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Website design By BotEap.comSome myths about cats never seem to die and are quite difficult to correct. One of those myths is the belief that cats go wild, even wild, if they are fed raw meat.
Website design By BotEap.comThis idea keeps popping up on lists, forums, Q&A sites, chat rooms, and yes, even in line at the grocery store when someone buys a large package of chicken and mentions it’s for cats.
Website design By BotEap.com“Aren’t you afraid your cats will go crazy?”
Website design By BotEap.com“You shouldn’t give that to your cats. They’ll go crazy you know?”
Website design By BotEap.comWell, no. Not really. What they do, however, is sometimes grunt. This is a natural response and has even been observed in some cats when they eat a bowl of dry kibble. Perhaps it has more to do with “ownership” and serves as a warning to other nearby cats to wait their turn. It can also be a sign of pure enjoyment. After all, meat is their natural diet, the craving they were born with.
Website design By BotEap.comAt our shelter, when cats in poor health, or strays who are clearly underweight, arrive, they are fed raw meat, if they accept it. In all cases, without exception so far, they have all improved fairly quickly. Some grunt, some don’t. And that?
Website design By BotEap.comThose who were conditioned to eat only dry food took much longer to recover and seemed to need more help, such as medications and visits to the vet. Individuals fed raw foods flourished into friendly, adoptable cats in no time.
Website design By BotEap.comThe biggest opposition voiced by traditional veterinarians is usually fear of salmonella. Well, it’s not like we’re feeding the cats an old, rotten chicken that was discarded or for sale because it was out of date. We use fresh human grade chicken. And while salmonella is still a concern for humans, requiring meat to be cooked thoroughly, cats have a different physiology than we do.
Website design By BotEap.comIn the wild, predatory animals are specially prepared to eat meat that may not be safe for us. Their digestive tracts are shorter and their digestive juices are much more acidic, allowing meat to digest quickly and safely, unless someone has interfered with and poisoned it. But that is a different issue.
Website design By BotEap.comIn any case, take precautions when preparing raw meats for your pets. Wear rubber gloves and keep all surfaces and utensils, like cutting boards and knives, clean, disinfecting them when you’re done. This is more for your safety than the cat’s.
Website design By BotEap.comAs for the grunts? Do not worry about that. Remember, the problem is with the owner, not the cat. However, it would be wise not to touch the area with your hands. If a very hungry cat is feeling protective of its food, it may get scratched, but we haven’t seen that behavior very often.
