Here I go with all the stupid questions...

[Annika Laybourn]

Ok - let me start of by saying: IM SORRY. I dont mean to be stupid, but there are a few things that are still unclear to be about this raw thing. I read some old posts, but not all, and I know that others probably asked the same. But I get a bad buzz in my head from reading all threads, and more questions pop up than are answered. So Im trying to get some of the basics of raw feeding down before moving on.

Im going for the meat + premix of nutrients. I'm going for this mix in: TCPremix premix for making homemade raw meat cat food

Ingredients
Egg yolk, Milk Mineral Complex, Calcium Lactate, Whey Protein Concentrate, Psyllium Husks, Gelatin, Taurine, Seaweed, Vitamin B Complex (Vitamin B1, Vitamin B2, Niacinamide, Vitamin B6, Vitamin B12, Biotin, Folic acid, Pantotenic acid), Vitamin E.
Analysis
Protein ...........29,6%
Fat................ 22,4%
Fibre ................1,6%
Ash...............17,0%
Moisture.......... 7,9%
Additives per 1000 g
Vitamin E ......1768 IE
Taurine.......38970 mg
To complete the recipe you add to each 60g premix
- 375 ml water
- 900g raw meat
- 100g raw liver

And here starts the questions

I read in the raw-document that it should be 80-85% meat, 10% edible bone, 5 % liver and 5 % organs. Would this translate to making sure that the 900 grams of meat mentioned in the recipe contains edible bone and organs as well (in a percentage that fits the percentages from the pdf)?

And the bones - should I NOT add calcium if I have 10% edible bone? The freeze dried bone supplement I found states that it should be added to boneless meat. So if this is how it is, then I could add half the amount if I have for example only 5 % bone?

Do I add fish oil as well?

And what about calciumhosphorus ratio, why do I need to calculate that if I give the right amount of bone/calcium to the meat?

AND last question for now: Anything else I should add?

 

[Xandria]

. There are positively no stupid questions. So much better to ask the questions and get straightforward answers.

In the raw document, the percentages are for when making homemade cat food from scratch (without a premix). So this is going to be really simple for you.

900 g of raw meat is literally that. You could use chicken breasts, chicken thighs (no bone), ground beef, ground rabbit etc. Really really easy!

100 g of raw liver should probably be chicken liver (it's much better than beef liver).

So the only thing you need to buy from your butcher is 900 g of whatever meat of your choice (don't use pork) +100 g of raw liver and multiply that by how many batches you want to make.

This premix does not have any fish oil. So yes, you might want to add a little bit of krill oil. 250 mg and eventually 500 mg per day once older. But add it slowly until Hendrix is used to it. This would be added to one of his meals. Krill oil generally comes in liquid form in capsules (500 mg), so is not the easiest to work with. BUT, it can be done if you don't mind some waste. I'd squeeze out one capsule and see how much is there and then gauge what is one quarter (to start with), and one half.

Hope that helps!

Ask any questions, any time!!!

 

[Calicocious]

Lovely part about mix ins is they can that easy! The calcium is already included so one less thing to worry about. Glad you found one you like.

 

[KitKat26]

Easy Peasy, that is the beauty of a premix. Just add meat/water and stir. I use Alnutrin for meat and bone and the meat mixture I have already has the organs, liver and bone ground together but they also make a premix for meat without bone. Good luck on your raw adventures! @Xandria old posts really helped start Piper on the raw diet.

 

[Annika Laybourn]

Is it really that simple Oh dear I was making it more difficult in my head. Must be the fear for making it a catastrophic failure.

Ok, so Im doing this! This mornings extra smelly poop AND poop foot might have pushed the decision a bit forward

I ordered glas jars, mix in, oil and all I need now is meat. In a week or so I will begin (depending on delivery time of the stuff I ordered).

Can I feed him stuff like chicken wings to help with his teeth, or will this screw op the ratios?

 

[Annika Laybourn]

AND: Again thank you for your help!

 

[KitKat26]

Is it really that simple Oh dear I was making it more difficult in my head. Must be the fear for making it a catastrophic failure.

Ok, so Im doing this! This mornings extra smelly poop AND poop foot might have pushed the decision a bit forward

I ordered glas jars, mix in, oil and all I need now is meat. In a week or so I will begin (depending on delivery time of the stuff I ordered).

Can I feed him stuff like chicken wings to help with his teeth, or will this screw op the ratios?

Yayy!!! I'm so excited for you! What pushed me over the edge was always getting an adrenaline rush every time I saw her poop while holding my breath (for more than one reason) hoping she is not going to step in it, and sometimes I had to grab her out of the litter box before she did. Sometimes she would step in it anyway and I had to grab her up real fast and dunk her in the sink like I was baptizing her.

The raw is so worth it! No more stinky or runny poo problems

Not sure about the chicken wings but you can get treats that are good for their teeth like greenies dental treats.

 

[Xandria]

A chicken neck or chicken wing here and there is certainly not going to hurt. Max gets raw food treats (lamb and beef hearts and lungs). And a little extra calcium is definitely not a bad thing. If you notice that Hendrix is straining to poop, then maybe there is too much calcium in his diet (so reduce the wings or neck treats). Otherwise, a little extra calcium is good.

 

[Annika Laybourn]

Yayy!!! I'm so excited for you! What pushed me over the edge was always getting an adrenaline rush every time I saw her poop while holding my breath (for more than one reason) hoping she is not going to step in it, and sometimes I had to grab her out of the litter box before she did. Sometimes she would step in it anyway and I had to grab her up real fast and dunk her in the sink like I was baptizing her.

I hear you! I was surprised to see myself yesterday when I grabbed a baby whipe as he started digging in the sand, and as he came out of there I grabbed him and wiped his legs and tail. Just to be sure that there was no poop foot/tail all over the house - what kind of hysterical woman does that! It also made me less than popular with Hendrix! And I'd rather not be that woman - standing there lurking over him when he's pooping

 

[Calicocious]

I hear you! I was surprised to see myself yesterday when I grabbed a baby whipe as he started digging in the sand, and as he came out of there I grabbed him and wiped his legs and tail. Just to be sure that there was no poop foot/tail all over the house - what kind of hysterical woman does that! It also made me less than popular with Hendrix! And I'd rather not be that woman - standing there lurking over him when he's pooping

We've all been there! Lurking with a wipe in hand ha ha :wideyed: I'm sure it'll be a good change for the both of you.

 

[Xandria]

I hear you! I was surprised to see myself yesterday when I grabbed a baby whipe as he started digging in the sand, and as he came out of there I grabbed him and wiped his legs and tail. Just to be sure that there was no poop foot/tail all over the house - what kind of hysterical woman does that! It also made me less than popular with Hendrix! And I'd rather not be that woman - standing there lurking over him when he's pooping

LOL, yup, we've all been there we know it's not going to be a nice perfect poop. But sooner or later, you don't hear the litter scratching, and then our bundle of naked love wants cuddles... and oh my!!! You're a mess, they're a mess... It's like a Sphynx right of passage.

But the raw should help. I still marvel at Max's perfect poops.

 

[Annika Laybourn]

But the raw should help. I still marvel at Max's perfect poops.

Thats the other woman I'd rather not be: The one that marvel at poop I feel crazy cat lady-tendencies sneaking up on me:wideyed::cat:

 

[Xandria]

Thats the other woman I'd rather not be: The one that marvel at poop I feel crazy cat lady-tendencies sneaking up on me:wideyed::cat:

You have no choice. You have a Sphynx in your life now that you love unconditionally. You will be assimilated. Resistance is futile. LOL.

 

[KitKat26]

If you think Hendrix is a 10/10 just wait until you put him on raw. I loved Piper when she was on Royal Canin but now she is off the scale for me with her perfect poops, lol.

 

[Annika Laybourn]

You are all scaring me

I already love that little guy more than I could have imagined. He's so so so cute - I hurry home from work to see him. Im a crazy cat lady already!!:nailbiting:

 

[Annika Laybourn]

Yesterday I bought chicken , veal and lamb. And today I grinded, mixed and put into jars. While I grinded I let him have tastings of the meat. He was all over the place going GIMMEGIMMEGIMME! Atleast for chicken and veal. Lamb... not so much. Denmark is such a pork loving-country - its really hard to find any interesting meat that doesn't cost a fortune. All the raw for animals I found includes vitamins, and I'd rather mix it myself. So I feel a bit limited when going to the butcher. But I will continue my search for meat like venison and rabbit. I dont think for ex kangaroo will ever be an option for me here.

I served and he ate with no issues whatsoever this afternoon - 25 grams went down. And for his late meal I just served chicken again. Now he's more like 'Excuse me human mom... what is this? Do you expect me to eat it?"

But Im not worried. If he eats nothing now, he will probably wake me up early - and I will try again

Right now he is running from kitchen/food to couch going MEOV, asking me what the heck is going on

 

[Xandria]

Good job! And you certainly don't need to feed exotic meats. Pork or other fatty meats is the only no no really.

It's not unusual for cats to prefer a certain kind of meat too. Some like gamey meats, others not. Some like chicken, some not. And then they throw you a loop when they suddenly decide they no longer like something they've eaten forever!

 

[Annika Laybourn]

Other birds like duck and turkey are fine right?

 

[Xandria]

Other birds like duck and turkey are fine right?

Absolutely!

 

[Annika Laybourn]

I found a place that sells everything - so now I will enquire prices. Hopefully not to expensive.

This morning I served chicken again and got a serious frown from Hendrix! I tried the "Well, that what you are going to get, so eat it or beat it". But he was very vocal about his discontent. I tried heating the meat to room temp, still no luck. Ok... then I gave up and mixed a little bit of the RC wet food into the meat. That did the trick! So he ate everything, and I gave him some more (after all he did not have anything since yesterday afternoon) - he ate that too. Not a complete success - but almost. Im happy - cause this way I can always cut down the percentage of wet food slowly, and he will probably not even notice

 

[Xandria]

I found a place that sells everything - so now I will enquire prices. Hopefully not to expensive.

This morning I served chicken again and got a serious frown from Hendrix! I tried the "Well, that what you are going to get, so eat it or beat it". But he was very vocal about his discontent. I tried heating the meat to room temp, still no luck. Ok... then I gave up and mixed a little bit of the RC wet food into the meat. That did the trick! So he ate everything, and I gave him some more (after all he did not have anything since yesterday afternoon) - he ate that too. Not a complete success - but almost. Im happy - cause this way I can always cut down the percentage of wet food slowly, and he will probably not even notice

I had to do that exact thing the second (and final) time I introduced Max to raw. It works well -- slowly tapering off the regular wet. Good job, Mom!!

 

[Annika Laybourn]

It works so perfectly. He ate 60 grams (50 grams chicken + 10 grams RC) this afternoon. And is calling out for more food as we speak. So I will increase the amount for tonights feeding - though Im a bit chocked at how much he eats!

 

[Xandria]

- though Im a bit chocked at how much he eats!

LOL LOL LOL

LOL LOL

LOL





Um, yup.Wait until Hendrix decides to eat 150 g or so in one sitting.

 

[Annika Laybourn]

LOL LOL LOL

LOL LOL

LOL





Um, yup.Wait until Hendrix decides to eat 150 g or so in one sitting.

This afternoon he ate 125 grams at once. His little tummy was not so little after that!

Now he's sleeping it off I think I increased the amount every time I fed him. And he just keeps eating everything. The 125 grams was not gone that fast, so maybe Im hitting the spot now. Im trying to reach the amount that makes him leave something, so I know that he's full. But again - Im just amazed at his appetite! the 200 gram portion size seems to small now!

Anyway. He's still drinking water, and he's peeing a lot. And pooping veeeery little. And dare I say it - It seems that its not that smelly anymore! I'm not 100% convinced, since the pooping is rare. But I haven't passed that bathroom and gotten caught in the god awful smell he used to leave in there. So fingers crossed!

I dont understand where all the food goes - a lot of food should equal to some amount of poop. But thats not happening. And yes, Im the cat lady that checks up on the number of poops. Im that woman.:facepalm:

 

[Xandria]

LOL. I know what you mean. When Max was very kittenish, I'd love that big after feeding tummy he'd get. So cute. And like you... where does the food go? There are days Max only poops once despite all the food! I think food goes into Sphynx Zoomies!