Starting raw

thecatlady3

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I've been researching and I have to admit I'm a little overwhelmed at all the options!
Is it really necessary to put vitamins and supplements in the food or can I just use meat, organ and bone?
Some sites and some posts say one thing and others say yet something different!
I managed to find a local butcher that sells chicken heart liver kidney and other organs all in a package! So I'm guessing it'll be easier than I thought!
From what I've read I'm looking at recipes of 80% meat 10% organ with half of that being the liver, and 10% bone.

I guess I'm just looking for a really simple recipe to get started and go from there! Any ideas please?
 

goingpostal

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  What does your cat eat now?  I would pick up a pack of chicken giblets or game hen, chop it up and see what your cat thinks of it, have you ever offered raw meat before?  Some are picky and a long drawn out switch is needed.  For me I just put down raw instead of canned and my cat gobbled it right down, she took right to it.  I feed prey model raw so no supplements or recipes other than the basic prey ratio 80/10/10.  Some people prefer grinds and exact recipes.  
 
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thecatlady3

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  What does your cat eat now?  I would pick up a pack of chicken giblets or game hen, chop it up and see what your cat thinks of it, have you ever offered raw meat before?  Some are picky and a long drawn out switch is needed.  For me I just put down raw instead of canned and my cat gobbled it right down, she took right to it.  I feed prey model raw so no supplements or recipes other than the basic prey ratio 80/10/10.  Some people prefer grinds and exact recipes.  
I have 3! 2 of them like raw and the other doesn't. I have given them raw before but I am second guessing the company that I purchased from. Their formula is made of chicken backs and necks with organ added. I am just not certain if there is enough meat.
 

vball91

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I would definitely ask the company for the ratios, but it does sound like too much bone and not enough meat if it's purely made from chicken backs and necks. Many people feed prey model raw (the 80/10/10) without additional supplements other than the occasional egg yolks and sardines. Www.catcentric.org is a good site for that. It even has a sample weekly menu. If you want a simple ground recipe, the one on catinfo.org is a good one.
 
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thecatlady3

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Thank you for the links!
My concern is that most still call for vitamins or supplements.
I really don't want to do that. I was hoping to make big batches so not whole prey and freeze in portions.
I'm thinking a pre made mix may be the only option.
 

peaches08

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The point behind the vitamins/supplements/premixes is that oxidation occurs after grinding so we add these to make sure they get what they need.  You won't need these if your cat eats prey model raw (aka frankenprey), but you must be sure that they will eat all of the meal.  Not one cat eats 2 servings of liver and no bone, one eats all the meat and no bone, and one gets stuck with all the bone.  Because I can't police bowls as I run off to school/clinicals, grinding was the best option for me.  I still include chunks of gizzards for dental health though.
 
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thecatlady3

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I have another question about the supplements. I have been looking at commercial raw, mainly red kat blue dog, and it doesn't have any supplements added. If the concern is oxidation during freezing how come they don't add anything extra?
 

peaches08

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I have another question about the supplements. I have been looking at commercial raw, mainly red kat blue dog, and it doesn't have any supplements added. If the concern is oxidation during freezing how come they don't add anything extra?
They are adding supplements via salmon oil, etc.  Note that it says on their website to alternate meals with bone-in meals for calcium.
 
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thecatlady3

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They are adding supplements via salmon oil, etc.  Note that it says on their website to alternate meals with bone-in meals for calcium.
What about taurine though? I don't see that added but is added by a lot of home made raw feeders.
 

peaches08

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What about taurine though? I don't see that added but is added by a lot of home made raw feeders.
The reason raw feeders like myself add taurine to ground food is because of possible oxidation.  Many raw feeders that feed frankenprey do not add taurine, they use hearts and etc.  Some of the foods that Red Dog Blue Cat sells has heart in it.  I'm not a fan of RDBC so I can't definitively say. that whatever food they sell is balanced.
 
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