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9 Potential Risks & Benefits of Raw Cat Food: Our Vet Explains

Dr. Luqman Javed, DVM (Vet)

By Dr. Luqman Javed, DVM (Vet)

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Written by

Dr. Luqman Javed

DVM (Veterinarian)

The information is current and up-to-date in accordance with the latest veterinarian research.

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When it comes to your cat’s diet, there are plenty of options available on the market today. From dry kibble to canned food to fresh food, owners can get caught up in a sea of confusion when trying to decide which diet is right for their cat.

Raw meat-based diets have been growing increasingly popular among cat owners. As more cat lovers become aware of raw cat food diets, it’s important to understand both the benefits and risks associated with such a diet.

Just like us, our cats are individuals with unique needs. Therefore, we always recommend speaking directly with your veterinarian or cat nutritionist before you ever make any changes to their food or add any supplements to their diet.

In this article, we will look at raw meat-based diets in greater detail.

hepper-cat-paw-dividerWhat is a Raw Meat Based Diet?

A raw meat-based diet is a diet that includes uncooked ingredients derived from food animal species that are fed to pets. These ingredients include skeletal muscles, internal organs, and bones from mammals (example: beef, lamb), fish, or poultry as well as unpasteurized milk and uncooked eggs.

Raw meat-based diets can be divided into two main categories: commercial and home-prepared.

Commercial Raw Meat Based Diets

These diets usually come fresh, frozen, or freeze-dried forms and are intended to be nutritionally complete. They are formulated to meet values listed in the AAFCO Cat Food Nutrient Profiles, and individual diets may meet requirements for all life stages of your cat.1 However, some of these diets are labelled as supplemental; this means they are not nutritionally complete and balanced. A supplemental commercial diet cannot be used as a standalone diet for your cat, as it isn’t nutritionally complete. Another rare form of commercial raw diets are carbohydrate premixes. These include grains, vitamins, and minerals and are designed with the intention that owners will add a raw meat protein source of their choice to the mix to provide their pets with a meal.

Home Prepared Raw Meat Based Diets

these formulations are recipes, feeding regimens, and diet plans that are made by individuals at home, but aren’t subjected to any testing to ascertain whether or not they provide your cat with all the nutrition they need. A wide variety of programs exist for such diet plans. While commercial raw meat-based diets usually aim to be nutritionally complete, home prepared diets are often based on a rotation of ingredients with a belief that variety in diet will provide a good mix of the essential amino acids, fatty acids, vitamins, and minerals  your cat needs to live a healthy life.

feeding cat with raw chicken
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The 6 Potential Benefits of a Raw Meat Based Diet

1. Enhancing and Reinforcing the Pet-Owner Bond

One of the biggest advantages of raw meat-based diets is the impact they may have on your relationship with your furry friend. For many owners, feeding their cats is a very important aspect of their day to day life, and it is also the best way they can influence and care for the well-being of their cats. At the same time, many non-raw commercial diets are confusing and complicated to understand, with ingredients and additives that may make no sense to many folks.  Owners want to do what is best for their cats, including feeding them properly. The simplicity of the ingredients in raw diets may help owners enhance the bond they have with their furry friends. Although many owners may not understand complicated medical procedures and terms, they can easily understand the concept of what they are feeding their cats, and the concept of raw diets is very easy  to grasp and comprehend.


2. Feeling Natural

Another advantage of raw diets is the fact that they are mostly natural, and many owners feel this is appropriate because wild cats, the ancestor of our domestic cats, eat natural diets too. This makes owners feel that raw diets are the best for their furry friends and eating natural food will help their cats develop cleaner teeth, shinier coats, and better wellness. Some research has suggested that processing, rendering, and the inclusion of additives and preservatives in non-raw diets are unhealthy and may cause disease. ²The natural approach of raw diets may lessen these risks.

cat eating raw chicken
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3. Perception of Better Safety

In recent years, the trend of raw-meat based diets has risen because of some call-backs for commercial, non-raw diets. For a long time, commercial diets were considered very low risk, making the case for a raw diet difficult. However, no diet is without risks. In 2007, a recall on commercial pet food due to contamination rang alarm bells among pet owners.3 For many owners, seeing how even commercial non-raw food has safety risks made a case for switching to raw as an alternative to protect their pet cats from potential health risks.


4. Anecdotal Health Benefits

there are many anecdotal benefits of feeding your cat a raw diet. Although they all require further extensive research to be made into true claims, they are still quite plausible. Owners who use such a diet have claimed the following benefits.

Anecdotal Health Benefits of a Raw Meat Based Diet:
  • An improvement in coat and skin
  • Elimination of bad breath
  • Improved energy levels
  • Improved behavior
  • Reduction in certain ailments, such as parasites and obesity

It is however important to reiterate that all these claims are thus far anecdotal only, and require further testing before they may be validated.

Tuxedo cat running at high speed indoors
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5. Improved Digestibility

studies on raw meat-based diets have found that they are more digestible than some non-raw diets. In one study, investigators found higher amounts of dry matter, energy, and proteins in raw meat-based diets. Another study in cats4 found significantly higher energy and nutrient digestibility of a raw meat-based diet compared to a dry kibble diet. Research has also found that improved digestibility results in less food in the large intestine and less fecal output. This may be perceived as a benefit by some pet owners.


6. Potentially Improved Immunity

Another study on cats that were fed a raw meat-based diet for 10 weeks found that there was a significant increase in some white blood cells versus cats that were fed a commercial moist diet. However, the potential benefits of these changes and the effects of long-term feeding of a raw diet haven’t been critically evaluated yet.

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The 3 Potential Risks of Raw Meat Based Diets

Though there are many claimed potential benefits of raw meat-based diets, there are risks associated with it as well. Broadly speaking, the risks of raw diets are better understood and researched than the potential benefits, which is a big reason behind the controversy of this feeding style. Let’s explore some of the most documented risks.

1. Nutritional Risks

the biggest drawback to raw meat-based diets is that many research projects done on these diets have found deficiencies in them, which pose a risk to your cat’s health in the long term. One study in the US tested 3 home-prepared and 2 commercial raw meat-based diets and found that all of them had nutritional imbalances. Additional studies of over 90 raw meat-based diets and recipes had similar results for animals that had existing health conditions, such as cancer and chronic kidney disease. To date, this remains one of the biggest risks associated with raw diets. It is also important to note that though studies have shown that raw-food diets have better digestibility of some ingredients, non-raw diets have better nutritional digestibility for others and are found to be much more reliably compliant with AAFCO feline requirements.

cat with raw food
Image Credit: Nils Jacobi, Shutterstock

2. Safety Risks

Another risk with raw meat-based diets is that they may be contaminated with pathogens which pose a danger to both cats and their owners. Cats that are fed raw diets are also known to shed bacteria that are potentially detrimental to both humans and other cats. Salmonella remains a major concern with raw diets in research. However, certain commercial raw meat-based companies use high-pressure pasteurization to reduce these risks.


3. Other Health Risks

Other risks exist for raw meat-based diets as well. For example, a cat may chew on a bone added to a raw diet and potentially break a tooth or choke if they eat too quickly. Raw meats may also carry other pathogens that are detrimental to your cat’s health, such as parasites. The risks for humans have been extensively documented; cats that are intended as emotional support animals cannot legally be put on a raw meat-based diet because of these risks.

In addition, though not a risk, it is important to note that raw diets may be more expensive and time-consuming than non-raw options, especially if the diets are being prepared at home by pet owners. The ingredients used in home-cooked raw diets may not be readily available or sourced depending on the time of year or potential supply chain disruptions from butchers or meat shops. Owners that are busy are not able to fully commit to a raw diet program, and switching between diet types frequently and suddenly is detrimental for your cat’s digestive health.

cat cuddled by a bearded man
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Precautions When Feeding Your Cat Raw Meat-Based Diets

Because raw meat-based diets are surging in popularity at a pace faster than research on them is being done, there are certain precautions you should take if you intend to switch your cat to such a diet. These include the following:

  • Always consult with your veterinarian or a cat nutritionist before attempting to transition your cat to a raw meat-based diet.
  • Closely monitor your cat for any adverse reactions as you transition them to a raw diet. Often, these include signs of gastrointestinal distress, such as diarrhea, vomiting, or inappetence. Consult with your veterinarian if you have any concerns about your feline’s welfare as you transition them to a raw diet.
  • Take your cat for frequent veterinary check-ups. Routine welfare checks and diagnostic workup such as blood analysis, serum biochemistry, urine tests, and fecal tests done by your vet give them clues about your cat’s welfare and help them give you the best possible advice for your feline’s health and well-being. Again, as research on raw diets is still inconclusive, these check-ups are extremely paramount to your cat’s well-being.
  • Source your ingredients from facilities, shops, and suppliers that have the appropriate health and safety certifications and clearances to operate where you live.
  • Keep an eye on the news for the recall of any raw ingredients by your local authorities. If ingredients you have purchased have been recalled, do not feed them to your cat and discard them as advised by the authorities making the announcement.
  • Extra caution is required when attempting to add any raw fish as part of a raw meat-based diet for cats. Many species of fish contains an enzyme called thiaminase, which can lead to thiamine deficiency in cats if consumed raw for long periods of time.   

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Final Thoughts

Any diet one intends to use for their cat has inherent risks and benefits associated with it. Though there are many anecdotal benefits of feeding cats a raw meat-based diet, many of these claims haven’t been studied extensively enough to make reliant claims about their long-term use. At the same time, the risks associated with the diet have been extensively researched and documented, and should be taken seriously before committing to the change.

It is important to stay on top of veterinary check-ups, nutritional research, and raw-food news to ensure you provide your cat with the best possible diet and quality of life. The dedication you put towards your feline’s culinary well-being will allow your cat to live a happy, healthy, and fulfilling life.

+Sources
  1. Nestle M, Neshein M. Feed your pet right: the authoritative guide to feeding your dog and cat. New York: Free Press: 2010
  2. Volhard W, Brown KL. The holistic guide for a healthy dog. New York: Howell Book House, 1995.
  3. Crissey SD, Swanson JA, Lintzenich BA, et al. Use of a raw meat-based diet or a dry kibble diet for sand cats (Felis margarita). J Anim Sci 1997;75:2154-2160
  4. Kerr KR, Vester Boler BM, Morris CL, et al. Apparent total tract energy and macronutrient digestibility and fecal fermentative end-product concentrations of domestic cats fed extruded, raw beef-based, and cooked beef-based diets. J Anim Sci 2012;90:515-522
  5. Freeman, Lisa & Chandler, Marjorie & Hamper, Beth & Weeth, Lisa. (2013). Current knowledge about the risks and benefits of raw meat-based diets for dogs and cats. Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Association. 243. 1549-1558. 10.2460/javma.243.11.1549.
  6. Freeman, LM, Michel KR. Evaluation of raw food diets (Erratum published in J Am Vet Med Assoc 2001;218:1716). J Am Vet Med Assoc 2001;218:705-709
  7. Pedrinelli, Vivian & Gomes, Marcia & Carciofi, Aulus. (2017). Analysis of recipes of home-prepared diets for dogs and cats published in Portuguese. Journal of Nutritional Science. 6. 10.1017/jns.2017.31.
  8. Larsen JA, Parks EM, Heinze CR, Fascetti AJ. Evaluation of recipes for home-prepared diets for dogs and cats with chronic kidney disease. J Am Vet Med Assoc. 2012 Mar 1;240(5):532-8. doi: 10.2460/javma.240.5.532. PMID: 22332622.
 

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