Confused about cat food? Sign up for my free cat food mini course so you can find the best food for your cat → caticles.com/label-cheat-sheet/ Ready to make the switch to raw? See your cat thrive on a species-appropriate diet (without having to figure it out yourself) → store.caticles.com/raw-blueprint/?ref=yt-video
Happy Friday! Just wanted to express appreciation for the education and all that you share to help us care well for our beloved felines. You mentioned Alnutrin (?) and a TCFeline(?) I forget the video with those methods…
Have you ever heard of Blue Ridge Beef?? I just found it at one of the smaller stores here last week. My cats are loving it!! It's a 2 pound frozen raw tube for $8.00. I thought that was a pretty good price It's labeled "Cat & Kitten Mix" and has ground beef, ground chicken, ground beef heart, ground beef liver, and ground chicken bone. I just wish I could find one that has all the necessary vitamins in it that I could afford. I've just been giving it to them in the morning and still give them their dry Orijen and a little of their regular canned with the freeze dried raw mixed in at night. So I guess they're getting the vitamins with that. I know Darwin's has one, but I know I'll never be able to afford that for long. I'm just happy to finally be getting some real "raw' into them!
That's great! Lots of variety! As long as the raw topper doesn't make up more than 15% of the total daily intake it won't offset nutrients. There are premix and supplements options in the description too (:
@@sunshinegirl1967 Yes, they have two locations, they're based out of NC and GA. Since I'm in FL, the local place that I buy it from gets theirs from the one in GA.
@@jesscaticles ha! No problem. I was learning about him this week. Dr. Becker and him are really close. I have 9 cats and this stuff is cheaper than the wet diet they get now. Crazy! I’m going with the frozen patties…beef, pork, and turducken rotation. 🤞
Jess, thank you for this video. You answered a lot of my questions. I am curious about a couple of things. I bought some dehydrated salmon for treats from Whole Life Pet. The feeding instructions tell me to feed 2-3 1/2 inch pieces daily. Why such a small amount? I also bought the minnows. One of my kittens (Lil'Bit) loves them but my other kitten (Angel) turns her nose up at them. Lol I still have dehydrated hearts left to arrive.
I buy a local raw called Natural Pet Pantry. I have 2 kittens and one used to eat every protein and the other was always super picky. They are now at 6 months almost 7 and have decided they only want pork. I'm trying to do timed feedings, but being so young is it ok to take the food away after a certain time? I'm trying to follow the picky cat video you posted. This month I'm working on venison, I want to try beef next month. Is it normal for cats so young to refuse proteins they have eaten before?
For kittens, feed them as much as they want and as often as they want. More frequent feeding is appropriate since they need to eat so much food. And they are so tiny! Typically kittens don't have picky eating habits yet but of course every cat is individual.
@@jesscaticles I feed them usually 4 to 5 times a day right now. I make sure to weigh them often so that I know they are getting enough. The older kitten is a grazer so she will eat like 2 bites very slowly and then leaves her raw food for a bit. I got her at 8 weeks with a bag of Iams kibble. I tossed that and had her on high quality wet then raw. She still loves kibble more even though she hadn't had any for months. The other one just became picky more recently so maybe she learned it from her sister. Sometimes it get so frustrating that I threaten them with Purina or Hills, though I would never do that lol.
My cat is around 10 months old and I've had him since he was about 6 weeks old. When I got him, he would only eat dry cat food and it's only gotten worse. He drinks plenty of water. I give him 5 Inaba Puree packs a day and Greenies for treats. When he was still a kitten, I tried so many different brands of expensive wet food(and a few cheap ones) and he won't touch any of them. I've tried giving him small amounts of tuna, salmon, chicken...you name it. He sniffs it, paws at the ground near the bowl, and/or tries to flip the bowl over and walks away...every time. I also tried Darwin's raw, but knew that he'd probably need to warm up to wet food first. So, after having it in my freezer for a few months, I put one pack aside for him to try and gave the rest to my brother for his dog to try. I think "okay, this isn't going to happen, so I will just try to get him the best air or freeze dried option." Stella and Chewy's, Nulo, Ziwi Peak, and Instinct were duds. Now I'm back to trying to find the best dry option that he will actually eat. Everyone wants what is best for their pet. But it doesn't matter what the ingredients are, if a cat isn't willing to consume them. It seems like so many reviewers(not at all trying to say that you are one of them) only focus on the ingredients in reviews and rarely mention whether cats actually seem to like the food. It seems like someone would work out a deal with a local shelter to donate food to them and get some feedback on whether the majority of cats seem to like it. On dry, he was eating Blue Buffalo when I first got him. Since then, I've been mixing other brands (Orijen, Ziwi Peak, and Farmina) into the mix, hoping to find a really healthy brand that he also seems to really like, and it seems like the Farmina has turned him off to dry food completely. The food doesn't get wasted, though. When it's sat in his bowl for a few hours uneaten, I toss it into an Inaba container until there's enough to put out for local strays. Any advice on a brand that seems to be a good combination of healthy and popular with cats would be greatly appreciated.
Here's the thing, dry food causes picky eating. Many cat food manufacturers add sprays and flavor enhancers called "palatants" which cats develop an addiction to. Most cats are picky about food changes. In fact, this is the #1 complaint I get. So you are not alone (: Here is an entire playlist of everything you need to know: ruclips.net/video/tTV0FSxDE-w/видео.html - The first video is a complete guide on how to switch food, specifically formulated for picky cats. Next is my cat food reviews video which includes 100+ records of all types of food. And the remaining videos cover healthy treats, FAQ, and supporting help.
Jess, I bought my kittens a bag of the dehydrated minnows and chicken hearts. I was giving them kibble in between their twice daily wet food feedings. I cut out their kibble and I have increased their feedings to 4x's daily and weighing each meal. I was also giving them Temptations treats but I have stopped those as well. I know that I can give them the minnows but can I give them the hearts? How many? How many calories should they be eating a day? I think you said a kitten should eat as much as an adult cat. How many daily calories should an adult cat eat? Thanks in advance.
Every cat and food is individual. Plus every calorie is not created equally. So you have to figure out how much to feed based on 3 things: body condition score, weight, and the label. Watch this video: ruclips.net/video/9Av8we7Bm-k/видео.html&t
@@jesscaticlesmy kittens are doing well according to that video. Lil'Bit is 6 months old, very large, and weighs 12 pounds. My other kitten, Angel", is 5 months old, and weighs 6 pounds. My main concern is this: do the hearts add too many nutrients to their diets. Should I limit how many hearts I give my kittens? This is what I need to know. I begin switching from canned to raw in March.
Thanks Jess, I have been feeding my Bengal kitten now 7 months old, Small Batch Sliders Frozen Raw, this is what she's been eating since I brought her home. She definitely has her favorite / purrrrfect flavor (beef or chicken). Duck/turkey she will eat but prefers others. The versions I get are like pucks/sliders vs the rolled tube on the presentation. I do add in some Stella and Chewy freeze dried / rehydrated from time to time, she really likes to nibble on those. Her fur is amazing, everyone say's how soft she is, I say Definitely due to diet and well she's still getting out of her kitten coat. Curious your thoughts.
I mentioned in the video small batch makes separate products that are complete and balanced (sliders you mention). But the not complete blends in the video are cheaper so that's why I talked about those in the vid. I'm glad you're seeing great benefits with fresh food!
I have a carb calculator on my website: www.caticles.com/carb-calculator-for-cat-food/. But those numbers are approximate. The only way to know for sure is to contact the company.
This may be a weird suggestion but can you make a video about cat poop consistency while on raw food? My cat has suffered from constipation many times. She has been on raw for 5 months. Sometimes her poop turns white after it has been sitting, sometimes it's very firm and crumbly. I honestly don't know what is normal for a cat that eats raw.
Typically the poops are smaller and less frequent. Constipation could mean not enough fiber or perhaps adding digestive enzymes could help. Technically cats get a bit of fiber in the natural diet from fur, bones, and stomach contents of prey. For example, Jericho's mice are ~15% fiber on a dry matter basis. I've read canned pumpkin (not pumpkin pie filling) can help or coconut oil.
Hi Jess My sister and I are cat mom to a 2years old tuxedo cat. We are looking for other food options for him because his vet put him on Hills Diet Metabolic food almost two years now but he did not lose any weight,in fact all he did was go up. He not a grazer and all treats has been eliminated from his diet. Right now he gets about 185 calories per day from his 5oz of dry food. I watched some of your videos and was horrified to find that the food he is eating is probably the reason he is obese (and the vet recommended it). I was thinking about switching him to smalls first before going raw (probably Darwin’s). Or should we just try and switch him to raw immediately? He already has set meal time since he was adopted 3 meals/day and some snacks/training time He only have half a bag of the metabolic food left and I don’t know if it will last for the 4 months plan What should I do?
Get him on a raw diet. It’s crazy that these vets don’t realize that these special prescription diets are a bunch of bs. Not your fault, you trusted the system and I’m glad to see you here in this thread!! I’ve been feeding raw for years. Rest assured that raw will help him tremendously. Get ready for your cat to not only loose weight but become much happier overall (and shinier coat!). Cats are obligate carnivores, meaning they need the essential nutrients raw provides. Dry food is nothing but fillers, and the food companies FUND vet education. Vets are not educated on cat nutrition and the importance of a raw diet. Go ahead and switch him right away. You can start with any raw meat from the store. But definitely long term, the diet needs to be balanced, hence why companies like Bravo in this video exist. They take the work out of it for you, which I love! You may need to try a few different proteins, but some of my cats have taken right away to any protein. Some are pickier than others. Please update how your baby is doing once you make the switch! Reach out here if you have anything questions. There’s also some great Facebook groups to help you!
Check out my complete guide to feed your cat better: ruclips.net/video/tTV0FSxDE-w/видео.html - there is a transition plan in there with suggestion on where to go from where you are now plus reviews and FAQ (:
@@melanielyn1859hi, I like you comment over here. I kind of confuse about all the changes, and many options of raw food. I have 4 cats. Can you please tell about the groups on Facebook? Or maybe can you tell how you did in the begging with your cats? Thank so much
Follow their page for supplements and you can always contact them to confirm. I don't know the amounts of their ingredients so I can't formulate the diet.
Check out my cat food reviews in this video: ruclips.net/video/eRtL3GGa4as/видео.html&t - the list is in the description, 100+ records of all types of food. Including brands outside the US.
fellow raw fed cat mom here! wondering if you have any recommendations for tooth care products? raw helps a ton but I feel like my cat needs a little more.
Woo! I have a full guide on my website of what I'm doing now: www.caticles.com/cat-dental-health-how-to-help-keep-cats-teeth-clean/. I plan to make a video once Jericho's teeth are all back to normal.
Dr. Marty's looks great! It seems he uses whole foods instead of synthetic vitamins/minerals. This may add carbs though so you will have to decide which is better.
Confused about cat food? Sign up for my free cat food mini course so you can find the best food for your cat → caticles.com/label-cheat-sheet/
Ready to make the switch to raw? See your cat thrive on a species-appropriate diet (without having to figure it out yourself) → store.caticles.com/raw-blueprint/?ref=yt-video
Happy Friday! Just wanted to express appreciation for the education and all that you share to help us care well for our beloved felines.
You mentioned Alnutrin (?) and a TCFeline(?) I forget the video with those methods…
Have you ever heard of Blue Ridge Beef?? I just found it at one of the smaller stores here last week. My cats are loving it!! It's a 2 pound frozen raw tube for $8.00. I thought that was a pretty good price It's labeled "Cat & Kitten Mix" and has ground beef, ground chicken, ground beef heart, ground beef liver, and ground chicken bone. I just wish I could find one that has all the necessary vitamins in it that I could afford. I've just been giving it to them in the morning and still give them their dry Orijen and a little of their regular canned with the freeze dried raw mixed in at night. So I guess they're getting the vitamins with that. I know Darwin's has one, but I know I'll never be able to afford that for long. I'm just happy to finally be getting some real "raw' into them!
That's great! Lots of variety! As long as the raw topper doesn't make up more than 15% of the total daily intake it won't offset nutrients. There are premix and supplements options in the description too (:
Would that be in NC?
@@sunshinegirl1967 Yes, they have two locations, they're based out of NC and GA. Since I'm in FL, the local place that I buy it from gets theirs from the one in GA.
@@cattitude7809 thanks I'll look for it! Gotta do something at this point 🤷♀️
Thanks for including Steve’s. I asked about it the other day. Lol.
Steve Brown is legendary! Sorry I haven't been able to catch up on comments lol 😸
@@jesscaticles ha! No problem. I was learning about him this week. Dr. Becker and him are really close. I have 9 cats and this stuff is cheaper than the wet diet they get now. Crazy! I’m going with the frozen patties…beef, pork, and turducken rotation. 🤞
Thank you for this awesome information!! I love your kitty.
You are so welcome!
Great info as always...if u have time, please review Josera brand
Hi! I saw your other comment and responded there.
Hi, any products you can recommend in canada?
If you know
Thanks
Can you review Lotus raw cat food? Available at the chain Centinela Feed & Supply
Jess, thank you for this video. You answered a lot of my questions.
I am curious about a couple of things. I bought some dehydrated salmon for treats from Whole Life Pet. The feeding instructions tell me to feed 2-3 1/2 inch pieces daily. Why such a small amount?
I also bought the minnows. One of my kittens (Lil'Bit) loves them but my other kitten (Angel) turns her nose up at them. Lol I still have dehydrated hearts left to arrive.
You're welcome! Treats should not make up more than ~10% of the cat's total daily intake. Otherwise it will offset the nutrients from the food.
I buy a local raw called Natural Pet Pantry. I have 2 kittens and one used to eat every protein and the other was always super picky. They are now at 6 months almost 7 and have decided they only want pork. I'm trying to do timed feedings, but being so young is it ok to take the food away after a certain time? I'm trying to follow the picky cat video you posted. This month I'm working on venison, I want to try beef next month. Is it normal for cats so young to refuse proteins they have eaten before?
For kittens, feed them as much as they want and as often as they want. More frequent feeding is appropriate since they need to eat so much food. And they are so tiny! Typically kittens don't have picky eating habits yet but of course every cat is individual.
@@jesscaticles I feed them usually 4 to 5 times a day right now. I make sure to weigh them often so that I know they are getting enough. The older kitten is a grazer so she will eat like 2 bites very slowly and then leaves her raw food for a bit. I got her at 8 weeks with a bag of Iams kibble. I tossed that and had her on high quality wet then raw. She still loves kibble more even though she hadn't had any for months. The other one just became picky more recently so maybe she learned it from her sister. Sometimes it get so frustrating that I threaten them with Purina or Hills, though I would never do that lol.
My cat is around 10 months old and I've had him since he was about 6 weeks old. When I got him, he would only eat dry cat food and it's only gotten worse. He drinks plenty of water. I give him 5 Inaba Puree packs a day and Greenies for treats. When he was still a kitten, I tried so many different brands of expensive wet food(and a few cheap ones) and he won't touch any of them. I've tried giving him small amounts of tuna, salmon, chicken...you name it. He sniffs it, paws at the ground near the bowl, and/or tries to flip the bowl over and walks away...every time. I also tried Darwin's raw, but knew that he'd probably need to warm up to wet food first. So, after having it in my freezer for a few months, I put one pack aside for him to try and gave the rest to my brother for his dog to try.
I think "okay, this isn't going to happen, so I will just try to get him the best air or freeze dried option." Stella and Chewy's, Nulo, Ziwi Peak, and Instinct were duds. Now I'm back to trying to find the best dry option that he will actually eat. Everyone wants what is best for their pet. But it doesn't matter what the ingredients are, if a cat isn't willing to consume them. It seems like so many reviewers(not at all trying to say that you are one of them) only focus on the ingredients in reviews and rarely mention whether cats actually seem to like the food. It seems like someone would work out a deal with a local shelter to donate food to them and get some feedback on whether the majority of cats seem to like it.
On dry, he was eating Blue Buffalo when I first got him. Since then, I've been mixing other brands (Orijen, Ziwi Peak, and Farmina) into the mix, hoping to find a really healthy brand that he also seems to really like, and it seems like the Farmina has turned him off to dry food completely. The food doesn't get wasted, though. When it's sat in his bowl for a few hours uneaten, I toss it into an Inaba container until there's enough to put out for local strays. Any advice on a brand that seems to be a good combination of healthy and popular with cats would be greatly appreciated.
Here's the thing, dry food causes picky eating. Many cat food manufacturers add sprays and flavor enhancers called "palatants" which cats develop an addiction to. Most cats are picky about food changes. In fact, this is the #1 complaint I get. So you are not alone (: Here is an entire playlist of everything you need to know: ruclips.net/video/tTV0FSxDE-w/видео.html - The first video is a complete guide on how to switch food, specifically formulated for picky cats. Next is my cat food reviews video which includes 100+ records of all types of food. And the remaining videos cover healthy treats, FAQ, and supporting help.
Jess, I bought my kittens a bag of the dehydrated minnows and chicken hearts. I was giving them kibble in between their twice daily wet food feedings. I cut out their kibble and I have increased their feedings to 4x's daily and weighing each meal. I was also giving them Temptations treats but I have stopped those as well. I know that I can give them the minnows but can I give them the hearts? How many? How many calories should they be eating a day? I think you said a kitten should eat as much as an adult cat. How many daily calories should an adult cat eat?
Thanks in advance.
Every cat and food is individual. Plus every calorie is not created equally. So you have to figure out how much to feed based on 3 things: body condition score, weight, and the label. Watch this video: ruclips.net/video/9Av8we7Bm-k/видео.html&t
@@jesscaticlesmy kittens are doing well according to that video. Lil'Bit is 6 months old, very large, and weighs 12 pounds. My other kitten, Angel", is 5 months old, and weighs 6 pounds. My main concern is this: do the hearts add too many nutrients to their diets. Should I limit how many hearts I give my kittens? This is what I need to know. I begin switching from canned to raw in March.
Thanks Jess, I have been feeding my Bengal kitten now 7 months old, Small Batch Sliders Frozen Raw, this is what she's been eating since I brought her home. She definitely has her favorite / purrrrfect flavor (beef or chicken). Duck/turkey she will eat but prefers others. The versions I get are like pucks/sliders vs the rolled tube on the presentation. I do add in some Stella and Chewy freeze dried / rehydrated from time to time, she really likes to nibble on those. Her fur is amazing, everyone say's how soft she is, I say Definitely due to diet and well she's still getting out of her kitten coat. Curious your thoughts.
I mentioned in the video small batch makes separate products that are complete and balanced (sliders you mention). But the not complete blends in the video are cheaper so that's why I talked about those in the vid. I'm glad you're seeing great benefits with fresh food!
@@jesscaticles thx Jess you're the bestest
Can u review pet supplies pluses brand, the dry, wet, redford mittens morsels their treats, and gravy ones
Is fresh pet considered raw? I think that's also pretty good, right?
I believe fresh pet is technically cooked. I included a review for that brand in my cheap wet foods video: ruclips.net/video/qXEzQyHcml8/видео.html&t
Looking at Steve's Real Food for % carbs on a dry matter basis. Are these right? Frozen Pork (
I have a carb calculator on my website: www.caticles.com/carb-calculator-for-cat-food/. But those numbers are approximate. The only way to know for sure is to contact the company.
This may be a weird suggestion but can you make a video about cat poop consistency while on raw food? My cat has suffered from constipation many times. She has been on raw for 5 months. Sometimes her poop turns white after it has been sitting, sometimes it's very firm and crumbly. I honestly don't know what is normal for a cat that eats raw.
Typically the poops are smaller and less frequent. Constipation could mean not enough fiber or perhaps adding digestive enzymes could help. Technically cats get a bit of fiber in the natural diet from fur, bones, and stomach contents of prey. For example, Jericho's mice are ~15% fiber on a dry matter basis. I've read canned pumpkin (not pumpkin pie filling) can help or coconut oil.
Hi Jess
My sister and I are cat mom to a 2years old tuxedo cat. We are looking for other food options for him because his vet put him on Hills Diet Metabolic food almost two years now but he did not lose any weight,in fact all he did was go up. He not a grazer and all treats has been eliminated from his diet. Right now he gets about 185 calories per day from his 5oz of dry food. I watched some of your videos and was horrified to find that the food he is eating is probably the reason he is obese (and the vet recommended it). I was thinking about switching him to smalls first before going raw (probably Darwin’s). Or should we just try and switch him to raw immediately?
He already has set meal time since he was adopted
3 meals/day and some snacks/training time
He only have half a bag of the metabolic food left and I don’t know if it will last for the 4 months plan
What should I do?
Get him on a raw diet. It’s crazy that these vets don’t realize that these special prescription diets are a bunch of bs. Not your fault, you trusted the system and I’m glad to see you here in this thread!! I’ve been feeding raw for years. Rest assured that raw will help him tremendously. Get ready for your cat to not only loose weight but become much happier overall (and shinier coat!). Cats are obligate carnivores, meaning they need the essential nutrients raw provides. Dry food is nothing but fillers, and the food companies FUND vet education. Vets are not educated on cat nutrition and the importance of a raw diet. Go ahead and switch him right away. You can start with any raw meat from the store. But definitely long term, the diet needs to be balanced, hence why companies like Bravo in this video exist. They take the work out of it for you, which I love! You may need to try a few different proteins, but some of my cats have taken right away to any protein. Some are pickier than others. Please update how your baby is doing once you make the switch! Reach out here if you have anything questions. There’s also some great Facebook groups to help you!
Check out my complete guide to feed your cat better: ruclips.net/video/tTV0FSxDE-w/видео.html - there is a transition plan in there with suggestion on where to go from where you are now plus reviews and FAQ (:
Thank you for your kind words of wisdom and support!!
@@melanielyn1859 I am half excited and half scared to switch my baby because he’s a picky eater but I am hoping that he will like raw diet
@@melanielyn1859hi, I like you comment over here. I kind of confuse about all the changes, and many options of raw food. I have 4 cats. Can you please tell about the groups on Facebook? Or maybe can you tell how you did in the begging with your cats? Thank so much
So if I were to buy the SmallBatch blend, do I add vitamin E, Tourine, probiatics, and fish oils?
Follow their page for supplements and you can always contact them to confirm. I don't know the amounts of their ingredients so I can't formulate the diet.
Hey, thanks a lot for all the info!
And Europeans reading this, does anyone have found quality alternatives?
Check out my cat food reviews in this video: ruclips.net/video/eRtL3GGa4as/видео.html&t - the list is in the description, 100+ records of all types of food. Including brands outside the US.
@@jesscaticles ohh, that's great! Thanks again, you're making lives better :)
I can’t find any of these companies locally? I wanna switch to raw but I want to find a trusted source.
fellow raw fed cat mom here! wondering if you have any recommendations for tooth care products? raw helps a ton but I feel like my cat needs a little more.
Woo! I have a full guide on my website of what I'm doing now: www.caticles.com/cat-dental-health-how-to-help-keep-cats-teeth-clean/. I plan to make a video once Jericho's teeth are all back to normal.
@@jesscaticles thanks!! going to try coconut oil with sea kelp but wondering what the measurements used are?
Has anyone heard of or tried Dr. Marty Natures Feast?
Dr. Marty's looks great! It seems he uses whole foods instead of synthetic vitamins/minerals. This may add carbs though so you will have to decide which is better.