Important Note: Raw is Good, Cooked is Dangerous!

We want to draw your attention to a very important point:
* Raw bones are safe and healthy: When cats eat a mouse in nature, they also eat the bones. Raw bones are soft and flexible; they can be digested and provide important minerals like calcium and phosphorus.
* COOKED BONES ARE EXTREMELY DANGEROUS! Heat changes the structure of bones, making them brittle and hard. Cooked bones can splinter and cause severe internal injuries (e.g., in the mouth, esophagus, stomach, or intestines) or lead to blockages. Never give your cat cooked bones!

A Word on Commercial Cat Food

If you cannot feed your cat homemade raw food, it is extremely important that you carefully check the ingredients on the packaging when buying commercial cat food!
Pay particular attention to these points:

• Meat Content: How much actual meat (muscle meat, offal) is truly included? Choose food with a very high meat content.
• Grains: Cats do not need grains. Unfortunately, most cat foods available here in Pakistan contain a very high proportion of grain products like corn, wheat, or rice. These are difficult for cats to digest, provide hardly any nutrients, and can even cause allergies or digestive problems. Avoid food with a lot of grains!
• Sugar and Artificial Additives: These have no place in cat food.

Caution: Why Dry Food is Very Unsuitable for Cats!

A particularly important point that many people don't know: Dry food is very unhealthy for cats in the long run and can lead to serious diseases!

• Cats are Desert Animals: Cats originally descended from desert animals. Their bodies are designed to obtain most of the fluid they need from their food. They don't have a strong thirst reflex and naturally drink very little.
• High Moisture Requirement: A cat's natural prey (mouse, bird) consists of 70-80% water. Dry food, on the other hand, contains only about 5-10% moisture.
• Consequences of Chronic Dehydration: If a cat primarily eats dry food, it chronically consumes too little fluid. This leads to their kidneys constantly being overworked to detoxify the body and concentrate urine. Over time, this can lead to severe kidney diseases, urinary tract infections, bladder infections, and the formation of urinary crystals or bladder stones. These diseases are often painful and can significantly shorten your cat's life.
• The Importance of Wet Food or Raw Food: For all these reasons, it is essential that your cat's food has a high moisture content. If you don't feed raw, choose high-quality wet food with a high meat content and no grains.

What Belongs in Homemade Raw Food?

A balanced raw food meal for your cat should primarily consist of the following components:

• Muscle Meat: For example, chicken, beef, lamb, or turkey.
• Offal: Such as heart and kidneys – these are rich in vitamins and minerals. The total proportion of offal (including liver) should not exceed 5-10% of the total diet.
• CAUTION with Liver: Liver is very rich in Vitamin A. Too much liver can lead to an overdose of Vitamin A, as this vitamin is stored by the cat's body. Such an overdose can be harmful in the long run. As a rule of thumb, liver should make up approximately 5% of the total food amount.
• Raw Meaty Bones: For example, chicken necks or wings. These provide important calcium and phosphorus. As a rough guide, aim for about 10-15% of the total diet to consist of raw, meaty bones, such as chicken necks. Make sure the bones are not too large and that your cat can chew them well.
• Fish (raw and with small bones): You can also feed your cat fish, ideally raw fish including the smaller bones. These provide additional minerals and are, if raw, soft and pliable. Choose fish types with many small bones that can be digested without problems, such as sardines or small mackerel. Avoid larger, sharp bones.
• Eggs (cooked whole or raw yolk): Eggs can be a valuable addition. You can offer your cat a whole, hard-boiled egg or feed the egg yolk raw. The raw egg white should not be fed as it contains avidin, which binds biotin in the cat's body and can lead to a biotin deficiency. Biotin is important for skin and coat. Cooked egg white is harmless.
• A Small Proportion of Vegetables or Fruits (pureed): When a cat eats a mouse in nature, it also ingests pre-digested plant components and fiber from the mouse's stomach contents. A small proportion of pureed vegetables or fruits can replace these fibers in raw feeding. Cats cannot break down plant matter well, so the amount should be kept small.
• Supplements: To ensure your cat receives all necessary vitamins and minerals, supplements like taurine (essential for cats!), fish oil, and vitamin complexes may be necessary.

Hygiene is Key!
When preparing raw food, absolute hygiene is crucial to prevent the spread of bacteria:

• Use separate cutting boards and utensils for raw meat.
• Clean all surfaces and hands thoroughly after preparation.
• Always store raw food in the refrigerator or freezer.

Transitioning to Raw Food: Step-by-Step to Success