Why is my fur is so fluffy and soft, as if I were a cloud?
Why are my claws so long and sharp?
Why are my teeth white and free of tartar?
Why am I always so energetic and sassy?

 
When I was around a year and a half old, Mammis and the vet decided that I had an allergic condition on my neck that is called “eosinophillic granulomas.” They’re swellings that get crusty and are very itchy. I also get them on the back of my legs but the neck bumps bother me so much more! I scratch and scratch until they’re red and bleeding. I had to take steroids every day to try to keep the swellings away.

They wouldn’t go away, until….

Mammis decided to try a raw food diet. It had very limited and simple ingredients, no grains, and of course high quality protein. She cut out chicken, turkey, and fish proteins. Now I mostly eat rabbit, duck, venison, and a few other “novel” proteins. Anything that has even salmon oil or some other fish oil in it will make me break out. Mammis found this out just recently when we were trying a new food and I got a new reaction for the first time in years.

What is this “raw food diet” thing? Isn’t it just a fad?

A raw food diet is technically the most biologically appropriate food for your pet. This is especially true for cats, since they are obligate carnivores. (This means they have to eat lots of high-quality protein or they will die.) If you think about it, do wild cats grow and evolve over time eating a bunch of grains and rice with just a little protein? No. Wild cats eat small prey like rodents. House cats have been domesticated (barely) over time from some kind of desert cat. Desert cats don’t eat the fast food equivalent of food (kibble). They don’t get a ton of vegetables either. The naturally evolved cat only gets vegetables from the entrails of their prey and bits of grass they chew on. That’s it. They do not have the enzymes in their digestive tract to properly break down vegetables and grains.

Because of this, when you feed your furry friend some dry or canned food that has a bunch of fillers, they aren’t getting real nutrition. They’re getting a Big Mac or Whopper. One can eat that kind of stuff once in a while but if one does it all of the time, it’s going to catch up to one eventually. Anecdotal evidence suggests that cats that are fed raw diets are healthier, live longer, have a more beautiful coat, and overall are more energetic. Most, if not all, bred show cats are fed raw diets.

I know, you’re probably like, “Ew, seriously?”

Mammis was hesitant at first and reluctant as well. But I got better on the raw diet! She and others think that a raw diet can cure a lot of the inflammatory and allergic conditions cats and dogs have today. Cats are so sensitive! They have such tiny livers that have a hard time detoxifying things. A raw diet with simple, high quality ingredients helps them digest better!

 

 
Mammis thought of some questions you might have:

Isn’t the raw food gross? It takes some getting used to, of course. There are premade brands such as Stella and Chewy’s and Primal that are thaw and feed. There are also raw dehydrated foods that are shelf stable by those manufacturers and a few more like Sojos. I have always eaten Stella and Chewy’s because they are the most limited ingredient overall. I’ve tried other brands and they make me sick. So we’re sticking with Stella’s. You can also make your own food at your own risk based on Dr. Lisa Pierson’s recipe at catinfo.org.

Are you sure it isn’t gross? Like I said, you’ll both get used to it. The only thing that Mammis has a hard time getting over is the thought of feeding me whole prey like mice, rats, and rabbits. She’s fed me just about everything else including organs. I love it!

Is it safe? Mammis would have the retort, “Is life safe?” Nothing is absolutely safe. If raw food is kept properly frozen and thawed in the refrigerator, the dishes are clean, the food is only left out at meal time, and it’s from a reputable manufacturer, you’re most likely OK! But what about for humans handling it? Wash your hands. Don’t eat right after you handle the food or your pet. Wash your hands before you eat too! This is common sense. Immunocompromised people might not want to raw feed and that’s understandable. There are passable high quality dry and canned products available for pets.

So you’re absolutely sure raw is the best option? Mammis counted out 39 pet food recalls on the American Veterinary Medical Association webpage that happened in the last year! These were only the ones that were issued. I don’t believe this included the many voluntary recalls each year. Have you ever wondered about those times when your cat or dog gets sick and you can’t figure out why? What if it’s the cheap, over-processed, low quality food that’s been tainted with something?

Speaking of tainted….

At the very beginning of this year, there was just an incidence of poisoning via pet food. Evanger’s “Hunk of Beef” canned dog food poisoned five dogs, one of which died. All were owned by the same owner. It was determined through testing that a large amount of pentobarbital was in the food. What’s pentobarbital? It’s what they use to put animals to sleep. I could go through the whole lengthy story about the rendering industry. In essence, pet food manufacturers buy “meat” and by-products from the rendering industry that uses dead animals, including euthanized ones and roadkill. This may also include euthanized pets. Mammis has seen video of it. And yes, the FDA has done studies on pentobarbital in pet food. There were just a few, and not very in-depth.

In 1998, it was found that 50% of pet foods tested (around 100 foods tested) had pentobarbital in them.

Anyhow, let’s get off this sad subject. I, Babbis, wholly endorse raw feeding if done in a responsible, safe, and clean manner. I love my raw food!

There are links to my favorite foods in the “My Favorites” tab on my home page.