Cats are widely recognized as obligate carnivores, meaning their bodies are biologically designed to survive on a diet made up entirely of animal tissue. In nature, a cat’s diet consists exclusively of raw prey. For felines, eating raw food isn’t a trend, it’s a biological requirement.

When fed an appropriate diet of raw meat, bone, and organ, cats are able to support optimal digestion, immune function, and overall vitality, allowing them to reach their fullest health potential.

With so many pet food options on the market today, choosing what to feed your cat can feel overwhelming. It’s an important decision, one that directly impacts both quality of life and longevity. Many commercial cat foods promise premium nutrition, but when you look closely at the ingredient list, they often fall short. Corn, grains, soy, starches, excess fats, and preservatives can place unnecessary stress on a cat’s system and contribute to health issues over time. Removing fillers and unnecessary ingredients allows cats to digest their food more efficiently and fully utilize the nutrients found in fresh, whole ingredients.

Even when choosing a dry kibble that is grain-free, starch-free, or even organic, most of the naturally occurring enzymes and vitamins from fresh ingredients don’t survive the high-heat processing. This is why many kibbles rely on added synthetic vitamins. Once cooked and processed, the food becomes a dry, crunchy version of its original form. Strip away the additives, processing, and cooking, and you’re left with what a cat’s body is designed to eat: raw meat, bone, and organ. For many cats, the difference becomes apparent almost immediately after making the switch.

Smaller, more consistent, and less odorous stools. A soft, shiny coat. Improved oral health. Clear eyes. Increased energy and vitality. Fewer common ailments, fewer vet visits, and most importantly, longevity. We want our feline companions with us for as long as possible, and feeding a species-appropriate raw diet can play a meaningful role in supporting a long, healthy, happy life.

Every cat is unique, and figuring out where to begin can feel intimidating at first. Taking things step by step and working with your cat’s natural instincts will make the transition to raw far smoother for both of you.

Creating Mealtime

Cats fed dry kibble often develop a grazing habit, eating small amounts throughout the day. Raw-fed cats, however, thrive on structured mealtimes. If your cat currently grazes, the first step, before even introducing raw food is establishing set feeding times.

Begin by offering food in the morning for a designated window, then again in the evening at roughly the same time each day. (Kittens between 10 weeks and 6 months, as well as senior cats, may require more frequent meals.) Start with food being available for 1–2 hours, then gradually shorten that window as your cat adjusts. The goal is to allow your cat to build a healthy appetite between meals rather than nibbling all day.

Why are scheduled meals important? Raw food should never be left out for more than 20 minutes, but more importantly, constant grazing keeps a cat’s digestive system working nonstop. Defined mealtimes allow digestion to happen efficiently and give the body time to rest between meals, reducing unnecessary stress on the organs.

Cold Turkey

While not every cat will transition to raw food cold turkey, it’s always worth trying. Start with a protein your cat may already be familiar with most commonly chicken or turkey and offer a fully raw meal to see how they respond. If it works, this is by far the simplest and easiest transition method for both you and your cat’s digestive system.

If it doesn’t work right away, don’t be discouraged. Many cats need a more gradual approach, and there are plenty of other strategies that can lead to success.

Portions

Use our raw feeding calculator as a starting point to determine appropriate daily portions for your cat based on their ideal body weight. Kittens, as well as pregnant or nursing cats, will require adjusted portions and more frequent meals.

Why You Should Never Underfeed or Fast Your Cat

During the transition to raw food, it’s critical to understand that cats should never be underfed, starved, or fasted in an attempt to encourage them to eat a new food. Cats have a strict biological requirement for protein, and even short periods without adequate nutrition can cause serious liver damage.

A condition known as Fatty Liver Disease (hepatic lipidosis) is common in feral or lost cats, cats refusing food due to illness, or in situations where food is withheld intentionally often with devastating consequences. When a cat isn’t receiving enough protein, the liver becomes overwhelmed and unable to properly process fat, leading to rapid decline and potentially fatal outcomes.

In short: if your cat refuses a new food, avoid “tough love.” Always keep a food on hand that you know your cat will eat while you work through the transition slowly and safely.

Most people who live with cats can agree, they aren’t always quick to accept change. Whether it’s a new environment, another animal in the home, or a change in diet, cats can be resistant. Cats are known as imprint feeders, meaning they tend to prefer what they’re familiar with. It’s completely normal for them to be suspicious of foods they’ve never encountered before, which can come across as pickiness. That’s why it’s important to approach the raw food transition prepared, patient, and ready to work through some initial resistance that usually passes with time.

Start Off Slowly

If you’ve already tried the cold turkey method and your cat isn’t interested, don’t worry, you’ll just need to slow things down. Be open to trying different approaches until you find what works for your cat. Patience is key, and if one method doesn’t work, there’s always another to try.

The Transition-to-Canned-Food Method

For cats that have eaten dry kibble their entire lives, transitioning first to canned food can make the move to raw much easier. Texture is often a major hurdle, and introducing canned food helps cats adjust to something softer and more moisture-rich.

Start by adding small amounts of canned food and gradually increasing it. Be prepared to experiment with different brands, textures, and proteins. Choose formulas that are grain-free, corn-free, and starch-free whenever possible. Once your cat is eating only canned food, begin adding small amounts of raw food. Slowly reduce the canned portion over time until the meal is fully raw. This method can take time, but many cats have transitioned successfully using this approach.

The Transition-to-Freeze-Dried Method

Freeze-dried raw food can be an excellent transition tool. Many cats enjoy the aroma and texture, whether fed dry or rehydrated. Start by crushing a small amount of freeze-dried food and offering it dry. Once accepted, begin adding a couple of tablespoons of warm water to rehydrate it.

If this goes well, continue feeding the rehydrated freeze-dried food and gradually add small amounts of raw food each day. Slowly decrease the freeze-dried portion as you increase the raw. If your cat doesn’t initially accept freeze-dried food on its own, try mixing small amounts into their current food and work up from there.

A Note on Feeding Consistency

When transitioning a cat to raw food, consistency matters more than pressure. Cats have a high metabolic demand for protein, and prolonged food refusal can place unnecessary strain on the liver. For this reason, transitions should always be gradual, supportive, and flexible.

If your cat refuses a new food, pause and reassess rather than pushing forward. Keep at least one option available that you know your cat will reliably eat while you continue experimenting with transition methods. Progress may feel slow at times, but maintaining regular intake is far more important than rushing the process. A calm, patient approach almost always leads to better long-term success.

Many people feel intimidated by the idea of feeding raw at first, assuming it will be far more time-consuming than simply pouring kibble into a bowl. In a fast-paced world where time always feels limited, adding a new step to your routine can seem daunting.

The truth is, feeding raw is surprisingly easy. Once you establish a simple system for thawing food ahead of time, the process becomes quick and straightforward. For some, feeding one meal from the fridge simply means moving the next meal from the freezer into the fridge to thaw. For others who use vacuum-sealed portions, it can be as easy as pulling a meal out about 15 minutes before feeding and submerging it in warm water until thawed.

Before long, raw feeding becomes just another part of your daily routine, as easy and familiar as your morning coffee or brushing your teeth.

One way or another, you can make raw feeding work. Everyone’s budget looks a little different, and at True Carnivores we’re here to help tailor a diet for your cat that is not only biologically appropriate and extremely healthy, but also realistic for your financial situation. We want every cat to have the opportunity to thrive on a species-appropriate diet without breaking the bank.

It’s true that raw food is often viewed as more expensive than conventional dry food. However, if you’re already feeding mostly canned or wet food, the cost difference is often comparable—and in some cases, even less. It’s also important to consider the long-term health benefits of feeding raw. Supporting your cat’s health through proper nutrition can help reduce common ailments and, over time, may save you thousands of dollars in veterinary costs.

That said, we understand that some budgets simply can’t be stretched beyond a certain point. Don’t let that discourage you from exploring your options. Talk with one of us at True Carnivores and we’ll share practical strategies to help lower your overall feeding costs while still doing right by your cat. We’re able to accommodate most budgets and are always happy to help you find what works.

Mild digestive upset during the transition to raw food is normal for cats. Cats (like dogs) are born with naturally acidic stomachs, which help them digest raw meat and neutralize bacteria they may encounter in their natural environment. Feeding dry kibble over time can shift the stomach toward a more alkaline state, similar to humans which is not natural for cats. This change can weaken the digestive system and make it more difficult to process raw food at first.

During the transition, your cat’s body may need time to increase stomach acid production again. This adjustment period can result in temporary digestive upset, but it is usually short-lived and resolves as the system adapts.

If your cat experiences vomiting or diarrhea during the transition, there are ways to provide support. Adding a digestive enzyme and/or probiotic for the first one to two weeks can help reduce tummy troubles. Starting these supports one to two weeks before switching to raw can also make the transition smoother. In most cases, however, this extra support isn’t necessary, as cats typically adjust quickly once the initial transition is complete.

You may notice that after switching your cat to a raw diet, they drink less water and that’s completely normal. Raw food has a much higher moisture content than conventional dry food, and even more than most canned foods. Because of this, it’s safe and expected for your cat’s water intake from their bowl to decrease.

Raw food naturally provides much of the hydration your cat needs, so they simply don’t need to drink as much additional water. As long as fresh water is always available and your cat is eating well and acting normally, this change is nothing to worry about.

One of the most noticeable benefits people experience after switching their cats to a raw diet is smaller, firmer, and far less smelly stools. By eliminating hard-to-digest ingredients like corn, soy, grains, and other fillers commonly found in highly processed foods, a balanced raw diet allows your cat to use what they eat far more efficiently.

Instead of passing large amounts of unusable material, the nutrients in raw food are absorbed and put to work, supporting a strong immune system, healthy digestion, and overall well-being. The result is less waste and better stool quality. Just another perk of feeding a species-appropriate raw diet.

Salmonella, E. coli, Campylobacter jejuni, Listeria monocytogenes, Vibrio, and Clostridium botulinum are among the bacteria commonly associated with foodborne illness in humans from undercooked meat and seafood. It’s natural to wonder whether these same bacteria pose a risk to cats when feeding raw food. While steps are taken to ensure meat is fresh and handled properly, there is always a small chance that bacteria may be present, just as there is with highly processed conventional dry food, which has also been recalled for bacterial contamination.

There are recorded cases of pets becoming ill from bacteria found in food, but an important factor often overlooked is the diet they were eating at the time. Cats fed highly processed dry food typically have lower stomach acidity, which can make it harder for their bodies to neutralize harmful bacteria. In contrast, cats fed a raw diet develop a much more acidic stomach environment, along with healthier gut flora and stronger immune function.

Once a cat has transitioned fully to raw and their digestive system has adapted, these bacteria are generally not considered a realistic threat to a healthy cat.

Interesting fact: a cat’s intestinal tract is only about 2½ times the length of their body, compared to a human’s digestive tract, which can stretch up to 8 metres. This shorter digestive system means food and any bacteria present passes through much more quickly. Combined with the highly acidic stomach of a raw-fed cat, it creates an environment where harmful bacteria struggle to survive.

That said, proper food handling is still essential. Washing your cat’s bowl between meals, cleaning feeding areas, and storing raw food correctly all help minimize bacterial growth.

Handling Raw Food Safely

Even though many raw feeders don’t worry about these bacteria affecting their cats, it’s important to remember that we do not have the same highly acidic digestive system as a raw-fed cat. Because of this, bacteria that cats often tolerate without issue can make us ill. Always follow proper food-safety practices when handling raw food, including washing your hands thoroughly and cleaning any surfaces used to prepare your cat’s meals.