What Do You Feed Your Cats?
- The Holistic Feline
- Sep 21, 2024
- 8 min read
Updated: May 11
I am passionate about and personally believe in species appropriate raw feeding, especially for our felines.
I feed all fosters and my resident feline Milly species appropriate feline formulated
pre-made frozen raw. Sustainably, humanely, and clean sourced, because source matters (just as in human food).
| Tip: always serve food at room temperature and/or warmed with warm filtered water or (organic) bone broth for pets. Never serve main meals chilled, cold or frozen- especially so for cats! Some dogs enjoy treats/food enrichment frozen.
The health benefits of a species appropriate fresh food and/or raw diet are unrivaled, especially paralleled to its commercial feed counterparts, and the proof is in the pudding! Their skin and coat are silky smooth, shiny, thick and luxurious with little to no dandruff. Their eyes are bright and clear. Bowel movements occur about 1x-2x every 24hrs and the poop is small with minimal-to-no odor. This means the digestibility rate is high and the feline (pet) is absorbing almost all the nutrients in the food. Which is what we want!
Fresh food and/or raw feeding has the ability to potentially prevent, manage, remit, or reverse ailments and diseases, including some of the most challenging and common in pet health.
| Fun Fact: Milly’s hydrocephalus-related ataxia and tremors decreased substantially after her shunt placement surgery AND even more so when placed on a species appropriate raw food diet. So much so, if you would look at her today it is close to zero- only when she gets Very excited you may notice slight head movement. I will do a before and after video of her ataxia/tremors pre raw vs. post raw someday soon :)
Raw pet food is available in four different mediums, all of which provide healthful benefits; frozen raw, freeze dried raw, dehydrated raw, air dried raw. Always rehydrate/add moisture to freeze dried, dehydrated, air dried raw varietals - moisture within the food is fundamental to your pets health!
| Fact: our pet “food” is actually created under feed regulations not food regulations, and the difference is BIG! There are big determining factors to what is allowed in human consumed food vs. animal consumed feed. Our pets food actually should be and accurately be called “pet feed”. For more information on food vs. feed in the pet food industry this brochure by Truth About Pet Food is thorough and fantastic!
Personally I prefer to only use brands who harvest their animals from certified humanely raised farms; use human grade food, ingredients, and supplements (all organic preferred); and are manufactured in a human food facility. That’s just me!
However, there are times I have used raw brands that don’t meet all preferred criteria but still provide a healthful species appropriate diet (ex. non organic or manufactured in a licensed pet food facility vs. human food facility).
Below are brands that meet my preferred criteria that I either use and/or recommend:
Fetching Foods: human grade, clean humane sourcing, whole food nutrition with organic produce/supplements, made in USDA kitchens. A company known for their made fresh-to-order methodology (no stockpile!) and their abundant novel protein selection. Available in-store at their Las Vegas location and website direct, ships nationwide. Receive 10% off your first order with code HOLISTIC10.
Savage Cat: I use their frozen cat food.
VIVA: human grade, clean humane sourcing, whole food nutrition with organic produce/supplements, made in USDA kitchens. A company known for their transparency. Available only website direct, ships nationwide. Receive 20% off (or 60% off!) your first order at the link or by using code THEHOLISTICFELINE. Note: their promotional offer will be either 20% off or 60% off at time of check out!
Soul’y Raw: available website direct, ships nationwide (except WA state); also available in very select retail stores in CA, OR, CO
SmallBatch: available at independent pet food stores throughout USA & Western Canada; some distribution found in South Korea, China, Singapore, Hong Kong (2024); plus one approved retailer on Amazon (freeze dried varietals, treats, bone broth only); Paw Naturals retail store offers shipping on frozen items; some shelf stable products available on Chewy, and most independent pet food stores offer shipping on shelf stable products
I strive for treats to meet the same above preferred criteria set forth for raw meals. However, some of the ones listed below may be lacking in one or more preferred criteria but they are still a healthy option and better alternative to the standard pet treat.
| Tip: general rule of thumb when selecting treats- choose single ingredient treats that are either fresh/frozen or freeze dried/air dried raw (ex. quail egg, blueberries, freeze dried chicken hearts, frozen/air dried chicken feet, air dried pork ear, etc.).
Below are treats I use and recommend. I will be adding to my treat repertoire :)
Green Tripe. I use the freeze-dried green tripe varietals from Oma's Pride and GreenTripe.com. However, I will make note, each of these brands also make a frozen raw version of their green tripe, which I will begin to feed in rotation as well :)
Green Tripe is a nutrient-dense "superfood" for pets. It offers massive digestive, immune, and skin benefits for dogs/cats, largely due to high levels of probiotics (specifically Lactobacillus acidophilus), digestive enzymes. It provides dietary fiber that improves nutrient absorption, promotes growth of healthy gut bacteria, regulates bowel movements, and has a near perfect 1:1 calcium-to-phosphorus ratio. {source: rawessentials.co.nz /greentripe.com} Tip!: Oma's Pride also offers raw meaty bones & ground (RMB) frames! More info on RMB below!
Fetching Foods Large Bites (for oral health): it is large chunks of frozen raw meat (served unthawed of course!). They have a great selection of (8) core protein chunks to choose from with the addition of monthly specials that at times include novel protein chunks like alligator bites, ostrich bites, etc. "By giving them chunks they're forced to use those teeth (pre-molars+molars) to cut the meat in order to swallow it. When that happens there's a scraping and the natural enzymes in the meat do their jobs. After about a week of adding some chunk in the food, you should start to see those sparkly whites again." {source: fetchingfoods.com}. Use code HOLISTIC10 for 10% off your first Fetching Foods order!
Savage Cat: I use their freeze-dried (whole) rabbit organs. They also have a great selection of raw meaty bones (RMB) including whole prey quail, and quail eggs both raw+freeze-dried, plus dehydrated rabbit hide with fur. Treats are also dog friendly! More info on RMB below!
CoCo Therapy: I have used their chicken+beet+coconut combo organ bite treats and their turkey+pumpkin+coconut combo organ bite treats! Milly loves both but she goes crazy for their chicken combo one! We also have CoCo Therapy's Organic Hairball Plus (coconut chips) on hand for hairball management if ever needed (we have not needed it yet!). It's also great for healthy digestion, stool regularity, healthy skin/coat, manage shedding. I also have their coconut oil and MCT-3 Oil - I've not given it to Milly yet, BUT I have used both for myself! :)
Winnie Lou: Milly loves their freeze-dried raw bison liver bits and bison heart bits for cats! They have a larger selection for dogs.
A Better Treat: Milly loves their freeze-dried raw organic beef liver treats; and their freeze-dried raw organic chicken breast treats. Their treats are made for both cat+dog.
Vital Essentials: I use their single ingredient freeze dried treats on a regular basis, and have used their frozen and freeze dried raw entrees; available at independent pet stores throughout US & Canada; some products available website direct, ships nationwide; freeze dried varietals and treats also available on Chewy.
Tiki Cat Stix by Tiki Pets: my healthier alternative to the popular lick-able puree tube; available independent pet food stores and most large chain #pet food stores nationwide; also available on Chewy. *Disclosure: I'm not a fan of "natural flavors" or any type of gum in pet food or treats (or human food!), I made an exception here because it's every once in a while and she absolutely loves lick-able puree tubes
SmallBatch: available at independent pet food stores throughout USA & Western Canada; some distribution found in South Korea, China, Singapore, Hong Kong (2024); plus one approved retailer on Amazon (freeze dried varietals, treats, bone broth only); Paw Naturals retail store offers shipping on frozen items; some shelf stable products available on Chewy, and most independent pet food stores offer shipping on shelf stable products.
Food selection is a very personal preference with many layering factors. My #1 advice is to feed a species appropriate diet, rich in animal protein and moisture. My #2 advice is feed the most healthful clean nutritionally appropriate food your pet will eat and is in your budget. There are SO many alternatives (below) to dry kibble that are nutritionally better for your pet, and your pocket!
Please see THF Food List for a comprehensive all inclusive food recommendation list for both cats and dogs. Disclosing 8 Healthy Alternatives to Kibble plus recommended brands in each category providing Real Food for our Pets!
| Fact: when feeding a species appropriate fresh food and/or raw diet, you will more than likely see your vet bill decrease, as your pet becomes healthier and less likely to experience/ endure/succumb to food-related health ailments and diseases.
Food-related effects are one of the leading hidden root causes behind most pet health challenges - IBD; cancer; UTI; bladder/kidney stones, blockages, and/or failure; allergies and excessive itching/scratching; excessive yeast production/buildup (the browning of the fur around eyes, ears, nose, feet, anus,); and so many more!
Note: always obtain an annual wellness check by a trusted veterinarian professional (holistic-integrative vet preferred) for maintenance and prevention to err on the side of caution, as non-food related concerns can surface.
| Tip: I highly recommend finding a trusted Veterinarian professional who believes in and supports species appropriate fresh food and/or raw feeding. It will make your vet experience much smoother, a real partnership in your pets health care. Please remember you know your pet better than anyone else, and you have the final word/decision in your pets health care. Period.
Visit article 'Finding a Raw-Friendly Vet' by RAWK9 for assistance with finding an aligned veterinary professional. Plus their 10 Raw Feeding Myths Debunked for more raw info!
Dr. Tom Lonsdale also has really great resources to learn all about why and how to feed your pet (dogs, cats, ferrets) raw meaty bones! He whole-heartedly believes in providing raw meaty bones to your pets as their primary diet. He provides science and numerous case studies to back this lifestyle up. His info is OUTSTANDING, and even if you don't believe raw meaty bones should be a pets primary diet, it most definitely should at least be a regular add-on to your pets existing diet.
| Tip: Be sure to check out Dr. Tom Lonsdale on Season 2 of The Holistic Feline & Friends Podcast. Dr. Tom graces us 3x, in three separate episodes! You can find him in S2 E1: PET FOOD INDUSTRY EXPLAINED; S2 E9 RISING VET COSTS EXPLAINED; and S2 E10 RAW MEATY BONES EXPLAINED. I highly recommend you have a listen! <3 … and be sure to check out each of his episodes corresponding POD BLOG posts that will include more information and links to all the good stuff mentioned within its episode!
As I share knowledge through experience, this is a no judgement zone. I was a former commercial pet “food” feed consumer. There are many things I would have done differently if given the opportunity to go back in time. However that’s not the case, so I choose to do things differently in present/future time and share the learned knowledge that I wish was shared with me; so others may have no regrets and a healthy long-lived pet companion <3
To learn why feline nutrition and species appropriate feeding is a passion near and dear to my heart, please read
“My Journey To Proper Feline Nutrition”- an autobiography - heartfelt depiction of my painful personal journey and greatest lesson in my life every cat (pet) caregiver should know, written with love <3
I hope you enjoyed this tidbit of information on feline nutrition, and learned a little along the way!
When we know better, we do better.
Angela Warrick, CARM, CAFTP
The Holistic Feline
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all content is for informational purposes only.
all original written composition
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