Raw Beef Quantity for Cat • Treat • MM Supplement • Hydration

[AllieL]

1. Ophelia, 2 y/o, female 2. Spayed 3. Siamese mix 4. 3.54 kg

5. BEAM: energetic, playful, pleasant, happy.

6. Diet: Raw organic grass-fed beef & almost no fresh water since she started the raw diet- occasional freeze dried beef treat.

7. Vaccination: 08/2024: FVRV-FCV-FPV Vaccine, MLV; Exposure to toxins: possible pesticides from plants/grass in the yard.

8. Ophelia has been requesting more food lately and I am not sure how many grams per day is adequate for her. She is used to eating small portions throughout the day and won’t eat a lot in one sitting; So I feed her one small cube of beef whenever she’s hungry- approximately every 2-4 waking hours.

9. I haven’t weighed her food yet, only rough estimate, but it seems like some days she wants more and I don’t know if I can feed her whenever she asks for food.

10. No diagnostic 11. No treatment. 12. No other health concerns. 13. @Dr. Jeff @Dr. Christina

Could you please help me? I would like to know:

1) How many grams per day of raw organic grass-fed beef I should feed Ophelia? And should the treats, fruits, and vegetables I give her, be in addition to the amount of beef?

2) What are the best dried treat? She loves dried white fish but after reading the article about how bad fish can be for cats I’m reluctant. We are now finishing up « Stella & Chewy’s Freeze-Dried Raw Cat Dinner Morsels – Grain Free, Protein Rich Cat & Kitten Food – Bountiful Beef Recipe » as occasional treats as she seems to crave a different texture sometimes. She’ll go in front of the cupboard where these are stored and be very vocal until she gets them.

3) What’s the most minimal diet I can feed Ophelia in terms of supplements to add to her beef?

Are Vimergy barley grass juice powder, b12, zinc, vitamin c, MSM, and « Solid Gold SeaMeal Kelp-Based Powder Supplement for Skin & Coat, Digestive & Immune Health in Dogs & Cats; Natural, Holistic Grain-Free Supplement » sufficient? I would prefer to avoid giving her dairy, eggs, organs, & poultry as per Medical Medium information.

4) Since starting the raw diet, she almost never drinks water, yet the litter box confirms that she seems more hydrated than before. I encourage her to drink water after dried treats of after hours of being outside in the heat, sometimes she will but often she won’t. Anything I should do?

Thank you greatly for your help!

 

[GinnyW]

Well, I'm in a cranky mood this morning, but: "dairy, eggs, organs, & poultry as per Medical Medium information" are, IMO, useful adjuncts to any raw diet. All things in moderation, yes, but variety is very important in the long run, for nutritional factors as well as maintaining the innate flexibility of the carnivore metabolism.

 

[Dr. Jeff]

Hi Allie!

been requesting more food lately

How does her weight look to you or your vet (one the normal, overweight or underweight scale)?

How's her coat (full, thin, shiny, flaky, etc.)?

I'll reply further later today.

 

[AllieL]

Her weight seems normal & her coat is full & shiny. She seems very healthy- but she looked like that when she was eating poor quality dry food as well.

 

[Dr. Jeff]

OK!

How many grams per day

Considering that her weight is normal and she has a good coat, you may want to just keep feeding the amount that you are currently doing.

And should the treats, fruits, and vegetables I give her, be in addition to the amount of beef?

I don't recommend fruits and veggies for cats unless they're already in the raw meat mix like Small Batch. Here's one (which my own kitties eat) without them:

Turkey for Cats

97% antibiotic-free turkey, 3% natural supplements. Complete & balanced meals formulated with whole foods. Made in USDA kitchens & delivered to your door.

vivarawpets.com

What are the best dried treat?

There is no single best treat (or food). A wide variety is best.

All of the ones you mentioned are fine in moderation (nothing in excess). Also, Wysong Dream Treats, Orijen freeze-dried etc.

What’s the most minimal diet I can feed

Depending on the food, you may not need to add supplements (but I may be misunderstanding your question). If you are only feeding muscle meat, try:

Know What You Feed Your Cat - Shop Online

www.knowwhatyoufeed.com

sufficient

Yes. Personally, I don't use any supplements.

Anything I should do?

Just love her up, get her to purr as often as possible, and engage with her as often as possible.

 

[AllieL]

Thank you @Dr. Jeff for your response.

Do you agree that for raw muscle meat « If 12 months or older, it is generally recommended that cats eat between 2% and 4% of their ideal bodyweight, split into 2 or 3 meals a day. »?

Ophélia seems to be at an ideal body weight at 3.54kg- so anything from 70.8 g to 141.6 g would be okay?

Also, any problems if the food is split into 5-7 meals a day? She won’t eat more than a small piece a the time and she’s very petite.

Thank you!

 

[NancyK]

Is the cat getting some sort of caclium supplement or raw meaty bones along with the meat.

I am with GiinnyW on the Medical Medium dietary advice. Sorry, but I think the advice presented on the forum here by members per the Medical Medium is disastrous for our pets. Sorry just have to be honest. Who is he to be the authority on dog and cat nutrition?

Nancy

 

[NancyK]

Well, I'm in a cranky mood this morning, but: "dairy, eggs, organs, & poultry as per Medical Medium information" are, IMO, useful adjuncts to any raw diet. All things in moderation, yes, but variety is very important in the long run, for nutritional factors as well as maintaining the innate flexibility of the carnivore metabolism.

I must be "in a mood" too. I find the advice from the Medical Medium to be appalling. While I think individual dogs or cats can have sensitivities to any ingredient, ruling oiut all of these foods for all of them is disturbing, especially organ meats which dogs and cats have consumed since the beginning of time.

Nancy