raw feeding websites

The 8 best websites about Raw Feeding

I think it is really important to take an appropriate amount of time to do some research before starting to feed raw. There are several ways to raw feed, and not every website or group has the same opinion on the topic. My advice would be to find a reference website which you feel the most confident with and to follow their advice.

A word on Facebook groups

Facebook groups are a great place to exchange useful information with other raw feeders, to ask all your questions, and to get help especially when you are starting. However, it is important to remember to take every information with a pinch of salt, as not everyone there is an expert. My advice would be to double-check all the information you read, to trust more the admins (as theyre generally the most knowledgeable in the group) and to be cautious about the pieces of advice you get from the other members.

My favorite websites about raw feeding

As here we discuss about cats, in my list you wont find any website that is solely addressed to dog owners.

A great website, full of information on raw feeding. You will find in particular a picky cat transition guide, as well as a standard one. This website is focused on do-it-yourself raw feeding and for cats recommends Prey Model Raw and Prey Model Raw +. You will find on the website a raw feeding calculator which can be helpful when you start. Perfectly Rawsome also has a Facebook group called Raw Feeding University, on which you can find help and ask questions. My only complaint is that they are mainly focused on dogs.

The RFN website supports science-based raw feeding: they consider the nutritional requirement of cats and dogs to precisely balance a raw diet. I would not recommend it when starting out, as it can be overwhelming for newcomers. Nevertheless, they definitely cover important aspects of raw feeding and nutrition. Raw Fed and Nerdy was originally born as a Facebook group. Even if at a first glance it may seem to be only about dogs, one of the admin is actually an expert in cat nutrition, so dont be afraid to ask your questions on how to feed your cats!

This website is 100% focused on cats and nutrition. It has many articles which take a deep dive on many aspects of cats food. It also has a beginner category, if you dont want to get overwhelmed with too much information if youre just starting out with raw feeding. Part of the team behind the Feline Nutrition website is composed of veterinarians!

As you can probably guess it by its name, this website too is focused only on cats. The website recommends a Prey Model Raw diet. CatCentric has also a Facebook group. They dont just provide answers to your questions on raw feeding, but they talk about cats in general.

This website is entirely written by Lisa A. Pierson, a Doctor of Veterinary Medicine. It mainly focuses on why you should never feed your cat with dry food. It is really a must-read if you are not convinced yet. However, it doesnt contain much practical information on how to raw feed your cat.

The RFC is about raw feeding in general and doesnt privilege a raw diet in particular. This means it supports DIY, as well as pre-made raw, a partial raw diet, etc. You will find on their website many science-based articles on raw feeding. The RFC also has a Facebook group.

The RFAS is focused on a strict Prey Model Raw diet. Which means no fruits, no vegetables, no grains, no supplement, no partial raw diet etc. Its not a feeding method that I recommend as I add supplements to my cats diet.The RFAS has a Facebook group which is one of the largest ones on raw feeding, sporting more than 100k members.

This Facebook group is a very good place to exchange information which is strictly only about raw feeding and cats. They recommend a strict Prey Model Raw diet without any supplements or plant matters. Its not a feeding method that I recommend as I add supplements to my cats diet. The group has strict guidelines and may not be adapted for everyone.They support DIY, as well as premade raw.

To conclude, there are a lot of resources available on raw feeding out there, with many different philosophies. I hope that with this list youll be able to find the website that perfectly fits your philosophy.

Raw Feeding Basics for Newbies

A Road-map to Raw

Starting the journey to raw feeding can be intimidating at first, but we are here to try to make your journey as smooth as possible. Below we have created a helpful roadmap for the diet info on this website. Click on each link/page title for more info!

Must Reads:

Natural Diet a very brief topic review

Raw Diet The MEAT of the Site a list of some of the key Raw Feeding pages on the site

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The Switch a step-by-step review of the entire process of switching your ferret to a Raw Diet

- Transitioning from Grinds to Frankenprey a guide to help you switch from Grinds to chunks of meat and bones

- How to Hand Feed a Ferret Raw Meat explanations and videos on the Scruff and Sample and other hand-feeding methods

Raw Soup Recipe the recipe for making a balanced Raw Soup

Basic Frankenprey Menu a plug and chug menu, with explanations, for you to build your ferrets a properly balanced Raw Diet

Balancing Frankenprey with Alternative Meals a chart to help you balance the Frankenprey Menu above with whole prey and balanced grinds

Variety a blurb on recommended variety and a list of some of the many types of meat you can feed your ferrets

Organ Meats what does and does not constitute an organ meat for your raw diet

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Gather your Supplies:

Before staring your switch, you will want to have some basic supplies, listed below.

Kitchen scale for weighing your ferret and meat items

A good blender

Cutting tools suggestions include: Ulu knife, Meat Cleaver, Poultry Scissors

Something to crush bones suggestions include: Ulu knife, heavy-duty meat mallet, or a regular hammer

If you plan to use powdered eggshell, you will need a coffee grinder or mortar and pestle

Meat storage: zip-lock bags or plastic tupperware containers to store prepared meals in the freezer. Optional ice cube tray to freeze cubes of pureed raw soup.

Ingredients to makeraw soup (see recipe below), unless your ferret is already past the soup stage. This includes chicken (or other meat), liver, heart, and bonemeal (preferred) or powdered eggshell.

Soup for switch:8oz chicken (or other meat)1oz liver (about 1/2 of a chicken liver)1oz heart (about 2 chicken hearts)1/2 to 3/4 tsp bonemeal or powdered egg shell

Shopping for Raw some tips on finding the meats that you need to feed a balanced raw diet

Raw and Whole Prey Providers a list of online retailers who sell raw meat, whole prey, raw grinds, and freeze dried raw products for your ferrets

Defining a Raw Meal:

Please note that when we refer to a Meal, we refer to thetotalamount of food a ferret will eat in a 12-hour period. This means that the AM (morning) meal is breakfast and all food eaten during the day, and the PM (evening) meal is dinner and all food eaten overnight.

Determining How Much to Feed Per Meal:

Note that the amount of food a ferret will eat each day will vary from ferret to ferret, season to season, and day to day. Ferrets typically eat significantly more during the fall/winter, and less in the spring/summer. Males typically eat more than females. Kits and young ferrets eat significantly more than adults.

• OnAVERAGEadult females will eat 1-3oz per day, and adult males will eat 2-4oz per day.

Raw fed ferrets very rarely over-eat; they are great at self-regulating. Unless you have a ferret who is overweight, they should be offeredas much food as they will eat. A good rule of thumb is toalways offer enough that there are a few bites leftover by the next meal. This ensures that they get enough food, while minimizing waste.

To determine how muchyourferretneeds each meal, we recommendweighing the amount of food offered each meal, and then weighing the leftovers before the next meal. (Subtract the two to see how much they ate). Do this for several days to get an idea of how muchyour ferreteats per meal in order to determine how much food you should prepare. You may want to do this in the winter and again in summer to get a feel for your ferrets seasonal variations.

Reviewing Weekly Balance:

Weeklyamounts that ferrets require inPercentages:

• 10% organ
  • 1/2 (5% total diet) liver
  • 1/2 (5% total diet) otherorgan
• 10% heart
• 10-15% EDIBLE bone
• 65-70% muscle meat

Weeklyamounts that ferrets require inMeals per Week:

• 1.5 meals organ (1/2 liver, and 1/2 otherorgan)
• 1.5 meals heart
  • Note: many find it easiest to offer 3 meals per week that consist of a Blend of 1/2 heart, 1/4 liver, and 1/4 other organs. This will add up to the required 1.5 meals of heart and 1.5 meals of organ (half liver, half other).
• 7-9 meals bone-in meat
• 2-4 meals boneless muscle meat

Start The Switch:

The Switch a step-by-step review of the entire process of switching your ferret to a Raw Diet

To start with feed one protein source (like chicken or turkey), one meat, for a week and keep a diary, slowly by week 2 introduce a new meat, (for example beef and beef GREEN tripe), combine for a week, and use this method to introduce other things like lamb, rabbit, etc.

See how your dog goes for a week. You will find you will become an expert at looking at dog poo as this is the best way of telling how your dog is doing. You will find that poos generally become smaller and better formed as they utilise more of the food that they are being fed. The perfect poo can vary in colour but should be like a small kickable non stick pellet.

For many starting out it can make a lot of sense to start with premade minces with everything already in it (a complete meal)

So what should I be aiming for? You want to aim to have a good varied diet, the more variety the better the balance and the less likely a chance of your dog missing out on something.

your aim [ratio]: 80% meat, 10% bone & 10% offal

Examples of things that are counted towards your 80% meat are: heart, tongue, cheek, skirt, off cuts, lung, diaphragm, trachea, gizzards, green tripe, brisket, stewing meat, fillets. Your 10% offal . 5% liver do include liver its essential. other 5% kidney, spleen, brain, testicles, pancreas.

Raw Feeding Veterinary Society

The Conference, which was held in September 2022, is now available to watch online.

We have 5 inspiring speakers tackling an incredibly important issue this year Food Safety for our Pets!

How Safe is Their Food?!is an incredibly critical topic, and one that is often debated when it comes to raw and fresh food for our pets. This year the RFVS invited 5 Speakers to Spain, to help us all better understand raw and safety, and any perceived issues around it.

• Nicole Cammack: Evolving the Narrative: Known & Unknowns About Pet Food Safety
• Dr Nick Thompson: Raw Food, Renal Disease and Renal Diets
• Dr Amaya Espndola: Toxoplasma and Other Parasite Risk Infection in Raw Fed Cats
• Dr Christian Vergara: Glyphosate, Mycotoxins and Maillards Reaction Products
• Dr Brendan Clarke: RawSafe and the Fight for Popular Opinion

For more information on Raw Pet Food and Safety, head over toRawSAFE.com