and has been eating the two organ meats fine mixed in.
Anyway I've been looking around online and am making a cheat sheet for mum to get started on raw feeding, because for her to do it she needs it to be as uncomplicated as possible. I realise it is asking a lot to get her to feed both the cat and the dog raw! This is what I've come up with:
Boneless Meats/ Muscle Meats:
- chicken
- Turkey
- lamb
- beef
- fish (esp. Oily fish such as salmon, sardines, herring, and mackerel. Freeze fresh fish for 2 weeks first, canned fish and cooked fish can be fed straight away) [fish is only meat which can be fed cooked, as the bones stay soft and meat keeps its integrity]
- venison
- elk
- emu
- ostrich
- heart (is an organ meat but is super muscley so can be fed as muscle meat. VERY good source of taurine, feed at least once a week)
Raw Meaty Bones:
- Cornish game hens
- rabbits
- ducklings
- fish with small bones
- chicken ribs, wings & neck (neck is good starter bone as very soft and very meaty)
- small turkey ribs and wing tips
- small meaty lamb ribs (too large to eat, but cat can strip off meat which is good dental workout)
Organs:
- liver (half of organ content must be liver, but also do not feed too much liver or she'll get diarrhoea)
- kidney (very good vitamin source, I'd give that at least once every two weeks if possible but don't worry if you can't get it too much)
- pancreas
- spleen
- brain
- thymus
Can also feed:
- raw egg inc. shell (this counts as a full meal, you can give a couple a week no bother but don't need to)
- fresh greens (aka by growing cat grass, not needed in diet but if she wants to munch it then it doesn't harm her to have)
- whole mice/chicks (can get these from reptile shops, but check how they have been killed)
Good starter bones are small ribs from chicken, Cornish game hens, rabbits, quail or small fish, and chicken wings & necks. Give bones crushed at first and gradually increase size as she gets used to crunching on them, she should be able to happily eat chicken wings/necks eventually as her jaw muscles improve.
Got most of the info from www.rawfedcats.org/practicalguide.htm although I'd say don't feed fresh fish, freeze for 2 weeks first, and don't feed pork.
Anyway I'll keep you guys updated now and then on how Smudgie (and mum!) is getting on with raw feeding, and if she manages to finally reach her target weight. If anyone notices any startling mistakes in the list I've given mum there, let me know!