Facts vs. Opinions?

Question

I was recently messaged by someone (I won't name names) who told me it's "known" that cats and kittens shouldn't be fed raw meat because of possible parasites....and because it could make the cat more aggressive. While the latter just seems silly to me, the former is what I want to address (I tried to reply to this person privately, but the email address hasn't been confirmed, so it wouldn't go through).

It's true that some vets and nutrition experts advise against feeding pets raw meat because of the possibility of parasitic infection. But still others recommend it as the best way to give your animal proper nutrition. Therefore, it is not a "known fact" that it shouldn't be done, it's simply a matter of opinion. I myself am squeamish around raw meat, so if my cats DO get any of their raw meat patties (from Nature's Variety) it's because my husband prepared it for them. I stick with canned food because, in my opinion, it's a hell of a lot healthier than dry kibble.

Uncle Osbert, where would I begin? If you're REALLY interested in finding out why I think so, read the information on this site;
http://www.catinfo.org

Butters, I like your answer, but you should really read the information on the above website. Dry kibble doesn't do much for a cat's teeth. People wrongly assume it will because hard food is good for OUR teeth, but cat's teeth are nothing like ours. They have none that are designed to mash, so most of the kibble shatters, and is then swallowed whole, with little-to-no abrasive effect on the teeth. To top it off, large chunks can get stuck between the teeth, turn acidic, and form plaque.

SPLATT, there's no need to be so rude. I wasn't relying on the opinion of amateurs. I simply told someone else that canned food and raw meat are better for cats than dry kibble and this person sent me a message being condescending and uninformed. And yes, my cats have a vet, thank you.

Answer 1

I think your understanding of the situation matches mine.

A raw diet is safe, and in fact it's ideal for cats, IF it's properly and carefully prepared. The reason many vets and others advise against it is that they know most people won't take the trouble to make sure it's properly and carefully prepared. And they're probably right about that.

I think you'll find this website interesting:

http://www.catinfo.org

Answer 2

For the aggression, I can comment on that. I do not think it is really a true statement, but there is some truth to it. Iam a vet tech at a cat shelter and we are currently feeding a raw diet to a room of cats that seem to have a food allergy. We order it already "made", it is rabbit and potato. That is it, and it is all ground. WELL...there is an aggression problem between a few of the cats at feeding time with this diet and not other foods. There are 5 that need to be caged BEFORE they hear the package being opened or they start major fighting and going after eaach other and the other cats, an they wolf the food and try and go after the other cats food. I guess it is more of a "food aggression" problem. It is hard to get this food away from these cats also.
Maybe that is what the person was talking about.
Our vet has cautioned us about the illnesses that can be seen feeding a raw diet, and these cats are wormed 4 times yearly also. So far, after three months of feeding this way, we have seen only one episode of diarrhea that seemed to be from one particular package. No lasting effects. One cat was removed from the feeding trial due to vomiting after eating the meat each time and general "intolerance" for the diet.

Answer 3

I don't have an "opinion" and I feed my six cats a raw meat, home-prepared diet with a supplement powder (I don't use bones so I must have a calcium source for their food.) You can see the benefits to the cats on the surface. My six cats are not aggressive in any way, since they are all entering their teen years they are your typical "lazy" house cats.

I rescued a 15 year old cat seven years ago. She has eaten the raw meat for all those years now. Though she has health problems (she is, after all, 100 in human years) she is very perky does well under anesthesia to have her teeth cleaned, loves her food and soft, warm beds etc.

I use the raw meat mixture for dinner for most of my cats (the older one has it twice a day) so I use some canned cat food and even a small amount of dry food. I have never had a case of vomiting (one cat does have hairballs that come up) or diarrhea in all the seven years I have used the raw meat. No cat has had "parasites" or a dietary illness of any sort.

I don't think it is an "opinion" when thousands of holistic and homeopathic vets recommend that animals eat wholesome, human quality foods.

I need to state strongly that NO ONE should consider this any recommendation to run out and buy raw meat for their cat. Any packaged ground meat that is not cooked could be dangerous - thousands and thousands of pounds of meat are run through large commercial grinders and one element of contamination can be spread through all the meat because the grinders are not cleaned scrupulously. I buy my meat from a specialty upscale market where the chicken and turkey are ground only a few times a week, never "packaged" and the grinders are cleaned each day. Pieces of meat like stew meat, chicken wings or breast, thigh meat that have the skin on (not the beef just large chunks) are safe to use. If there is any "contamination" it is on the surface and in an amount small enough for a carnivore to handle.

Answer 4

It's an opinion as it is someone's personal point of view. A fact, on the other hand, is written in stone; you can never, ever change it and it's always going to be that way. For all we know, John could like pizza one day and hate it the next. Opinions can change; facts cannot. For example: Fact: Grass is green. Opinion: She thinks grass is green. ("She" can change her mind at any time she wants. She just might think its purple tomorrow, although I would have to say she's not very bright unless she's colorblind or blind.)

Answer 5

I'm not sure there is a difinitive answer. However, I've struggled with the same question with my dogs. The one interesting point I've come across that makes since to me (at least with dogs) is that many advocates of raw food diets discourage the feeding of raw meat in conjunction with dry food. Dry food takes them longer to digest than raw meat alone and consequently sits in their gut longer. Letting the raw meat to sit in their stomaches for an extended period of time can encourage bacterial growth.

I have given my dogs raw meat without any problem, but I do try to avoid feeding it along with anything that has a long digestion period.

I hope this helps!

Answer 6

well, it is said that a raw diet is healthier for cats though they will still get the e.coli etc so I don't know that that could be healthier for them. I don't know about the whole aggressive part. I feed my cats natural choice complete care indoor formula dry food and as a treat I give them meow mix market select (I only do that maybe once a month or every other month) I would rather give them a treat of something a little bit better for them but as far as canned food or moist food, my one cat will end up throwing it up for some reason.

Though I have been known to give my 2 cats a little bit of my hamburger on a small occation. but they are happy on the dry food.

Answer 7

I've read in one book that some people like doing a "raw foods" diet with their pets...and I've read in other books, that in dogs, raw meat can give them parasites. I say if in doubt, don't, but if you're not in doubt, talk with your vet about a properly balanced raw diet. Also, if you are sticking with a strictly non-dry food diet, be sure to keep a check on your pet's teeth. The hard kibbles help keep plaque off, so you'll want to watch for build up.

Answer 8

well, for parasites there is worming, and an outdoor cat will eat raw meat anyway, it's called mice. ;-) also, if you give your cat raw meat from the supermarket it's parasitefree in the first place, because otherwise its sale would contravene food hygiene laws. in short - don't worry about it. the only raw meat you should never ever give to a cat (or dog, for that matter) is pork because it can contain a virus that'll give them aujetzky's disease, a lethal brain disorder. everything else is just fine. :-) don't give them raw meat all the time, though, just as an occasional treat, because cats, as animals of prey, actually need some veg in their food and not givng them any will lead to malnutrition.

Answer 9

Does your cat have a vet? If yes, then call the vet instead of relying on a bunch of amateurs. If no, then get a vet and ask.

Cats in the wild eat more than raw meat, so if you give them an exclusively raw meat diet they may be missing some vital nutrition. Canned and dry foods provide some of these additional nutrients.

Also, try this web site.

Answer 10

a while ago someone told me that if you give dogs raw meat then it can turn them aggressive and makes them prone to worms. i feedmy dogs raw tripe mixed with clinivet kibble, but i worry about the truth of it, to many vets give differnet opinions and then it confuses us, how can we trust them when that happens. aw i dont no, im confused now anyway