What kind of meat you can feed your cat

Surely many cat owners at least once tried to feed their cat natural food. Most cats find raw meat to their liking, but in some cases it can end up very sadly. Let's skip ahead a bit: at Murkosha we never feed our pets natural meat, and it's not because of our greed at all. The reasons why we do it, you will find in this article.

What kind of meat to feed cats and cats?

The basic diet of cats is meat, because a cat is an obligatory carnivore that needs meat every day, and not milk, cereal or vegetables. The basis of the diet may be lean poultry, beef, rabbit and other meats. This article is part of "Natural Cat Nutrition".

What kind of meat can I give my cat? The diet includes both the muscular parts of the carcass (fillets, legs, thighs, etc.) and by-products. By-products are a healthy part of the diet, while costing much less. It is ideal to combine different types of meat and by-products: the variety of the diet increases the chances that the cat will get everything it needs. So what types of meat are allowed in a cat's diet?

Different types of meat can be served in mixes, combining with each other. Many owners, after buying meat and by-products, cut them into pieces, mix them up and put them in bags: 1 bag = 1 portion or 1 daily dose. Then everything is refrozen for at least 3 days and after defrosting it is served to the cat.

It is also possible to feed each type of meat individually. It is possible not to try to give all products every day as part of a mix or try to give all available meats during the week. The important thing is that the cat gets everything it needs within 2 months. So you can feed turkey for a whole week, then switch to beef, and so on.

Watch the video for an example of a cat playing with a large piece of meat and then eating it. In this case it is beef, evening mono-feeding. In the morning he gets a mix for a change. And at night he gets a big piece so he doesn't have to worry about food until morning.

Of course, we do not forget that every day, along with the meat should also receive a sufficient amount of calcium, which is obtained either from the bones or from special supplements. Otherwise you can create an imbalance of calcium and phosphorus in the animal's body, which will lead to serious pathologies. Read more about this in the article "Calcium for cats".

What by-products can cats eat?

By-products (giblets) are internal organs and less valuable parts of carcasses, so they cost less. But by-products have different nutritional and taste values, so they are divided into categories. For example, liver or tongue are not inferior to meat, but lungs and trachea are depleted in micronutrients and not as tasty.

By-products must be combined: then the cat will get everything it needs. There is an opinion that by proportions the by-products should be chosen so that the quantity of each of them corresponds to the proportion of the same organ in a mouse – the cat's natural prey. But to do this you will have to run with kitchen scales, which is inconvenient.

The important thing is that a cat can easily digest and assimilate its stomach, heart, liver, kidneys, other organs and meat at the same time, which means that you don't have to breed them all at different feedings. And you can give them in turn: one product at each feeding. But remember that liver and spleen are recommended to give only as part of the mixes.

In general, the natural food is good by the fact that the same trace element can be contained in different products, so the owners are free to select them at their discretion, creating countless combinations.

Why Adult Cats Can't Have Milk

Kittens need their mother's milk. If for any reason they are deprived of it, it is acceptable to replace it with special formula from the veterinary drugstore, goat milk, 10% cow's cream, in extreme cases whole milk.

With the onset of adolescence, the body undergoes a restructuring and the animals produce less of the enzyme needed to fully digest milk. In adults comes lactose intolerance, there is no breakdown of the product into simple sugars and their absorption into the blood. The intestines of the individual become fermented due to lactic bacteria, which leads to bloating, increased gas and diarrhea.

Sour cream, butter and cheeses are also undesirable in a pet's diet because of their high fat content and salt.

Dairy products – kefir, acidophilus, ryazhenka, yogurt without sugar will not harm cats.

Fish for cats – benefits or harms

Fish and any seafood are not on the list of definitely prohibited, but they should be included in pets' diets with caution.

Fish should only be saltwater and fresh, containing no feed additives (not grown in factories or farms).

It makes no sense to give it boiled, as heat treatment reduces enzyme content and therefore micronutrients will not be absorbed.

Catch from the river is likely to contain helminths and the pet will be infected, and if the fish is boiled it will be useless. Certainly all varieties of carp are prohibited, since eating them leads to destruction of vitamin B1 and liver damage.

It is allowed to give cats not more than once a week low-fat and fresh sea varieties: hake, cod, sardine, trout, shrimps and squids that have been cleaned and scalded with boiling water. But in order to feed such seafood to the animal, one must live on the shore of the sea or ocean.

Since it is almost impossible to buy quality saltwater fish in stores nowadays, it is recommended to exclude it from the diet of modern cats.

How much meat, by-products and eggs can cats eat?

Not all types of meat are good for cats. Experts recommend feeding the animal chicken, turkey, lean parts of beef and lamb, rabbit, veal. Pork, duck, goose, and overly fatty meat are contraindicated for cats. Products should preferably be bought from proven places, and be sure to ask for veterinary certificates (without them the meat can not be sold at all).

After buying it, it is recommended to put it in the freezer for a few days. Before feeding, scald it with boiling water or boil it a little.

Also in the diet should be present by-products. The most useful for cats is liver. Unlike meat, by-products are recommended to be given to the pet in boiled form. Chicken or beef liver should be boiled or well-frozen and scalded with boiling water before feeding. The first option is preferable because liver can contain both helminth eggs and many harmful substances. Raw by-products can also provoke digestive upset in the cat, manifested by constipation or diarrhea.

Eggs also help provide protein to the animal's body. Feeding cats raw eggs is not necessary since it can lead to salmonella illness. Boiled egg whites are a pleasure for cats. They like yolk too, but its quantity should be reasonable, you should not overdo it.

Chicken heads are not very useful, but boiled necks should be given. You can also offer your cat kidneys, hearts and stomachs.

Cats do not need veins, bones, and other waste products. Tubular bones can damage the digestive tract of the pet. Meat should be given in the form of fillets, cleaned of bones.

Cats can also eat fish. It is also a useful and necessary protein for these animals. However, in the diet of neutered cats the content of fish should be reduced to a minimum. The fact is that this product is rich in phosphorus, and an excess of this element in the body of a neutered cat or spayed cat provokes the development of urolithiasis.

The dangers of raw meat

In the wild, no one cooks for cats, and they eat their prey raw, together with all the giblets, fur and other parts. But this way of eating has one danger: worm infestation. The same danger threatens a domestic cat if you feed it raw meat. Freezing helps with some types of helminths, but not all.

In addition, the meat may be present in their eggs, even if it successfully passed the veterinary inspection. The fact is that doctors check the product, but they do not assume that a person will eat it raw. And in the process of heat treatment the eggs of most worms are killed. Pets are given meat in raw or semi raw form, so the risk of parasitic infestation is quite high.

We recommend reading the article about worms in cats and kittens to protect your pet.

What are the dangers of raw meat

The main danger of raw meat is the possible presence of pathogenic bacteria and parasites . By the way, it is pork meat that is often contaminated with worms, E. coli and other parasites. Lamb also contains worms and other parasites.

Before giving the cat raw meat, you should freeze it in the freezer at about -18 degrees and for at least 72 hours. Such a measure helps to kill the larvae of helminths if they were in the meat. It is also recommended to treat the meat with boiling water – the main thing is to do it quickly, and not to keep the meat in hot water, otherwise you can destroy the useful substances. Salt or pepper meat for cats is categorically not allowed, and they should not be given smoked or fried meat.

It is important to choose quality fresh meat for your cat, preferably from proven places. But before adding it to the diet, it is better to consult with a veterinarian. He will make an individual nutrition program and possibly recommend the inclusion of food in the menu.

Read also:

What kind of meat can you give a cat

Meat gives cats protein and amino acids. They need protein more than other pets: in the absence of liver enzymes break down their own proteins. Meat becomes the main source of taurine. It is not synthesized in the body of cats, with a lack of it vision falls, the work of internal organs is disturbed.

The benefit of the product increases if it is processed correctly:

• Cats are fed fresh meat fillets. Skin, bones, fat layers are removed. The exception is chicken necks and cartilage, they are ground in a meat grinder and periodically given to the pet.
• The pieces are cut into 1 cm slices: they give the right load to the teeth and gums and are normally digested.
• Stuffing is prepared from lean varieties, but is not given regularly.
• Before serving, bring to room temperature or 2 degrees higher: hot burns the mucous membranes, frozen is bad for the stomach.
• When cooking do not add fat, salt and spices. It is useful to season with vegetable oil.
• Subproducts are included as an additional source of vitamins and minerals, fed twice a week. Liver and heart are more useful, lungs, kidneys, stomachs are allowed if the animal likes them.

Varieties of meat are alternated, they differ in the composition of useful components.

The table shows the varieties that can be given to the pet:

What meats should not be fed to cats

• Freshly steamed. Unprocessed meat is a potential source of harmful bacteria, larvae and helminth eggs.
• Salted. Salt disrupts the balance of minerals and retains fluid.
• Fried. Excess oil upsets metabolism.
• Canned .. To increase shelf life, ingredients harmful to the cat are included: salt, seasonings, spices.
• Smoked .. Wood smoke contains volatile carcinogens. When smoked for industrial purposes, meat is watered down with an artificial liquid that corrodes the mucous membrane of the stomach and gives an allergic reaction.
• Jerky. The product is kept in a marinade with additives harmful to animals: salt, vinegar, spices, garlic.
• Meat waste .. Bones, paws, heads traumatize the digestive organs, chicken, turkey skin cats do not digest. Trimmings are taken from the surface of a piece, so they contain pathogenic microbes.
• Pieces larger than 2 cm.. Large slices are difficult to chew, which makes the nutrients less digestible.
• Mashed meat. A cat's teeth need a lot of work, and if he is fed soft food all the time, it will break down. Mashed foods are good for kittens or adult animals with digestive problems.

The table lists the varieties that should not be given to a pet:

WHICH RAW MEAT IS CONSIDERED MOST USEFUL FOR CATS?

The stomach of the average member of the feline family easily and quickly digests absolutely any meat in raw form. A healthy cat can safely eat raw beef, lamb, rabbit and even horse meat, as well as chicken and turkey meat. It is in the red meat is very high in protein and iron, which is especially necessary for pets of the feline family. At the same time, the fat content is minimal. Such a product rarely leads to a negative reaction from the body, it is convenient and comfortable to bite. In addition, the teeth are self-cleaning during bites of such food.

Considering the question of what kind of raw meat can be given to the cat, it is necessary to highlight turkey. It has a very high protein content, the percentage of absorption of which by the cat's body is the maximum. Moreover, turkey meat is ideal for animals with poor digestion, and it can also be used by young kittens. This product is high in vitamins A and E, calcium and iron, and there are also many essential amino acids.

Particular attention in this list, of course, deserves a chicken. Its meat is lean and tender. In chicken meat there is an impressive proportion of protein and almost no fat. But chicken skin should not be given to cats, because it is almost indigestible and bad for the gastrointestinal tract.

Our veterinary clinic in Istra It is recommended to refrain from feeding cats excessively fatty meat, which includes goose and pork. If constantly consumed, it provokes numerous pathologies of the digestive organs. These include gastrointestinal disorders and pancreatitis. And we are talking about the thermally processed meat, and raw it is dangerous because it can be helminths and viruses that remain in such flesh, even after treatment with boiling water.

Other kinds of meat may also be dangerous for cats, especially if you buy it in doubtful shops and if you do not pass veterinary health examination.

WHAT IS THE INSIDIOUSNESS OF EATING RAW CAT MEAT?

The main threat comes from parasites that can be found in raw meat. The greatest likelihood of encountering them comes when a cat eats pork, and the lowest risks come from eating horse meat and poultry, particularly chicken. These products should only be purchased from verified stores. It is advisable to ask the seller to show appropriate certificates. Large animal carcasses are usually branded. These are animals such as cows, sheep, and horses.

Studying the question of what meat is good for cats, you should familiarize yourself with the rules of introducing this product in the diet of the domestic "predator". It is acceptable to give it every day, but it is best in the morning. It is desirable to cut the meat into small pieces, and ideally mixed with mashed vegetables. You can also offer the pet by-products in the form of liver, heart, lungs, tendons. But they should be in the diet only occasionally, as their overabundance is dangerous to the health of the pet. But minced meat and bones are not allowed.

So, what kind of meat to feed the cat, raw or boiled? Boiled meat should not be given to cats. Considering the question of how to properly feed a cat meat, it is worth noting that when boiled, many useful substances are volatilized. These are vitamins, minerals, trace elements, amino acids. You can give cats boiled meat only if the pet does not eat raw meat. In other situations, it is better to give this product without heat treatment. If you have questions, the website provides Address of the veterinary clinic in Istra "VELES". , as well as contact phone numbers. Do not hesitate to contact us! We are always ready to help.

Useful properties of meat

It is impossible not to admit that meat still has several advantages, the most important of them – high protein content, without which the functioning of all the vital organs is impossible. Beef, rabbit and poultry are considered especially useful for cats, because they have relatively little fat and less often cause food allergies. It is important to eat meat raw so that the essential amino acids and vitamins are not lost during heat treatment.

Eating meat not only gives the cat gastronomic pleasure, but also brushes its teeth. The fibrous structure and veins remove plaque and prevent tartar from forming on the teeth. For this reason, it is better to cut the meat into large enough pieces, so that the cat has to try a little harder to satisfy its hunger.

If you add meat to the cat's diet regularly, you will notice that the cat becomes more active and more playful. Forget about calm: the kitten will want to play often, hunt for his favorite toy, engage in "climbing" on the furniture. The fact that it will begin to exacerbate the natural instincts. But do not worry, because it will have a positive effect on his overall health, and also significantly increase the tone of the body and immunity.

Not everything is so clear-cut

According to some scientists, feeding kittens raw meat can lead to secondary nutritional hyperparathyroidism, consisting of low blood calcium levels, vitamin D deficiency and an excess of phosphorus. This ailment leads to bone abnormalities and musculoskeletal disorders. If you notice lameness in your pet, eliminate meat from the cat's diet right away and head to the vet as soon as possible.

Another reason why many owners refuse to include raw meat in the cat's diet is the danger of infection with bacterial infections, worms and other parasites. The fact is that without heat treatment (this is the only way to preserve all the useful substances) the probability of their entry into the blood of the animal is quite high, which can cause many inflammatory processes throughout the body. Also note that blanching makes no sense, since in this case only the "shell" of the piece of meat is treated. The only alternative to heat treatment is deep freezing in industrial freezers.

In addition, feeding only meat can cause an imbalance in the diet, which in addition to protein must consist of fats, carbohydrates and fiber. It is obligatory for a cat to eat vegetable crops for the proper functioning of the gastrointestinal tract and for the excretion of foreign bodies such as hair.

Some time ago it became popular to buy a special herb for the pet, with the help of which the process of eliminating toxins from the body through the gastrointestinal tract takes place.

What kind of meat is allowed for cats

Depending on the source, meat contains a different set of nutrients, so you should alternate types of animal products in the diet. It should be kept in mind that the diet should not consist entirely of meat. Otherwise the pet will be deficient in vitamins and minerals contained in other foods.

It is better to buy meat in whole pieces, and chop it to the right size at home. Stuffing should not be fed to the animal. Prefer products of high quality and buy them from reliable sellers where the meat meets all safety requirements. When buying, check the packaging that contains the meat. It should be whole, not bloated, and it should not smell like bad food.

Be sure to check the expiration date. Meat can be stored in the refrigerator from 1 to 3 days, in the freezer – from 6 months to 1 year. The exact shelf life and temperature are listed on the package.

To feed your pet meat, it must be properly prepared. During preparation, observe a few recommendations:

• The cat's diet includes the sirloin part of the meat (fat, skin and bones should be removed);
• First place the meat for at least 2 days (or preferably 3-4 days) in a freezer (18 degrees below zero) to kill possible parasites;
• The meat is scalded with boiling water to kill bacteria;
• Salt, spices and fat are not added during cooking;
• Do not give large chunks of meat, the meat should be cut into slices;
• Slices should be placed in a bowl at room temperature, and no frozen or hot foods should be allowed;
• Sub-products (liver, heart and cartilage) may be included in the diet.

• Chicken This type of meat is one of the most accessible, so it is popular when feeding cats. Chicken meat is high in protein and low in fat, it is considered a dietary product and rarely causes allergies. Chicken breast contains unsaturated fatty acids and together with chicken necks (ground in a meat grinder) is a source of calcium, essential for many processes in the body. Collagen from soft cartilage supports connective tissue function. Thigh meat and chicken meat (dark meat), which is high in taurine, an important amino acid for cats, are also suitable for feeding.
• Turkey Turkey meat has the highest protein content. It is quick and easy to digest and is suitable for kittens with immature digestive systems. Thanks to vitamin A, turkey meat has a positive effect on the immune system, calcium strengthens bones and teeth, and iron supports the nervous system. Turkey also contains taurine, good for the cardiovascular system and increases visual acuity. Parts of turkey suitable for the diet: breast, thighs, wings.
• Beef Red beef meat is rich in protein and iron and has little fat. Useful substances of beef are well preserved in raw form, and its smell is very attractive to the pet. Because the meat is fibrous, the cat's teeth are naturally cleaned during chewing. Beef tenderloin is rich in zinc and iron, and B vitamins keep hemoglobin at the right level. There is even more vitamin A, E, B group and iron in beef liver. Calf meat matches the mineral and protein composition of beef.

What kind of meat should not be given to a cat

• Meat that has not been processed (steamed) – can be a source of dangerous bacteria and parasites;
• Salted meat that disrupts the water-salt balance;
• Fried meat can cause or aggravate pancreatitis because of the large amount of trans fats produced during frying;
• Canned foods that contain salts and spices that are harmful to the pet;
• Smoked foods soaked in smoking fluid and smoke are harmful to the stomach, can cause allergies and contribute to cancer;
• Dried (cured), soaked in harmful marinade with salt and spices;
• Bones and traumatic animal parts.

Do not give meat in large pieces. It is difficult for a cat to chew them, which results in poor absorption of nutrients. Conversely, excessively chopped meat or mashed potatoes do not provide the optimal load for the cat's teeth. An exception to this would be to feed mashed meat to kittens or adult animals with gastrointestinal diseases.

• Pork Pork meat and by-products are too fatty for the body of cats. Frequent consumption of pork can lead to a number of diseases, such as kidney failure, cirrhosis of the liver, and pancreatitis. Pork meat can also provoke allergic reactions and intestinal disorders. Pork is often the source of parasites, from which even heat treatment does not help get rid.
• Goose and duck The meat of these birds is also high in fat. Muscle fibres in geese become tough after six months of age, which makes it difficult for a cat to digest.
• Lamb Due to the high fat content, ram meat is difficult for cats to digest.

It is not recommended to feed minced meat from the store to cats – it is greasy and may contain skin. The skin of chickens and turkeys is forbidden – not only is it greasy, but it is also difficult to digest and may contain dangerous bacteria.

The gist of Pottenger's experiment: give cats raw or cooked meat?

Dr. Pottenger originally used cats in other experiments to help sick people. Because, actually, he was a human doctor. But it turned out that the cooked diet offered to the cats caused them to die prematurely and jeopardized other experiments that would ultimately serve humanity. As a result, another task was set: to find out which diet was healthier for cats – raw or heat-treated – and to answer the question, is raw or cooked meat healthier for cats?

Pottenger's experiment used a diet of meat, more specifically meat scraps and bones, as well as milk and cod liver oil. Pottenger's experiment was conducted from 1932 to 1942. During that time, 900 cats were studied and regularly subjected to a complete health check. Several generations of different genetic branches were studied, allowing conclusions to be drawn not only about the effect of diet on a particular individual, but also about the effect of ancestral diets on the health of offspring.

The study was conducted in a sanatorium in Monrovia (California, USA), founded by Dr. Pottenger Sr. for the treatment of humans.The experimental animals were divided into two groups. The first was fed exclusively raw meat and milk. Cod liver oil was used as a supplement.

The second group was fed boiled meat (some individuals were also given raw meat) plus pasteurized milk. Cod liver oil was also given to the cats in the second group. What did the results of the multi-year experiment show? Is raw meat in a cat's diet a caprice or a necessary and essential ingredient?

Feeding cats raw meat: the results

The healthiest cats turned out to be those that received raw meat. They died mostly because of advanced age or injuries in fights, but not from diseases. Such cats lived longer. Their sexual drive was high. In each litter were born kittens of approximately the same size and development – their chests and skulls remained large, muzzles were wide, teeth big, bodies strong and large. The number of kittens in one litter averaged five.

Types of meat for cats

As a perfect carnivore, a cat can consume almost any kind of meat. But not all can be eaten raw, not all will fit as a base of nutrition, and not all will give the same nutritional value. Want to know all about what kinds of meat and by-products to give a cat? Read this article. And below are the most common and available meats.

Can I feed my cat raw chicken meat?

Chicken meat given to cats raw is normal. Homemade chicken that has not been fed hormones and has not been soaked in antibiotics after slaughter is fine to use. So the answer to the question of whether cats can be given raw chicken meat is yes. But with a caveat: if the chicken meat is from a factory that is into chemistry and soaking in antibiotics, it is better to refuse such poultry altogether and not give it even in boiled form. It can have a negative reaction, including allergic reactions.

Can I feed my cat raw beef?

Definitely yes. Beef is not the best meat for cats, as it is more difficult to digest than poultry. Nevertheless, it is worth including it in the diet if possible. The thing to be wary of in beef is possible helminths if it comes from a household that has not been prevented. Even so, the answer to the question of whether cats can be given raw beef will be in the affirmative, because before giving it to the cat it still needs to be refrozen.

You should not give steamed beef. Or, if you do it sometimes (for example, your neighbors sell fresh meat, and you can't deny your cat the pleasure), give it before you deworm the cat.

Can cats eat raw turkey meat?

Yes. It is a very healthy and dietary meat, indicated even for sick cats. The great nutritional value is not the breast, but the legs.