Raw success!

[saymayusf]

I started Mr. B. on Nature's Variety Instinct Raw Bites and so far so good! The only thing is I work 12 hours and am not able to stick around for his breakfast. I don't know what to do as I worry all day at work that he didn't eat it within a safe time frame. I have read several conflicting things about feeding canned/kibble along with raw. I was thinking I should feed him canned or grain free kibble in the mornings and then raw for dinner? But wouldn't that defeat the purpose of raw?

On another note, he's been on raw for only 4 days and already I notice a difference in his poop. It's so much smaller and only about every other day. He's doing Litter Kwitter training so the smell hasn't been an issue since it usually lands in the toilet.

Any ideas would be appreciated. I just don't know what is worse...him possibly eating raw meat that has been sitting out longer than recommended, or giving him a combination of different types of foods?

Thanks!!

-Sara

 

[live2flythesky]

Sara, I feed Darwin the same food except in medallion form. I'm so glad to hear Mr. B is taking to it!

How much time elapses in the AM from the time you get up until the time you leave? You could thaw the bits in a closed container in the fridge overnight and give them the second you roll out of bed. If he doesn't finish by the time you leave, take them up. If I have been in a situation where I only have 15 minutes to feed Darwin and he doesn't finish, I'll put it back in the fridge.

I have noticed that Darwin only wants about 1/2 oz off his daily 4.5-5 oz in the AM. He prefers to eat a dinner and bedtime snack a few hours apart. Maybe this would work for Mr. B?

I don't feed kibble or canned in addition to the raw and don't feel that he needs it. It did take a while for him to get that if he didn't finish his food, he wouldn't get more until the next meal, but he did eventually. Figuring out the portioning (ie small breakfast, large dinner, medium bedtime snack) took me a bit of time and close observation. I have read that Instinct kibble is OK to feed with the raw although I don't understand what makes it different than other kibble (and my understanding is that different digestive rates make raw and kibble contraindicated for feeding together). Maybe someone else can chime in on that?

 

[saymayusf]

Sara, I feed Darwin the same food except in medallion form. I'm so glad to hear Mr. B is taking to it!

How much time elapses in the AM from the time you get up until the time you leave? You could thaw the bits in a closed container in the fridge overnight and give them the second you roll out of bed. If he doesn't finish by the time you leave, take them up. If I have been in a situation where I only have 15 minutes to feed Darwin and he doesn't finish, I'll put it back in the fridge.

I have noticed that Darwin only wants about 1/2 oz off his daily 4.5-5 oz in the AM. He prefers to eat a dinner and bedtime snack a few hours apart. Maybe this would work for Mr. B?

I don't feed kibble or canned in addition to the raw and don't feel that he needs it. It did take a while for him to get that if he didn't finish his food, he wouldn't get more until the next meal, but he did eventually. Figuring out the portioning (ie small breakfast, large dinner, medium bedtime snack) took me a bit of time and close observation. I have read that Instinct kibble is OK to feed with the raw although I don't understand what makes it different than other kibble (and my understanding is that different digestive rates make raw and kibble contraindicated for feeding together). Maybe someone else can chime in on that?

Thanks so much for the advice. What a great idea! I never thought to make his breakfast smaller. I think a dinner and bedtime snack is a perfect plan. I always was afraid of him being too hungry if I gave him a small breakfast, but after research I know it's actually good for them when they are hungry and excited to eat. It was also hard feeding him such big portions divided into two meals since he's a kitten and needs more than normal. And I'll have to suck it up and not feel bad if I have to pick up his food before I leave.

He's also developed a fat pouch in his tummy so I'm hoping raw will be healthier for him too.

Thanks again!

 

[Rwalkerg]

I started Mr. B. on Nature's Variety Instinct Raw Bites and so far so good! The only thing is I work 12 hours and am not able to stick around for his breakfast. I don't know what to do as I worry all day at work that he didn't eat it within a safe time frame. I have read several conflicting things about feeding canned/kibble along with raw. I was thinking I should feed him canned or grain free kibble in the mornings and then raw for dinner? But wouldn't that defeat the purpose of raw?

On another note, he's been on raw for only 4 days and already I notice a difference in his poop. It's so much smaller and only about every other day. He's doing Litter Kwitter training so the smell hasn't been an issue since it usually lands in the toilet.

Any ideas would be appreciated. I just don't know what is worse...him possibly eating raw meat that has been sitting out longer than recommended, or giving him a combination of different types of foods?

Thanks!!

-Sara

I use the Nature's Variety grainfree kibble in addition to the raw they offer - that way the cat has something to munch on all day. I've never had any problems with this, and with getting her on a schedule, she is used to her raw wet meal in the evenings so she tends to save room!

 

[Taraforweb]

Our pet store carries Primal (raw) freeze dried cubes (like ice cube size). They don't have to be refrigerated. I crumble a cube or two (depending on how much she at that morning) for while I am gone at work.

 

[SarahLovee82]

The bits defrost in like 5 minutes, literally! What I do is I take them out before my shower, I go shower and get dressed & then I wait for them to finish before I leave. Don't leave the raw out, its not a good idea. Starla & Bentley rarely eat the same amount, there's always a little bit left on the plate. Its just not safe to leave it out.
I also use the medallions sometimes & I put them in a little tupperware at night & they are ready to go in the morning.
Glad to hear you're having good results! I half feed raw, they still have kibble out all the time. I use Blue Buffalo Wilderness (grain free) they still have good poop & it just works for me. I also break their feedings up. I only give them 1 medallion (or 1/4 cup bits) in the am. As soon as I get home they get another & then right before bed they get a 3rd. It works for us, but you of course have to find what works for you & your baby! Good luck!

 

[SarahLovee82]

I started Mr. B. on Nature's Variety Instinct Raw Bites and so far so good! The only thing is I work 12 hours and am not able to stick around for his breakfast. I don't know what to do as I worry all day at work that he didn't eat it within a safe time frame. I have read several conflicting things about feeding canned/kibble along with raw. I was thinking I should feed him canned or grain free kibble in the mornings and then raw for dinner? But wouldn't that defeat the purpose of raw?

On another note, he's been on raw for only 4 days and already I notice a difference in his poop. It's so much smaller and only about every other day. He's doing Litter Kwitter training so the smell hasn't been an issue since it usually lands in the toilet.

Any ideas would be appreciated. I just don't know what is worse...him possibly eating raw meat that has been sitting out longer than recommended, or giving him a combination of different types of foods?

Thanks!!

-Sara

The bits defrost in like 5 minutes, literally! What I do is I take them out before my shower, I go shower and get dressed & then I wait for them to finish before I leave. Don't leave the raw out, its not a good idea. Starla & Bentley rarely eat the same amount, there's always a little bit left on the plate. Its just not safe to leave it out.
I also use the medallions sometimes & I put them in a little tupperware at night & they are ready to go in the morning.
Glad to hear you're having good results! I half feed raw, they still have kibble out all the time. I use Blue Buffalo Wilderness (grain free) they still have good poop & it just works for me. I also break their feedings up. I only give them 1 medallion (or 1/4 cup bits) in the am. As soon as I get home they get another & then right before bed they get a 3rd. It works for us, but you of course have to find what works for you & your baby! Good luck!

 

[saymayusf]

The bits defrost in like 5 minutes, literally! What I do is I take them out before my shower, I go shower and get dressed & then I wait for them to finish before I leave. Don't leave the raw out, its not a good idea. Starla & Bentley rarely eat the same amount, there's always a little bit left on the plate. Its just not safe to leave it out.
I also use the medallions sometimes & I put them in a little tupperware at night & they are ready to go in the morning.
Glad to hear you're having good results! I half feed raw, they still have kibble out all the time. I use Blue Buffalo Wilderness (grain free) they still have good poop & it just works for me. I also break their feedings up. I only give them 1 medallion (or 1/4 cup bits) in the am. As soon as I get home they get another & then right before bed they get a 3rd. It works for us, but you of course have to find what works for you & your baby! Good luck!

Thanks! I put the bites down as soon as I got up and picked it up before I left. This wouldn't be that complicated if I worked normal hours. I live next to my hospital I work at so I literally wake up and 20 min later I leave. I just feel bad giving him a small breakfast when I don't get home until 8 pm. But I guess that just means his appetite will be good at dinner! He seems to like to wait a good 15 min to finish all his breakfast and by that time I'm already out the door. He ate about 1/4 cup of bits this am so I'm sure he's gonna be yelling at me when I walk through the door!

Luckily I only work 3-4 days a week so it's not an issue the other days!

Thanks again guys!

 

[Flowergirl]

If you're feeding the right amount I don't think it should be a problem.

I feed 2-3 times a day and I know how much each serving should be. He eats the whole portion usually within the hour.

The meat won't spoil THAT quickly, and if it did most cats have the good instinct not to eat it.