raw food question

[MunnkieSphynx]

Hi everyone
I am using better in the raw for Munnkie and so far it is great! I was just wondering where all of you buy your meats. I have been buying it from the butcher near me but the only one close by is a really high end butcher shop. I was wondering if I am allowed to buy meat from a regular grocery store to save a little money? I have heard that you can from some and that you can't from others. Thanks!!!

 

[Ickushouse]

I don't make my own raw, so I'm not an expert... but since no one else has replied yet!!.... The meat is not going to be cooked so it will have to be washed very well. On that note, I would not buy ground meat from the grocery store, as you do not know just how clean it was before grinding. Also, cheaper meat was probably fed antibiotics.....

 

[MollysMom]

I use wild meat that is hunted by our family... I grind it myself.

You *can* use grocery store meat, but it would best if it is not ground. As soon as it is ground, it increases the surface area for bacteria. I know some members here purchase ground meat from the store.

If it were me, I would look into buying a large quantity of meat from a butcher, and grinding and freezing it yourself. It would probably be much cheaper in the long run. My grinder only cost $120 on sale and it works great. When you buy meat at a grocery store level, you are paying for the meat cutting, packaging, retail space, etc in the price.

 

[MunnkieSphynx]

the meat stores will allow me to buy in bulk but it is still already ground and the price doesn't go down its still about 9.00 for each lb of turkey which is a little high. unfortunately all the butcher shops near me are very expensive and high quality for wealthy people in the area, which is great but a little out of my price range to spend that much every week! haha. There are mexican meat markets but i figured the grocery store will have cleaner meats than the mexican meat markets... not sure

I use wild meat that is hunted by our family... I grind it myself.

You *can* use grocery store meat, but it would best if it is not ground. As soon as it is ground, it increases the surface area for bacteria. I know some members here purchase ground meat from the store.

If it were me, I would look into buying a large quantity of meat from a butcher, and grinding and freezing it yourself. It would probably be much cheaper in the long run. My grinder only cost $120 on sale and it works great. When you buy meat at a grocery store level, you are paying for the meat cutting, packaging, retail space, etc in the price.

 

[MollysMom]

I would try the mexican meat market... if they sell you the meat whole in large pieces, you can rinse it well and grind it. Freshness would be what I worry about.

Holy cow, if I had to spend $9 per lb for meat on my guys... we would be broke! They were easily eating a lb a day when they were smaller.

 

[zoinks]

Does it have to be turkey? Can you get ground beef for any cheaper?

We buy meat from grocery stores though some people say not to we have never had a problem. The butchers here are $$$.

I don't buy ground meat though, I buy steaks or chunked beef in bulk for around $3.99/lb and chop it into small cubes as my super fussy Alfie sticks his nose up at ground..

 

[MisterPinkk]

This is all so helpful. I was starting to get super overwhelmed and sad because Machi eats so freakin much and I want her to have all the raw her heart desires, but we're going broke! I found a grinder on Amazon for $70, and I'm going to research some meat markets in the area. Thanks again!

 

[Kate]

I have been using ground chicken purchased from the grocery store, and I've never had any problems. It looks and smells very fresh, and both cats eat it up. It costs about $5 per pound. My kitties are really benefiting from eating the raw diet! It seems expensive, since every 10 days or so I have to go buy meat and prep their food (I used BiTR mix). But, I have calculated the cost and it's actually the same, if not a little cheaper than the canned plus kibble I was using before. I eat the meat from the grocery store, and feed it to my kids .... so surely it's good enough for my furless babies too

 

[Ollie]

My son worked as a butcher at a major grocery store....I wouldn't feed your kitties already ground up meat. Freshness is definitely an issue. Actually I have stopped buying grocery store ground meat if I can avoid it knowing what I do. I buy direct from a farmer/ butcher no antibiotic/ hormone free meat already frozen. Since you are cooking it for yourself, there is less chance of illness but your kitty is eating it raw.

 

[MisterPinkk]

Thanks for the suggestion! Right now I'm buying the meat at a reputable Asian market, with a sprawling deli and live seafood station - I have to weigh out the options as far as quality, pricing, distance, convenience and of course her health. So I did a bit more research and now she's on ground beef, beef chunks, liver, tripe and duck wings for bone. She loves it!