Cheapest raw cat food

paddypaws101

I did order a sample pack from food4cats, but I dont think my lot are keen on the mushy mince texture and have refused several of the flavours. I also have limited freezer space so cant buy too much bulk.

I do not think raw pork or pig hearts is recommended because of the high risk of parasites.

The raw meat on sale at PAH is ( I think) designed for dogs...so not 'complete' for cats as felines need extra taurine...however is fine as a supplemental feed

rita-rabbit

Sainsburys & Tesco's sell sheeps hearts & kidneys

cyberbob

If you buy cheap frozen chicken it wont be free range (so as animal lovers if your happy with that abuse of battery chicken) also the quality is poor and the chicken is frequently has added water etc. So quality wise your not doing your cats any favours.

If you want to go raw your better off searching out a quality butcher and building up a good relationship with them

Fire_Fox

cyberbob wrote: »

If you buy cheap frozen chicken it wont be free range (so as animal lovers if your happy with that abuse of battery chicken) also the quality is poor and the chicken is frequently has added water etc. So quality wise your not doing your cats any favours.

If you want to go raw your better off searching out a quality butcher and building up a good relationship with them

I am looking forward to the day that battery chickens no longer exist, as free-range will have to come down in price to be affordable. I do not buy battery chickens or eggs for myself I simply eat little meat and have free range eggs, however my cat is an obligate carnivore so I don't feel I have that option.

Like many other MSE regulars I am on a low income (I would actually be entitled to council tax benefits), so I simply cannot afford to buy cat foods that are made with free range or organic meats. I also live in an area of food poverty, and I don't run a car so my options are limited to my fortnightly bus trip to a major supermarket.

Other than added water (= the jelly in most wet foods anyway) it isn't yet proven that free range or organic meat is healthier for the end consumer; I am confident in saying that that because I have studied nutrition at degree level. As I have said elsewhere I'd rather feed my cat/ child/ self identifiable meat (be that offal or muscle) than the 'derivatives' of unknown origin found in most ready made foods.

rita-rabbit

I'm sorry when I read posters being rude to others on this site - gggrrr!

Fire_Fox

paddypaws101 wrote: »

I did order a sample pack from food4cats, but I dont think my lot are keen on the mushy mince texture and have refused several of the flavours. I also have limited freezer space so cant buy too much bulk.

I do not think raw pork or pig hearts is recommended because of the high risk of parasites.

The raw meat on sale at PAH is ( I think) designed for dogs...so not 'complete' for cats as felines need extra taurine...however is fine as a supplemental feed

Food4Cats sells raw pork, including heart and tongue. :eek:

I read somewhere that parasites in pork are actually very rare in the UK so it's fine to feed your cat raw pork providing you worm regularly (and I guess aren't PG as that might be asking for trouble!). I freely admit that I can't recall the validity of my source, so if anyone can come up with a research study I'd be interested to read it.

Edited to add ...
Article on parasites in US meat:
http://www.thepoultrysite.com/poultrynews/11073/retail-meat-analyzed-for-parasites
Article on bacteria/ parasites in US organic pigs:
http://www.thepigsite.com/swinenews/18287/higher-bacteria-count-on-organic-pigs

~Chameleon~

For those feeding raw meat from unknown sources you might like to read the following exercpt from this site:

Besides the consumption of undercooked meat, another route of T. gondii infection is exposure to egglike oocysts in the feces of infected cats. A rodent- or bird-eating cat that has T. gondii in its body expels millions of infectious-stage oocysts of the parasite during a week or two.

The parasite can seriously damage developing fetuses and persons with weakened immune systems, such as those infected with HIV, according to experts. Infants born to mothers who become infected for the first time just before or during pregnancy are at risk of developing severe toxoplasmosis due to T. gondii exposure.

The hardy encapsulated oocysts create the risk of infection when deposited in soil, sand and litter boxes or near farm animal feed. To reduce risk of infection, wash hands well after outdoor activities and after handling raw meat, and don't eat undercooked meat.

However, according to DEFRA there have been no known cases of humans contracting the parasitic worm Trichinella spiralis from UK produced meat in the last 30 years.

mum26

Am I ok to give my kitten tinned sardines (tinned in spring water)? noone here likes them and I wondered if they'd be ok for him? (he is 20 weeks today)

Ruby_Moon

cyberbob wrote: »

If you buy cheap frozen chicken it wont be free range (so as animal lovers if your happy with that abuse of battery chicken) also the quality is poor and the chicken is frequently has added water etc. So quality wise your not doing your cats any favours.

If you want to go raw your better off searching out a quality butcher and building up a good relationship with them

Technically you are because you should add some extra water to the raw mix for your cat anyway. If the chicken has water added, thats better for the cat.

~Chameleon~

mum26 wrote: »

Am I ok to give my kitten tinned sardines (tinned in spring water)? noone here likes them and I wondered if they'd be ok for him? (he is 20 weeks today)

Absolutely fine as a treat but not as a regular part of his diet. Human grade food has a far too high sodium content for cats