Raw Cat Food Information -- Revision
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Wow great stuff! Thanks @Xandria! (y) Once your good with the update, should we add it to the original sticky thread?
Cydney
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Hello love!!
Thank you so much for putting in this work to help us all out with our babes!
I personally cannot seem to figure out how much of each supplement I need to be putting into the meat and also, is the nutritional add ins on top of all the supplements??
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Hi @Cydney . Thanks for the comments and pointing out where I need to clarify. Fresh eyes really help.
To answer your questions briefly (I'll expound on that in my next revision), the amount of each supplement is outlined in the recipes you can find online -- see the resources at the end of the document. I don't provide recipes as others have already done that work. The nutritional mix ins like Better in the Raw do not require additional supplements unless called for it by the mix in creator. Always follow recipes. Hope that helps.
To answer your questions briefly (I'll expound on that in my next revision), the amount of each supplement is outlined in the recipes you can find online -- see the resources at the end of the document. I don't provide recipes as others have already done that work. The nutritional mix ins like Better in the Raw do not require additional supplements unless called for it by the mix in creator. Always follow recipes. Hope that helps.
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Here is the next v2 revision. I adjusted some of the verbiage, offered some more repetition of key points, added a few pictures, and removed as much of that dreaded passive voice as possible (as a professional technical writer this is my bane!!!). Any way...
If anyone wishes to review for clarity, accuracy, or whatever, please do. @admin -- I'll let you know when I'm happy with the revision. Thanks for your patience.
If anyone wishes to review for clarity, accuracy, or whatever, please do. @admin -- I'll let you know when I'm happy with the revision. Thanks for your patience.
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A note on vitamin D:
In short, if you supplement 500mg of salmon/anchovy/sardine oil your cats get enough vitamin D from that. If you supplement krill oil or green lipped mussel for Omega 3, these and the rest of the diet don't include enough vitamin D so it should be added as a separate supplement. Green lipped mussels are also a great source of omega 3 and available in powdered form which is imo more convenient for making food.. and my cats love the taste of the powder
"Vtamin D: If you are using 500mg of salmon, anchovy, or sardine oil daily, you do
not need to include D. Ifyou are using krill oil or green lipped mussel as the source of omega 3s, it is best to include vitamin D in thesupplement: 20 NOW 1,000iu dry vitamin D capsules. Increase the amount of supplement used to a slightlyrounded 1/64
th teaspoon per ounce. Yes, organs are a healthy source of vitamin D in the diet. And yes, it is true
that cats are not known to have a “high” requirement of vitamin D. But in humans, the importance of vitamin D
and the understanding of its many functions is
changing, and it is clear a “vitamin D deficiency” cannot
necessarily be measured directly. Importantly, in cats, low levels of vitamin D are associated with IBD andintestinal lymphoma. Further, a study conducted in the UK found that cats admitted to the ER for ANY reasonwere more likely to return home alive if they had higher levels of circulating vitamin D. This is why we thinkensuring vitamin D is VERY important, and one sardine a week is not enough"
Balanced Raw Food Recipe with Nutritional Analysis
In short, if you supplement 500mg of salmon/anchovy/sardine oil your cats get enough vitamin D from that. If you supplement krill oil or green lipped mussel for Omega 3, these and the rest of the diet don't include enough vitamin D so it should be added as a separate supplement. Green lipped mussels are also a great source of omega 3 and available in powdered form which is imo more convenient for making food.. and my cats love the taste of the powder
"Vtamin D: If you are using 500mg of salmon, anchovy, or sardine oil daily, you do
not need to include D. Ifyou are using krill oil or green lipped mussel as the source of omega 3s, it is best to include vitamin D in thesupplement: 20 NOW 1,000iu dry vitamin D capsules. Increase the amount of supplement used to a slightlyrounded 1/64
th teaspoon per ounce. Yes, organs are a healthy source of vitamin D in the diet. And yes, it is true
that cats are not known to have a “high” requirement of vitamin D. But in humans, the importance of vitamin D
and the understanding of its many functions is
changing, and it is clear a “vitamin D deficiency” cannot
necessarily be measured directly. Importantly, in cats, low levels of vitamin D are associated with IBD andintestinal lymphoma. Further, a study conducted in the UK found that cats admitted to the ER for ANY reasonwere more likely to return home alive if they had higher levels of circulating vitamin D. This is why we thinkensuring vitamin D is VERY important, and one sardine a week is not enough"
Balanced Raw Food Recipe with Nutritional Analysis
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In case anyone is wondering what kind of calcium to use,
Growing cats up to a year old should be getting calcium from bone or the powdered equivalent, this has more phosphorus which they need while growing.
Eggshell calcium (you can make this yourself by drying eggshells and running them through a clean coffee grinder, I believe alnutrin sells some as well) or limestone calcium is preferable for cats with kidney problems who should have less phosphorus, as well as most elderly cats and cats with digestive problems/IBD/constipation issues.
Growing cats up to a year old should be getting calcium from bone or the powdered equivalent, this has more phosphorus which they need while growing.
Eggshell calcium (you can make this yourself by drying eggshells and running them through a clean coffee grinder, I believe alnutrin sells some as well) or limestone calcium is preferable for cats with kidney problems who should have less phosphorus, as well as most elderly cats and cats with digestive problems/IBD/constipation issues.
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Wonderful information. Perhaps add, unless I missed it, that it is not appropriate to buy pre-ground meat from convince stores etc. due to increased bacteria. Some people think that's ok. Also, maybe Min needs a shout out? You wouldn't want her getting jealous 
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Phew! Version 2.3 now available for anyone who wishes to proofread.
@celsei -- I paraphrased your sage advice, I hope you do not mind.
@nudieluvr -- thanks for the reminder about grocery shop ground meats.
@susi794 -- yup, that's in there.
This document keeps getting bigger! LOL. But I've added some more photos too.
As always, feedback is encouraged. I'll wait another week and if no further edits are necessary, I'll contact @admin to have the final version replacing the old one in the main thread.
Thanks, all. You are awesome!
@celsei -- I paraphrased your sage advice, I hope you do not mind.
@nudieluvr -- thanks for the reminder about grocery shop ground meats.
@susi794 -- yup, that's in there.
This document keeps getting bigger! LOL. But I've added some more photos too.
As always, feedback is encouraged. I'll wait another week and if no further edits are necessary, I'll contact @admin to have the final version replacing the old one in the main thread.
Thanks, all. You are awesome!
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Wow! I browsed thru it - looks great! Keep up the good work @Xandria!
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Finished!!!!! @admin
Linky: http://www.xandria.ca/Max/RawCatFoodInformation-v2.4.pdf
Thank you!
Linky: http://www.xandria.ca/Max/RawCatFoodInformation-v2.4.pdf
Thank you!
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Ok - updated the PDF in the original sticky post, please verify its the correct version, however the spreadsheet seems to lnik to no info - should I remove it or? Raw Cat Food Information
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Okay so this is what I was thinking about convenience store ground meats from feline nutrition.
"You might ask, "Why can't I just get ground meat from the grocery store?" Ground meat from a grocery store has the potential to have higher levels of pathogens. When meat is ground it greatly increases the surface area where bacteria can multiply. It also spreads any bacteria present on the outside of the meat throughout the mix. Meat ground for human consumption is often not handled with the same care as meat used for raw diets. Commercial raw diet makers maintain very high standards and the meat is immediately frozen after grinding to keep bacteria from multiplying. Grocery store ground meat is intended to be thoroughly cooked. In fact, they are counting on the fact that you will cook it. We are not saying that all grocery ground meat is bad, just that the potential for trouble is higher. Keep in mind that raw meat itself is not dangerous, fresh meat is pretty much pathogen-free. Pathogens can get introduced onto the meat – and are only on the outside of the cut – during slaughter and handling."
Read more at Recipe: Feline Nutrition's Easy Raw Cat Food - Feline Nutrition
"You might ask, "Why can't I just get ground meat from the grocery store?" Ground meat from a grocery store has the potential to have higher levels of pathogens. When meat is ground it greatly increases the surface area where bacteria can multiply. It also spreads any bacteria present on the outside of the meat throughout the mix. Meat ground for human consumption is often not handled with the same care as meat used for raw diets. Commercial raw diet makers maintain very high standards and the meat is immediately frozen after grinding to keep bacteria from multiplying. Grocery store ground meat is intended to be thoroughly cooked. In fact, they are counting on the fact that you will cook it. We are not saying that all grocery ground meat is bad, just that the potential for trouble is higher. Keep in mind that raw meat itself is not dangerous, fresh meat is pretty much pathogen-free. Pathogens can get introduced onto the meat – and are only on the outside of the cut – during slaughter and handling."
Read more at Recipe: Feline Nutrition's Easy Raw Cat Food - Feline Nutrition
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Absolutely, @nudieluvr .
Ironically, most cats have a higher tummy constitution than humans, and can thusly tolerate more pathogens. Having said that, it's best not to tempt fate and most Sphynx are a little delicate in the tummy area.
I did mention that grocery store minced meats were not a good option as a source for home made cat food. Absolutely.
Ironically, most cats have a higher tummy constitution than humans, and can thusly tolerate more pathogens. Having said that, it's best not to tempt fate and most Sphynx are a little delicate in the tummy area.
I did mention that grocery store minced meats were not a good option as a source for home made cat food. Absolutely.