Starting our journey for RAW feeding

[kellyannallen]

Hello Larians...

I am starting today with trying to see if Zino will eat or change over and eat a raw diet.

I am very glad I have this site to help me and Zino.

It is probably going to be trial and error. And I do want him to be eating the right food, we didn't have a choice until now because our Furry Lio would and couldn't tolerate many foods even raw and Zino had to eat what Lio did, there wasn't a choice at that time.

I'm in Germany, so I might not be able to get the foods you do in the UK and USA, but the information here is great.

And here most RAW is the BARF diet for dogs, cats are really just starting in the main pet food stores.

So, I got frozen chopped up beef hearts (There was only a 3 kilo brick of horsemeat or pollock frozen otherwise), and dried tuna flakes (JUST dried Tuna) to tempt him and his first portion is currently thawing.

I know this isn't how he needs to eat completely, but I need to find good sources of other products just for cats, other than having a local butcher grind and blend what I need.

At the moment, My wife isn't totally for me doing it myself from raw product, and we don't have freezer space to do so either.

I hope Zino takes to it, our siamese Nym did not and Lio couldn't and we would really like to get Zino off the Sheba and Wiskas wet food and Purina one Bifensis dry to where Zino needs to eat to be really happy and healthy.

Keep your fingers crossed..... and paws!

 

[Catzzzmeow]

Wishing you good luck on the transition! Keep us in the loop.

 

[kellyannallen]

Will do!

 

[kauna]

Keep us posted on the progress! Best wishes that the transition goes smoothly

 

[babymeow]

Hello Larians...

I am starting today with trying to see if Zino will eat or change over and eat a raw diet.

I am very glad I have this site to help me and Zino.

It is probably going to be trial and error. And I do want him to be eating the right food, we didn't have a choice until now because our Furry Lio would and couldn't tolerate many foods even raw and Zino had to eat what Lio did, there wasn't a choice at that time.

I'm in Germany, so I might not be able to get the foods you do in the UK and USA, but the information here is great.

And here most RAW is the BARF diet for dogs, cats are really just starting in the main pet food stores.

So, I got frozen chopped up beef hearts (There was only a 3 kilo brick of horsemeat or pollock frozen otherwise), and dried tuna flakes (JUST dried Tuna) to tempt him and his first portion is currently thawing.

I know this isn't how he needs to eat completely, but I need to find good sources of other products just for cats, other than having a local butcher grind and blend what I need.

At the moment, My wife isn't totally for me doing it myself from raw product, and we don't have freezer space to do so either.

I hope Zino takes to it, our siamese Nym did not and Lio couldn't and we would really like to get Zino off the Sheba and Wiskas wet food and Purina one Bifensis dry to where Zino needs to eat to be really happy and healthy.

Keep your fingers crossed..... and paws!

Good luck I hope it goes well! I just saw a Youtube video on pet food and it was so depressing what is packaged in pet food . I am thinking going semi-raw myself now. Here is the video if you or anyone here want to see:



And website from one of the people in the documentary:

Susan Thixton – Truth about Pet Food

 

[kellyannallen]

Hi!

Unfortunately I can't view the video, it is listed as unavailable.

Well, he is eating it, the beef heart chunks with Bonitio flakes. I have to cut the chunks a bit smaller since the product is for dogs and cats, but he ate all of a 40 gram portion last night and about 3/4 of this mornings portion. (About 45 grams)

Small cat steps. But I'll be looking for more ground product if I can than this rough cut, I don't want him to not eat it if its too big and I don't want him to choke either.

He's not throwing it up either.

At the moment the 40 grams will be what he gets (With the flakes) plus his normal food and we will continue onwards to changing over.

 

[kellyannallen]

Okay... I have a question actually.....

When buying a finished BARF (Raw) diet, is it normal for it to have fruit and vegetables in it?
this is one of the complete menus (Its translated from the German and I wanted to know if this is correct)

BARF feeding made easy: the grain-free Felifine Complete Nuggets offer a natural, meat-rich meal that contains all the nutrients and vital substances your cat needs. With 20% duck and 55% turkey, they provide valuable animal proteins and are particularly aromatic. The menu is supplemented by 13% fruit and vegetables as well as rapeseed oil. The latter, with unsaturated omega fatty acids, supports normal skin and a shiny coat. In addition, a sensible and balanced content of vitamins, minerals and trace elements rounds off the menu. The result is a complete feed for BARFER that meets the highest quality standards.

I mean I expected to have to add vitamins and other minerals, but what is actually right for Zino? Pure meat? then add in Salmon oil and Taurine? God.... He's eating the beef hearts (Chunked and frozen and I thaw them out) I want to do what is right for him.....

 

[Yoda mom]

@kellyannallen, tagging @Sheldon13 , @Xandria
and others to chime in to answer your question.

 

[babymeow]

Hi!

Unfortunately I can't view the video, it is listed as unavailable.

Well, he is eating it, the beef heart chunks with Bonitio flakes. I have to cut the chunks a bit smaller since the product is for dogs and cats, but he ate all of a 40 gram portion last night and about 3/4 of this mornings portion. (About 45 grams)

Small cat steps. But I'll be looking for more ground product if I can than this rough cut, I don't want him to not eat it if its too big and I don't want him to choke either.

He's not throwing it up either.

At the moment the 40 grams will be what he gets (With the flakes) plus his normal food and we will continue onwards to changing over.

Here is a link again or you can try searching Pet fooled documentary on you tube if you want to watch it.

Yes definitely small cat steps... I just bought a food dehydrator lol. I'm hoping I can make some food jerky for my kitten and some goodies for me too. Has anyone used a food dehydrator to make pet food?

 

[babymeow]

Okay... I have a question actually.....

When buying a finished BARF (Raw) diet, is it normal for it to have fruit and vegetables in it?
this is one of the complete menus (Its translated from the German and I wanted to know if this is correct)

BARF feeding made easy: the grain-free Felifine Complete Nuggets offer a natural, meat-rich meal that contains all the nutrients and vital substances your cat needs. With 20% duck and 55% turkey, they provide valuable animal proteins and are particularly aromatic. The menu is supplemented by 13% fruit and vegetables as well as rapeseed oil. The latter, with unsaturated omega fatty acids, supports normal skin and a shiny coat. In addition, a sensible and balanced content of vitamins, minerals and trace elements rounds off the menu. The result is a complete feed for BARFER that meets the highest quality standards.

I mean I expected to have to add vitamins and other minerals, but what is actually right for Zino? Pure meat? then add in Salmon oil and Taurine? God.... He's eating the beef hearts (Chunked and frozen and I thaw them out) I want to do what is right for him.....

Have you seen her video?



or hers (This lady uses a food grinder)?



Hopefully you can glean some information for your recipe. Don't worry about perfection, it's a learning process and it doesn't have to be perfect.

 

[kellyannallen]

Have you seen her video?



or hers (This lady uses a food grinder)?



Hopefully you can glean some information for your recipe. Don't worry about perfection, it's a learning process and it doesn't have to be perfect.

I'll watch later but thanks for all the info! And the time and help!
Kelly

 

[Yoda mom]

@Sheldon13

 

[Bailey21]

I live in Canada so it might be different from Germany, but here prepackaged raw for cats does not contain any fruit and vegetables. Only the dog meals have added fruit and veg. Here the feline choices are ground meat, organs and bones and as you mentioned I add fish oil and taurine. Fruit and vegetables I don’t think will harm them in any way if I can remember, it’s just not needed per say. Here is a chart of the percentages of each ingredient that I grabbed off the website of the raw brand I feed. Hope this helps

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[kellyannallen]

I live in Canada so it might be different from Germany, but here prepackaged raw for cats does not contain any fruit and vegetables. Only the dog meals have added fruit and veg. Here the feline choices are ground meat, organs and bones and as you mentioned I add fish oil and taurine. Fruit and vegetables I don’t think will harm them in any way if I can remember, it’s just not needed per say. Here is a chart of the percentages of each ingredient that I grabbed off the website of the raw brand I feed. Hope this helps

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Thank you! I'll see if I can find something like this. I know that US brands would have a hard time in the EU because of hormone and Gene Technic ingredients.