If you just want to use raw food as a treat, and a way to lightly supplement your cat’s diet, then treats are a great option. Purebites makes some excellent treats, and they come in a wide range of flavors. If your cat likes seafood, then there are plenty of fish options, including shrimp and minnow (not something you see every day). As with most other raw food, these treats are free from grains, and good for cats with allergies, as they contain few ingredients that would inflame these kinds of issues. Fold Hill Foods general manager, Ben Mankertz, said: “We are alarmed and deeply saddened to learn of reports from the food and veterinary authorities of some health issues in cats. With the benefits of raw cat food listing everything from a shinier coat and healthier skin to increased energy levels and firmer stools, it’s not hard to see why some people are choosing to move away from the traditional best dry cat food and best wet cat food options in favor of feeding their feline friend a raw diet. If you’re looking for a raw cat food that covers a variety of bases, then Orijen’s grain free mix is a great choice. Orijen uses what it calls the ‘whole prey’ approach, which means it mixes in a variety of raw meats, and guarantees that the first five ingredients into every batch of its cat food are animals or fish, before adding fruits and vegetables for other nutritional benefits. Orijen claims that the recipe is 90% meat, 10% other.

All raw food should be shipped and stored as recommended by the manufacturer – that means making sure it arrives properly frozen, and defrosting it overnight in the fridge, not in a warm place. As one of the leading pet food manufacturers in the UK, ensuring your pet’s safety is our priority and therefore we have chosen to recall the ranges of cat food that we manufacture for the brands who have been identified. According to Dr. Woodnutt, there are two main reasons that most vets tend to steer clear of raw food diets: It’s a healthy, balanced diet– Just like humans, our furry friends need the perfect diet to maintain strong bones, muscles and digestion. Getting the balance right will mean a much happier, healthier dog or cat, both inside and out. Our biologically appropriate raw food is 100% natural just as nature intended. As these are pretty much all protein and natural ingredients, they’re suitable for gluten-free and grain-free diets. While they won’t give your cat all the nutrients it needs, they are a great accompaniment to some of the best dried cat food out there, which will happily give your kitty all it needs to stay healthy.

Pancytopenia is a rare condition where the number of blood cells (red, white and platelets) rapidly decrease, causing serious illness.

It is recommended that when changing any pet’s diet, you do it gradually rather than a straight switch. I continued with the wet food, gradually adding in some of the new dry True Instinct food. Over a week I slowly increased the amount of dry food compared to wet food, gradually phasing that out completely. Weighing against this huge evidence of risk is the fact that there have been no demonstrated benefits to feeding a raw food over a cooked one. People claim lots of benefits to raw diets that simply aren’t proven in the literature. Many of these benefits are likely just down to the high-protein diet, or the change in protein type." Safety tips for feeding your cat a raw food diet I have never in all the years I have been with you once rang up to complain about your product and the one time I do you don’t believe me. There is no evidence to suggest this outbreak of feline pancytopenia presents any risk to human health." Overall the switch was a positive one and Pippy and Snoopy seem to love their new dry food. There were no tummy upsets or no refusal to eat the new food. They do seem to have upped their intake of water, which I assume is due to eating more dry food.

RAW COATED KIBBLE

This is a precautionary measure whilst further investigations are carried out and we are working closely with the FSA, RVC and wider industry to determine the cause. This follows reports from earlier this week of more than 130 cases of feline pancytopenia, an illness that can often be fatal in cats, since April, the FSA said. The Food Standards Agency (FSA) and Defra are advising cat owners not to give their pets food made by manufacturer Fold Hill as a precaution.

Raw diets may not be complete. One study compared two litters of kittens – one being fed raw rabbit and the other a normal cooked cat diet – and it had to end early due to the litter being fed the rabbit developing fatal heart problems. Raw diets are often created by small, ‘boutique’ pet food companies that may not have the experience or regulatory oversight to create a healthy balanced diet." I’ve definitely noticed a change, rather than begging for food they seem full after eating and more content. As their owner, I also feel better knowing that I am giving my cats a more nutritional diet that benefits their overall health.A Pets at Home spokeswoman said: “We are aware of the recent rise in feline pancytopenia cases identified by the Royal Veterinary College (RVC). The health and wellbeing of pets is our top priority, which is why we are supporting the manufacturer’s product recall of Ava and Applaws dry cat food ranges. I have been a loyal customer to the company for many years and ranged from 5-12 dogs over the years so spent plenty on money! When it comes to feeding your feline friend raw food, Dr. Woodnutt says there are some steps you can take to minimize the risks, both to their health and to yours. Overall, I am really happy with how the trial has gone and hope to keep using the range to support my cat’s health. They are in the senior age range so as they get older, I understand the importance of keeping them healthy. A government spokesman said: "Working with the Royal Veterinary College, the Animal Plant and Health Agency and other government departments across all four nations of the UK, local authorities and the pet food supply chain, we are investigating a possible link between specific cat food products and feline pancytopenia.