Re: re: OT: the raw food debate for cats
Posted: Sun Feb 04, 2007 12:15 pm
I came into this discussion a bit late but I want to add one important thing that I focus on.
Dry cat or dog food is heated - no matter what the base ingredients were - organic, natural or 4-D meats - and no matter what level of preservatives - chemical, natural or the use of the dry concept and air-tight bags. Dry food has been cooked and that alone in my mind - is of concern.
Our cats and dogs evolved in a form designed to eat raw food. Their systems need it to function optimally. Their teeth and gums need it to stay clean and help maintain health. I would argue that although some kibble can attempt to approximate the nutrients we think are provided by good diet - nothing can substitute for wholesome, fresh raw food in the manner it is found in a whole animal.
The argument can be made that in the wild - the animal would kill and eat immediately - especially cats, but research has shown that lots of carnivores don't eat immediately - even the wild cats. They store meat in trees, bury it for later and this is done even in tropical climates .
I would further argue that mice- a very natural food for all small felines- raised in the most natural manner possible- killed humanely and instantly flash-frozen would maintain most of the nutrients - far more in my mind than a cooked dry food of any type that relies upon artificial vitamins and minerals to "balance" it. Meat just doesn't maintain the same nutrients and has different bio-availability when cooked even at low temperatures.
Frankly nothing in our society these days is ideal for captive animals (or us) but for me - it makes no sense that dry, cooked mixtures that are mostly grain or carbohydrates would make a better diet for a species that has been designated as an obligate carnivore!
Judy Asarkof
Dry cat or dog food is heated - no matter what the base ingredients were - organic, natural or 4-D meats - and no matter what level of preservatives - chemical, natural or the use of the dry concept and air-tight bags. Dry food has been cooked and that alone in my mind - is of concern.
Our cats and dogs evolved in a form designed to eat raw food. Their systems need it to function optimally. Their teeth and gums need it to stay clean and help maintain health. I would argue that although some kibble can attempt to approximate the nutrients we think are provided by good diet - nothing can substitute for wholesome, fresh raw food in the manner it is found in a whole animal.
The argument can be made that in the wild - the animal would kill and eat immediately - especially cats, but research has shown that lots of carnivores don't eat immediately - even the wild cats. They store meat in trees, bury it for later and this is done even in tropical climates .
I would further argue that mice- a very natural food for all small felines- raised in the most natural manner possible- killed humanely and instantly flash-frozen would maintain most of the nutrients - far more in my mind than a cooked dry food of any type that relies upon artificial vitamins and minerals to "balance" it. Meat just doesn't maintain the same nutrients and has different bio-availability when cooked even at low temperatures.
Frankly nothing in our society these days is ideal for captive animals (or us) but for me - it makes no sense that dry, cooked mixtures that are mostly grain or carbohydrates would make a better diet for a species that has been designated as an obligate carnivore!
Judy Asarkof
