bluehouse vets Cat menu

Dietary objectives·

• Moist is better than dry

• Maximum high-quality protein, (high biological value)

• Minimum carbohydrates  & minimum ‘derivatives/meat and bone meal’

Considerations:

1. A raw meaty bone diet satisfies all nutritional and dental requirements, but is not for everyone (please see footnote)

2. Some foods are not ‘complete’ in that they do not provide every nutrient a cat needs in the right amounts. For example, minced meat without bones and organ meat (heart, liver, kidney) is NOT a complete food. It can be added to the diet to increase the meat content, but should not be fed exclusively.

3. Freezing damages some nutrients, including Taurine. Our whole minced rabbit is best supplemented with fresh ox heart once or twice a week.

4. The overall balance of a diet does not have to be fed daily i.e feed liver once a week

5. Over-feeding liver is very dangerous! (if you were to feed it on a daily basis!)

6. You can mix food from different categories e.g. minced meat with kibble (dry food)

7. Fresh meats are best fed raw, though they can be cooked if you wish.

8. Fresh ground/minced meats spoil quickly once defrozen—treat such meat as if it were for your own consumption.

9. We recommend adding Salmon oil to every cat’s diet to ensure good intake of Omega 3 fatty acids, and no other supplements should be needed.

Making the change

Some cats are very resistant to a change in diet – processed foods are often sprayed with flavour enhancers designed to appeal to your puss. Start by feeding at set meal times, rather than having food down all day. Make changes gradually – there is no race, and you must never starve your cat into submission. If it takes 3 months to make the change, so be it. For extensive advice on making the change, visit www.catinfo.org.

Monitoring

Why note take a photo of your pet before you change foods, so that you can see the difference in a few months time?

Weigh your cat monthly – if he/she wont keep still, weigh yourself holding her, and then without her, and work out the difference.

If you have any concerns or problems, then pick up the phone and let us know.

DON’T WORRY ABOUT THE ODD SOFT MOTION

We are so used to seeing hard, bulky stools from corn-fed cats that we think a soft motion is wrong—it isn't a problem.

‘Complete’ foods

The bluehouse definition of ‘complete’ is very different from the food industry’s definition, and is based on biology rather than ‘what is the minimum we can get away with’.

Please note that if you choose the ‘raw meaty bone’ diet, it is your responsibility to educate yourself about this feeding technique.

Our recommendations are made in good faith, on the basis of our research and understanding.

As new information becomes available, we may change our ‘best’ advice accordingly.