Raw for Cats is Best

In Australia we have been directed by doctors and medical professionals to go more towards a natural diet for ourselves to reduce carbohydrates and increase greens and balance our meat. This has come from our own history, where we ate from the fresh markets or our own garden, and balanced with our protein intake, consuming little to no preservatives. So, if we do the same thing for our cats which we should be doing for ourselves, we would need to go back to the big cats/prairie cats to see how they ate, and what would we find?

Naturally cats are believed to be obligate carnivores, which essentially means that the nutrition they require to thrive must come from the meat, organs and bones of the bodies of other animals. Therefore, it could be assumed that for the cat’s anatomical and physiological design, the most ideal and natural way for them to consume that flesh and bone is in its raw state.

Felines in Nature

In Nature, cats eat their prey whole. Cats are naturally equipped with strong jaws and very sharp teeth that are made for ripping and tearing meat and crunching through the pliable raw bones of small animals. They also have very strong stomach acids and a very short digestive tract that are made to efficiently process raw meat and bone. If you have ever seen a cat consuming a mouse it has caught, you could make the assumption that it is perfectly natural for these animals to eat whole raw foods.

Bioavailability of prey items has not been studied in a laboratory, but there are reasons to believe, from what can be observed in the wild, that it makes for resilient animals in their natural habitats. Wild felines are known to be capable of surviving in harsh conditions with few or no chronic health problems.

Felines Fed as Nature Intends

Cats fed a prey model diet of whole raw foods are compelled to use their jaws and teeth for the purpose they were designed. This slicing and tearing action of ripping apart whole, raw meats and raw meaty bones provides a scrubbing and flossing action that helps to keep gums healthy, teeth clean and white, and jaws strong. A healthy mouth is vital to the overall health of any animal. Additional benefits of a raw diet include:

•  Shinier, healthier skin and coat
•  Firmer, smaller and less smelly stools
•  Reduction in flatulence (gas)
•  Better digestion
•   Improved weight control
•  Less shedding
•  Reduced or eliminated need for veterinary dental work
•  Decrease in abnormal hyperactivity
•  Reduction of skin allergies, fleas and food allergies
•  More energy and stamina
•  Reduced visits to the Veterinarian, due to an overall healthier pet
•  Less wax build-up in ears

Less Processed Food!

Cats more so than dogs, are known to need less processed food due to the enzymes they require to digest. The less processed for cats the better, they do not produce Taurine, and the more a product is manufactured the less Taurine is available to the cat for digestion. Meat, tripe, bone, organ and supplements or a portion of pureed vegetation are filled with the enzymes needed to properly digest and assimilate nutrients. From nutritional analyses done on several types of raw prey items we are led to conclude that they do contain all the essential nutrients required for cats.

By feeding a raw diet, you are giving your cat a greater chance to have their essential amino acids and enzymes in their natural state and in their purest form.

At Instincto, we can provide a high quality raw diet to help cats with health issues improve their condition, or assist healthy cats to stay free of illness and live a long, healthy and happy life!

Browse our Range or please contact us with any questions!