Can I Give My Cat Raw Meat?

Since cats in the wild eat it all the time, you may be wondering if it’s OK to give your cat raw meat. Can a domesticated cat’s digestive system handle it, and will they actually enjoy eating it if they’re used to dry or wet cat food every day.

Raw meat has some benefits over cooked meat, at least in the animal world. By being raw, it’s closer to the way a cat would naturally eat its meat. By cooking meat, it ends up losing a lot of its flavor, juiciness, and nutrients. Cats would never cook their meat out in nature, so this is really the way it was intended. When you give your cat raw meat there are a few things you should keep in mind, and procedures to follow for safety.

One benefit is that you know raw meat isn’t stuffed with a bunch of fillers and additives, it’s the real deal. It will give them a throwback to their wild ancestry, and it is full of protein and will help them keep their muscle structure functioning well.

Can I Give My Cat Raw Meat? Answer: Yes, But Not Necessary

Your cat can handle most types of raw meat, occasionally and in small portions, and not designed as a replacement for their normal cat food regimen. Domesticated animals thrive on consistency and predictability. They like to have their set meal time and they don’t mind getting the same portion of the same food day in and day out. Yes, it would drive a person insane, but even though cats can be finicky they easily get into a daily routine and come to rely on it.

Raw Fish
You might think that raw fish is OK because us humans eat sushi all the time and only rarely get sick from it. While you’re cooking up fish for the family you might be tempted to give them a morsel or two of the raw fillet, seeing how cats are believed to be fish lovers. But the bacteria that are in the raw fish is not good for them, and it’s not like you’re going to give them a dab of wasabi to go along with it.

Raw Chicken
Raw chicken has its own concerns because of salmonella, but cats seem unphased by it, so you don’t have to worry too much about it. Raw chicken has a lot of good things in it for cats, and they’ll probably like the taste and texture of it. Just be sure they don’t get too used to it, or they may have trouble returning to their ordinary food. Raw chicken is definitely something that cats would consume if left to their own hunting skills, so this is right up their alley.

Raw Egg
Raw egg has the same salmonella issues as chicken, but again that’s not a major concern for cats. It’s easy to imagine a cat coming upon a nest of eggs in the wild and eating them, but they wouldn’t be preferred if there were other alternatives to be had. If you’re going to give your cat a raw egg, make sure you separate the yolk from the white and just give them the yolk, as that’s got all the nutrients, and lets you avoid some potentially bad stuff for cats found in the egg white.

Is It Really Necessary?
Before giving your pet any raw meat, you should stop and consider whether this is the best thing for them. You don’t need to supplement their diet, the way our diets benefit from diversity. Cats can basically eat the same brand of cat food day in and day out and they will be just fine. When you start toying with the idea of giving your cat foods that cause you to question if it’s OK to give them, it’s a slippery slope, and can develop into the bad habit of giving them all sorts of things they don’t need. It eventually over-complicates their diet and they will have trouble being content with just ordinary cat food.

If you have further concerns, be sure to run it past your vet to get their input on whether or not to give your cat raw meat. Only they know your cat’s medical history, and whether that breed responds well to it.

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