I haven’t been able to make raw food for several months and I have been paying the price. All kitties in the household acted like they were starving to death at meal times, no matter how much I fed them. Two, including Christy, got raging diarrhea (again!). The diarrhea continued for both, even on grain-free food.
Finally, a couple of days ago, I made a batch. Everyone but Echo was quite excited by the idea. I had a very difficult time transitioning Echo to raw food in the beginning and it looks like Mr. Picky is going to try me again. All the other kitties, however, snarfed it down without hesitation. I could see them thinking, “It’s about time!”
Feeding a Raw Diet can affect Behavior
The most interesting thing to me is the change in their behavior. As I mentioned,
they were acting like they were starving to death. They would mill around while I was getting their food ready, meowing and fussing with one another. My most Siamesey mix was driving me crazy with her yowling. Even before meal time, she would go to the area where she is fed and start up. Oh my gosh, please shut up! After only two days back on raw food, they patiently wait while I get their food ready then they race to their designated area to eat. No more meowing, yowling or fussing.
I had one cat that had taken to living in a bedroom upstairs, except at meal time, because she would get chased as soon as meal time was over. No more. She is now back down stairs and content. No one seems to feel the need to chase her.
I am actually feeding them less raw food than they were getting of commercially canned food. They get about two ounces twice a day of raw versus the three ounces twice a day of commercial. Their appetites are more easily satisfied with higher quality protein with no grain or vegetables as filler.
Benefits of a raw diet
- Improved digestion
- Greatly reduced stool odor and volume
- Healthy coat, less shedding, fewer hairballs
- Increased energy
- Weight loss is easily achieved if overweight
- Better dental health
- Better urinary health
A raw diet has so many benefits but this change in behavior is one of the most welcome. Oh, and the diarrhea has already cleared up.
Recipe you go by ? I see a lot on the web but I like asking 😉 my cat was doing really well on raw food and suddenly is acting jumpy and wild . Going to check if it is just more energy or if my recipe isn’t right ?
My cat won’t eat anything but dry food. I tried canned cat food, “people’s” tuna, bits of meat: he’s not interested. He had dry food in the shelter before I adopted him. He’s happy and healthy, but I’ve heard of cats on dry food developing diabetes. Is he ok staying on dry food?