Spooked By Salmonella: Raw Food!!!

Written by Margaret Gates

Thursday, March 04, 2010 11:01 AM

Page 2 of 2

If your cat were to eat a varied, fresh prey diet, she would get all of the nutrients she requires directly from her food. This kind of diet is not practical for indoor companion cats. Frankenprey diets, consisting of varied whole parts of animals fed so that a nutritional balance is attained over a set period of time, are the next closest to prey-based diets. Properly planned, this type of diet usually requires no supplementation. Even this type of diet is not practical for many people, and cats sometimes will not eat it. Feeding a ground raw diet is the easiest and most practical method of raw feeding, but grinding and freezing does cause some loss of nutrients, so supplements are required to be certain your cat gets enough essential nutrients.

Whatever method of raw feeding you choose — ground, frankenprey or a combination of the two — variety is important. Meats vary in their nutritional profile, and feeding a range of meats provides the best overall assurance that your cat will get all the nutrients she needs.

When Feeding a Raw Diet, Follow Safe Handling Procedures:

Use meat that is as fresh as possible, from a reputable source, and rinse it to help remove surface bacteria.
Never buy supermarket ground meat. You don't know how long it has been sitting around, growing bacteria. Also, you don't know the cleanliness of the grinding equipment.
When grinding your own, freeze it immediately after processing. Refrigerate portions that will be eaten that day or the next.
Keep your equipment, bowls and surfaces squeaky clean. Use a cat-safe vinegar and water sterilizing solution on surfaces that your cat comes into direct contact with.
Avoid cross-contamination of utensils, surfaces, foods and hands.
Discard food that has been sitting out too long.
Thaw frozen meat properly in the refrigerator, never at room temperature.
Warm raw food in a baggie in a bowl of warm water. Do not microwave it. This only cooks it, which reduces the available nutrients you've worked so hard to get. Cooking makes any bone in the food brittle, indigestible and possibly dangerous.
For serving raw food, use metal or glass plates or bowls. Plastic can develop scratches that can harbor bacteria. Alternatively, you can use paper plates and throw them out after use.
It's a good idea to wear gloves when handling raw meat.