Why a Natural Diet

Cats have evolved over thousands of years on a diet of freshly killed prey. They can kill animals up to about their own size and generally consume the whole carcass, including legs, beak, head, tail, stomach (and contents), bones and fur or feathers.

Cooked food is not natural, alters the nutritional value and kills the enzymes. Additionally, processed pet foods often contain harmful additives, such as preservatives, colours, etc which are not in a cat’s long term interest.

Despite the claims made by the manufacturers, dried food is particularly harmful as it has a high ash content and can lead to kidney and digestive problems later in life. Additionally, in some processed cat food, diseased meat is used, along with other rejects for human consumption, giving the overall balance of a very low grade food.

Cats on a natural diet are less prone to disease and live healthier lives. They are more resistant to fleas and worms. Vet bills can be drastically cut.

Dr Edward Bach (1920’s) and Dr Pottenger (1930’s) both found huge improvements in health in people and animals on a raw food diet. They found that the greatly improved immune system was then capable of fighting off severe chronic disease.

My suggestions for a natural diet are based on two meals a day. One is a red meat meal, the other a bony chicken piece. The red meat meal can be any red meat your cat likes, but bear in mind the proportion of different cuts of meat on a carcass. Most of the meat is muscle meat, so base most of the meat on this. Organ meat (liver, heart, kidneys) are a minor part of a carcass, so keep these down in proportion. I make half the meal a medium fat mince or diced meat, varying the other half with liver once a week, kidneys and heart once or twice a week, fish once a week, kangaroo meat once or twice a week and maybe brain or tongue.

Meal One

This is based on half a chicken wing or a whole chicken neck. This provides protein, fat, calcium and above all, crunching on a bone cleans the teeth and keeps the gums healthy. Bear in mind an older cat may have tartar build up on his teeth or broken teeth, so check them first or have a vet check them.

Cut the wing into two sections at the first joint. The two smallest pieces makes one meal, whilst the fleshiest end makes one meal. A chicken neck makes one meal.
Do remember that cooked chicken bones splinter and can choke a cat. It is only raw bones that cats can cope with.

Kittens at about six weeks can be started off with the smallest end joint and will usually take to it straight away. (This is insufficient on its own as a meal for a growing kitten.) If necessary cut the section into smaller pieces, gradually increasing the size until the kitten can manage the whole piece.
Bones larger than those found in a chicken wing should not be given as the cat may chip it’s teeth.

Meal Two

This is based on red meat. It needs to be supplemented with calcium and other nutrients a cat will obtain from eating a whole carcass.

Pet mince is often too high in fat and/or preservatives so should be avoided, unless you know what went into it.

Cats need about 30% animal fat in their diet so avoid the very lean cuts and low fat mince. Lamb or mutton mince normally has a suitable fat content. Kangaroo meat is very popular with most cats, although low in fat, so don’t feed exclusively.

Liver is high in Vitamin A, the one vitamin that, if consumed in excess can cause problems.
Remove bones from larger fish such as cod. Those in smaller fish, such as sardines, can be left.

Proportions for meal two.

• 1 rounded tablespoon (100 gm) diced or minced, raw, red meat, fish or a combination.
• Calcium must be supplemented if the cat is not crunching up chicken wings/necks. The best source is the homoeopathic form (Calc phos or Calc carb 6x, 12x, or 6c). Dose is 2 drops on each meat meal. Powdered calcium is not easily absorbed. Never use dolomite.
• 1/4 tsp oil (safflower is best) or a mix of 3 parts safflower, 1 part cod liver oil, a good dash wheat germ oil if the cat doesn’t eat liver or is confined indoors. Keep in dark container or fridge. Cold pressed oil is best.
• kelp or spirulina are great all round natural supplements. Dose is about 1/4 tsp.
  moisten with water and occassionally some beaten egg.

Optional additions according to your cat's likes and dislikes.

• 1 level tsp vegetable (eg raw grated carrot, zucchini, pumpkin green beans, defrosted peas or sweet corn - not potato or spinach) or fresh fruit, (eg melon, paw paw, avocado - not rhubarb). Be guided by your cat.
• 1/2 level tsp soaked rolled oats or equivalent of wholemeal bread (no salt, sugar, preservatives, colour, etc). Eliminate in overweight cats.

Some herbs and a little garlic are beneficial in the diet. Your cat will let you know which are acceptable and how often.

Most cats are intolerant of the lactose in ordinary milk and this can cause diarrhoea. Lactose free milk is available, but ensure it doesn’t contain salt or sugar. Oat, soy or rice milk are suitable alternatives.

Natural ‘live’ yoghourt helps normalise gut flora when the cat has diarrhoea, or after antibiotics.

Cats are true carnivores and need animal protein so should never be fed a vegetarian diet.

General

Quantity of food depends on how your cat looks and acts. Active and young cats need more food than less active or older ones. Overfeeding is just as bad as underfeeding. Feed slightly more in winter (about 10%).

When you run your fingers down the spine, you should be able to feel the bones, but they should not be prominent. The area of the abdomen behind the rib cage should carry on with about the same girth. Wasting shows underfeeding, while bulging shows overfeeding.

A healthy cat is sleek and glossy, the skin clean, the eyes bright. On picking up a fold of skin at the shoulders, it should return quickly to normal. Slow return means dehydration.

ALWAYS KEEP A BOWL OF FRESH WATER AVAILABLE - use only food grade plastic, glass or china bowls.

If you shop once a week, the cat can have three to four days of fresh food, the rest being frozen. Some nutrients are lost by freezing but it is far less destructive than cooking. Allow the food to come to room temperature naturally.

Free range, organically grown and biodynamically produce d food are best as they have no growth hormones, antibiotics, fertilisers or pesticides in them. Cats are particularly sensitive to chemicals in their food.

Two meals a day is sufficient for adult cats, while kittens need four until about three months, when you can taper them down to three, finally reaching two at about five months old, varying according to appetite and condition.

If all this sounds too complicated, aim for the meat with calcium (one meal) and chicken wing/neck (second meal). The rest can follow as and when you and your cat are ready to try more. It does take time to change, but it is worth it!

For a few days the cat may show detoxification signs - vomiting, diarrhoea, eczema, etc. Don’t interfere as this is normal, natural and of short duration.