Paw-some Superstars: Manufactured Cat Food vs Raw Feeding
The Asian Leopard Cat, African Serval, Bengal and Savannah are back for another Paw-some Superstars mission. This time, they are helping a woman understand what actually goes into her cats' food and the differences between manufactured cat food and raw feeding.
The woman has always bought ordinary commercial cat food, but after reading the ingredients she begins to wonder:
“What are all these ingredients? Would feeding raw meat be better?”
The Superstars decide to investigate.
Inside Manufactured Cat Food
First, they examine commercial wet and dry cat foods.
They discover that manufactured foods can contain meat and animal derivatives, including poultry, beef, pork and fish. Dry foods may also contain cereals and grains, such as wheat, maize and rice, while some recipes contain vegetables or other sources of fibre.
Complete commercial foods also have carefully controlled amounts of essential nutrients added, including taurine, vitamins and minerals.
Wet foods contain plenty of moisture and may use ingredients such as starches or gums to create gravy or jelly. Depending on the product, manufacturers may also use flavourings, antioxidants, preservatives or other technological additives.
The Bengal looks at the label.
“So having a long ingredient list doesn't automatically tell us whether a food is good or bad. We need to look at the complete nutritional picture.”
Now Let's Investigate Raw Feeding
Next, the Bengal transforms into an Asian Leopard Cat, and the Savannah transforms into an African Serval.
It's Superstar time!
They investigate a properly formulated raw diet.
Instead of cooked or highly processed ingredients, raw diets commonly use raw muscle meat and organs, potentially alongside bone or another mineral source. Depending on the formulation, additional vitamins, minerals, essential fatty acids and other nutrients may be required.
The African Serval explains:
“Cats are obligate carnivores, but simply putting raw chicken in a bowl doesn't automatically create a balanced diet.”
The Superstars emphasise that a long-term diet of chicken meat alone can be nutritionally incomplete. Cats require the correct balance of nutrients, including taurine, calcium, phosphorus, essential fatty acids, vitamins and trace minerals.
What Are the Effects?
The Superstars put the two approaches side by side.
Commercial food labelled complete is formulated to supply all the necessary nutrients in appropriate proportions. It's convenient, relatively easy to store and processing reduces microbial risks.
A properly formulated raw diet can also be nutritionally complete and naturally contains considerable moisture. It is generally meat-rich and often lower in carbohydrate than dry kibble.
However, raw meat introduces an additional consideration: food hygiene.
Raw meat can carry organisms such as Salmonella, Campylobacter, E. coli and Listeria. That's why raw food needs careful refrigeration, defrosting and handling, along with thorough cleaning of hands, bowls, utensils and preparation surfaces.
The Superstars also discover another myth.
“Dry kibble doesn't automatically clean a cat's teeth,” says the Asian Leopard Cat.
“And raw feeding doesn't automatically clean them either,” replies the Serval. “Bones can introduce their own dental and gastrointestinal risks.”
The Woman Makes Her Decision
After listening to the four Superstars, the woman realises there isn't a simple battle between “good raw food” and “bad manufactured food.”
Both diets need to be judged on their nutritional adequacy, quality, safety and suitability for the individual cat.
If she chooses commercial food, she'll look for an appropriate complete diet rather than judging it simply by whether it contains cereals.
If she chooses raw feeding, she'll make sure the diet is properly formulated and nutritionally complete, rather than feeding plain meat alone, and she'll follow strict food-hygiene practices.
The four Paw-some Superstars stand proudly together as their mission comes to an end.
Their message is simple:
Understand the ingredients. Check the facts. Choose a complete and balanced diet. Feed with love, wisdom and responsibility. 🐾
Manufactured Cat Food vs Raw Feeding
