Raw Food Diet for Cats: Is It Safe?

Cat parents want to give their cats the best life possible: the best litter box, engaging toys, and most importantly, the proper diet. What is the best diet for our domesticated feline friends? Should they be eating a raw cat food diet like their undomesticated ancestors?

The short answer is usually no. Continue reading to learn more about raw food diets for cats and its possible implications.

Can cats eat raw meat?

The question isn’t really a matter of whether they can or cannot: sure, they can eat a raw meat diet. The question that should be asked is, “Should pet cats be eating raw meat diets?” And the simple answer is no. There are unique situations in which a veterinary professional may recommend a raw food diet, and in these cases, they should be done with tedious veterinary oversight for the best outcome and reduced risk for all involved.

tabby cat reaching for bowl of raw meat

What is a raw food diet for cats?

There is often confusion on what meets the criteria of a raw food diet for cats. A raw cat food diet consists of uncooked or unprocessed animal meat, bones, and offal (organs). Most often, this meat source is chicken or turkey, but it can be any meat source like salmon, duck, bison, deer, lamb, and so on.

The most important factor that constitutes a raw food diet for cats is the lack of processing that most meats would otherwise undergo in the food preparation process.

What do advocates say about raw cat food diets?

There are lots of advocates for feeding raw cat food diets; they believe that raw meat is the “biologically appropriate diet” for cats, as it closely mimics what a cat would eat in the wild. Additionally, there are proponents for this type of diet under the impression that it promotes an overall healthier animal: less medical issues, better skin and coats, less dental disease, and happier tummies.

What are the downsides of a raw cat food diet?

The reality is that most of the “benefits” of raw food diets for cats (and dogs) are based on individual experiences and not supported by evidence-based research. There are many downsides and potential dangers associated with feeding a raw food diet to pets—and those dangers extend to humans as well.

Not nutritionally balanced

Raw food cat diets at large are higher in fats and lower in carbohydrates, but not all meats are created equal. These diets vastly vary in their nutritional profile, which overall is lacking in macro- and micro-nutrients that are essential to a balanced diet.

The Association of American Feed Control Officials, or AAFCO, is the organization that has been guiding the nutrient profiles for cats and dogs that affect the health and safety of both humans and animals alike for over 100 years. There are very few commercial raw diets that meet AFFCO’s standards, as many raw diets aim to avoid adding synthetic nutrient supplements.

The reality is that it is very difficult to get all the vitamins and minerals from natural ingredients into a raw meat-based diet.

Increased risk of food-borne illness (for cats and humans)

Many raw food cat diets aim to avoid processing to ensure that the meat is as similar to “how it would be in the wild” as possible. Contamination of raw meat is common; and that contamination poses a health risk for the cat consuming it, the human preparing it, the human who scoops that cat’s poop, and any other humans in that cat’s environment.

Requires extensive prep work and safety measures

In addition to steeper costs and refrigeration, raw cat food diets require significant safety precautions from harvesting to poop disposal. In addition to hand washing and safe food handling, everyone in the household of a cat being fed a raw food diet needs to engage in a strict cleanliness routine.

The processing that many raw meat cat food diets forgo is what helps decrease the possibility of contamination with bacteria and parasites that can harm both cats and cat owners alike. Regarding companies that opt for freezing, dehydration, or freeze-drying, these processing methods do not kill all bacteria in food.

cat eating raw chicken

What are the potential concerns with cats eating a raw food diet?

There is a risk for contamination with any diet, even under the most stringent processing, but the risk is consistently higher with raw food diets. Contamination includes, but is not limited to, viruses, bacteria, and parasites.

Bird flu in cats (Avian flu)

In recent news, “Bird flu” strain H5N1 or highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) has been making rounds in the United States. H5N1 bird flu mainly affects wild migratory waterbirds and domestic poultry, but there has been increasing concern with the spread of this virus to mammals, including humans and cats.

Here are some answers to the most important questions regarding this virus:

Can cats get bird flu?

Yes, cats can get bird flu. While the overall risk of exposure is low in most domestic cats, cats exposed to raw meat, milk, and eggs are at an increased risk. Dairy and animal products that are raw or uncooked, undercooked, or even freeze-dried can be infected. Indoor/outdoor cats that hunt or eat wild birds are also at risk. Even cats living on farms with animals that may have been exposed to the bird flu have an increased risk of infection.

What are the symptoms of bird flu in cats?

As this is an evolving health risk, symptoms are still being reported and confirmed. At present, symptoms that have been seen in cats found to be infected include the following:

Lethargy
Decreased appetite
Fevers
Inflammation of the eyes
Eye discharge
Nasal discharge
Difficulty breathing
Seizures
Sudden death

Can people get bird flu from cats?

While it is unlikely that you would get avian flu from an infected cat, it is possible, as this virus is zoonotic, or able to be spread from animals to humans. Infected animals can carry the virus in bodily fluids like saliva and feces. Humans can contract this virus by inhaling or coming in contact with it via their mouth, nose, or eyes.

What do I do if I suspect my cat has bird flu?

Contact your veterinarian immediately. At present, treatment consists of supportive care for the symptoms. Currently, there is no feline vaccine to prevent this strain of H5N1.

Bacterial infections

Raw meat pet food is more likely to be contaminated than traditionally processed dry and wet cat food with bacteria like the following:

Salmonella spp.
Listeria monocytogenes
Campylobacter
Clostridium spp.: C. difficile, C. perfringens, C.botulinum
Escherichia coli (E. coli)
Yersinia enterocolitica
Enterotoxigenic Staphylococcus aureus

In some of these bacterial contamination cases, healthy cats may not show symptoms of illness, but their humans, especially young children, older people, and people with chronic health conditions, are at a higher risk for getting sick. Additionally, healthy humans and cats can shed Salmonella and other bacteria in their poop. Symptoms for both cats and humans include, but are not limited to:

Diarrhea
Vomiting
Fever
Decreased appetite
Lethargy

Parasites and worms

Can cats get parasites from raw cat food diets? Yes; raw meat diets have an increased likelihood of contamination with parasites and worms. The most common parasitic infections seen from raw pet food diets include Toxoplasma gondii, Cryptosporidium spp., Trichinella spp., and Echinococcus spp. Symptoms of infection with these parasites include:

Lethargy
Decreased Appetite
Fever
Diarrhea
Vomiting
Stomach Pain

As with some of the bacterial diseases, some cats may not show symptoms of infection with their parasites, but this does not lower the risk of spread to humans and other animals.

tabby cat with dead bird outside

Protecting your cat from bird flu and other food-borne illnesses

There are some simple precautions you can take to protect your cat (and, by extension, yourself) from bird flu and other food-borne illnesses:

Feed your cat cooked, commercially processed food
Keep your cat indoors
Avoid raw meat, raw/unpasteurized milk, and raw eggs
Regularly clean your pet household, disinfecting as appropriate

Guidelines for a raw cat food diet

If you decide to feed your cat a raw diet, please do so using the following recommendations:

Freeze raw food diets until they are needed
Keep raw food separate from other food
Immediately dispose of leftovers
Don’t kiss your cat on or around their mouth
Thoroughly wash your hands in hot water with soap for at least 20 seconds after being licked or touched by your cat
Enforce strict cleaning and disinfection protocols
Wear gloves when you clean the litter box or try a self-cleaning litter box
Consult closely with your veterinarian

FAQs

Are raw food diets for cats healthier than dry or canned cat food?

There is no evidence that raw cat food diets are healthier than commercial food diet options.

Can feeding a raw food diet infect my cat and other people in my home?

Yes, it can. When done safely, the risks can be minimized, but there is always a risk.

Can cats get bird flu?

Yes, they can, but it is unlikely in most living situations.

Are all raw cat food diets nutritionally sufficient?

No; most raw cat food diets do not provide your cat with the balanced nutrition they need to thrive. These diets often have to be supplemented with guidance from your veterinarian.

Sources: