Why you shouldn’t feed your cat a Raw Food diet

The Power of Positive Reinforcement

What is meant by feeding your pet cat raw food is that you are giving them uncooked animal muscle meat, organ meat or bones. This kind of food comes under the BARF diet, also known as "bones and raw food" or " biologically-appropriate raw food." It’s usually advised to not give your cat raw food, and if you do, you should consult it with a veterinary nutritionist.

Here’s a list of possible dangers that your cat may face with raw food:

• You cat may suffer a biotin deficiency, if given raw eggs on a daily basis. Symptoms include dermatitis (inflammation of the skin), loss of hair, and stunted growth.
• You should not add raw fish to their diet, again on a daily basis, as it may lead to thiamine (found in vitamin B complex food) deficiency. Some early symptoms of this are weight loss, a lack of appetite, and GI (gastrointestinal tract) upset.

• Do not give your cat raw meat as it may contain parasites, while cooked meat can be too high in fat for your cat. Your cat needs a healthy balance of all the necessary nutrients, so make sure you prepare their diet accordingly.
• Make sure you don’t include raw liver in your cat’s diet daily. It can lead to Vitamin A toxicity. Your cat’s diet already includes a sufficient amount of Vitamin A. It’s best to ensure that it is not in excess.
• Small, soft bones (such as pork chop or chicken bones) should never be given to cats, as they may splinter and lodge in his/her mouth or throat.

If you have any questions or concerns, you should always visit or call your veterinarian -- they are your best resource to ensure the health and well-being of your pets.