How to transfer from Dry to Raw

[SphynxPirates]

So I'm going to be switching Toby to a raw diet, but had a few questions;
-What amounts I should be feeding a 12 week old kitten?
-Should I be phasing him off dry food, or is it okay to switch right over because its the healthier alternative?
-I'm also giving Toby L-Lysine and was wondering how much to add to his dishes and how often?

 

[toasty]

I liked this because I'd love to hear the answers too. I pick up my girl on June 25th she'll be 10 weeks

 

[Chameleon924]

I just switched my girl over a few days ago, I didn't wean her off kibble. I just picked up the kibble and fed her the RAW. I took chicken thighs and deboned them and took the skin off. I cut it up into little cubes and feed her. I am waiting for the bag of Better in the Raw so I can add it to her food to make it nutritionally complete.
I am currently feeding her 1/4 of RAW 3x a day. She eats it all at every feeding so I am not sure if this is enough or too much. I guess after a while I will get a feel for it. She also gets 500mg of L-Lysine with her pm feeding. I use the Wal-Mart brand and just crush it up and mix it in with her food.

Hope this helps!

 

[Chameleon924]

Below this thread is a thread that I posted a few days ago. It's labeled "HELP! Feeding RAW and LOST!" You should read it, the other members have posted good info on there.

 

[Rwalkerg]

I found that my cat immediately took to the wet food (better in the raw) right away. I still leave out kibble (Nature's Variety grainfree) for day/night grazing and she's not waking me up at 3am because shes hungry. She still waits and looks forward to her wet feedings. Toby will be young enough he'll probably take to it right away. My Clem is under a year still so I also like the kibble out so she can eat if she needs it for a growing body.
For Lysine I add in 250mg (I think i use 1/8th teaspoon to measure) per wet food serving. I did this more when I first brought her home, to help with the immune system. Now I will give it to her every once in a while. Shes not a sick cat at all so I dont feel she needs it all the time.

 

[SarahLovee82]

Are you doing your own raw or are you getting premade raw?
My Starla had a lot of tummy troubles no matter what dry/wet food I used & everything has been better since we went raw. I do still give my cats kibble because I work long long hours and just can't do 100% raw but its made all the difference in the world.

I use premade medallions right now & when I first switched my cats wouldn't touch them. What worked for me is to mush it up with a little bit of water to make it a better texture & I found freeze dried chicken liver treats that crush up into like a powder & I would sprinkle it on top & I put the L Lysine right on top.

 

[SphynxPirates]

I liked this because I'd love to hear the answers too. I pick up my girl on June 25th she'll be 10 weeks

Congratulations!! We have like the same ages babies ))

 

[SphynxPirates]

Are you doing your own raw or are you getting premade raw?
My Starla had a lot of tummy troubles no matter what dry/wet food I used & everything has been better since we went raw. I do still give my cats kibble because I work long long hours and just can't do 100% raw but its made all the difference in the world.

I use premade medallions right now & when I first switched my cats wouldn't touch them. What worked for me is to mush it up with a little bit of water to make it a better texture & I found freeze dried chicken liver treats that crush up into like a powder & I would sprinkle it on top & I put the L Lysine right on top.

Thanks again for all your help. And I'm getting the premise raw diet packs for now atleast then try creating my own routine later haha

 

[SarahLovee82]

Thanks again for all your help. And I'm getting the premise raw diet packs for now atleast then try creating my own routine later haha

Let us know how it goes! I definitely recommend putting extra water in to mush it up with because my girl had really really hard poo at one point because of the raw (sorry for the details, but we talk about poo here a lot) so either mix extra water in & you can even use a tiny bit of olive oil, or salmon oil.

 

[SphynxPirates]

I bought a couple pre made raw packages from the bet just to start Toby off on. Would anyone know how much I should use morning and night for a 12 month kitten ? If pre made?

 

[SphynxPirates]

Let us know how it goes! I definitely recommend putting extra water in to mush it up with because my girl had really really hard poo at one point because of the raw (sorry for the details, but we talk about poo here a lot) so either mix extra water in & you can even use a tiny bit of olive oil, or salmon oil.

Sounds good and details are always handy haha. Would you recommend doing dry all day as well? Or do just raw if possible?

 

[SarahLovee82]

Sounds good and details are always handy haha. Would you recommend doing dry all day as well? Or do just raw if possible?

Honestly, I HAVE to leave dry out because of my schedule. I use grain free though. It works for us. I had a lot of trouble with my little ones tummy so when I found what worked, I just stuck with it, ya know.
We use natures instinct raw. Mine only will eat the duck, or lamb. They hate the chicken one! I would also tell you to try the big pet stores because a lot of times they have small sample bags & you definitely want to see what flavors your little one will eat. The duck one STINKS so bad but they love it. OMG the first time I smelled it I thought something was wrong with it!
& I use blue buffalo wilderness dry.
Using some dry also helps cut the price of the raw. I bought some Better in the raw powder to make my own raw but I haven't done it yet.