can my cat eat raw beef

Yes, cats can eat raw beef, but we recommend only giving it in moderation and being aware that raw meat carries the risk of food poisoning. Ensure it’s fresh and doesn’t contain any seasoning which may be hazardous to their health.

If feeding raw meat to cats is dangerous, what’s a safer alternative?

It is far too dangerous for the spoiled indoor cat to eat only raw food. Each serving of unprocessed food contains more potentially dangerous bacteria than it does nutrients.

You can make your own food or use store-bought cat food to ensure your cat is getting the right nutrition and staying healthy.

Although cooking at home seems comforting, it’s difficult and time-consuming. You would need to educate yourself on cat nutrition, including what they should eat, when to feed them, and how much of each serving, to make sure your pet is getting all the necessary micronutrients.

For today’s cats and their caregivers, a diet of premium wet food is the most sensible choice. Wet and semi-moist food items are made to accommodate your cat’s particular biology, which is why they are:

Rich in moisture: Dehydration is a major problem that can lead to a number of uncomfortable medical conditions, including constipation in cats. Wet cat food usually contains a high percentage of moisture, so it’s important to make sure their water intake is at its best.
High in protein: Animal protein, which provides necessary amino acids that your cat’s body is unable to produce, is used to make high-quality products. Taurine is crucial for their heart, brain, and eye function .
Low in carbohydrates: In addition to being superfluous, carbohydrates can be detrimental to your cat. The primary function of the feline metabolism is to process macronutrients, which is why the majority of top-tier brands maintain their carbohydrate contents below 2010%%20%20.
Rich in minerals and vitamins—your cat’s metabolism depends on vitamins B, potassium, zinc, magnesium, and other elements. The majority of producers artificially enrich food with minerals, negating the need for dietary supplements. If you go overboard, you run the risk of developing cystitis and struvite crystals.

Because of how it’s made, kibble—the other popular kind of commercial cat food—could be considered the opposite of raw diets. Meat, vegetables, and grains are combined to make dry food, which is then heavily processed. The result is high-calorie, dry kibble.

Untamed food—the best choice for your feline companion

Try Untamed! Our recipes are carefully crafted to mimic the feline ancestral diet, minus the harmful microbes that can compromise your cat’s health, so you can treat your furry friend to nourishing and delicious meals!

Each meal is:

Rich in protein—A single serving of Untamed food has twice the amount of protein recommended by industry standards. We only use the best animal protein for our feline delicacies—no plant protein, meat derivatives, or other pointless or dangerous ingredients.
Made with whole meat: Our delectable and nutritious recipes call for premium cuts of meat. The finished product is loaded with the bioavailable nutrients your cat needs to stay healthy, and every ingredient is of human-grade quality.
Vet-formulated: Our meals are created by veterinarians to specifically address your cat’s biological needs. Each serving is nutrient-dense and free of all known allergens .
Untamed packaging is recyclable; we genuinely care about making the world a better place for our feline friends! Ethically produced Our ingredients come from environmentally friendly sources, and we leave no carbon imprint.
Untamed meals are irresistible and filling at the same time. When you open a tin of our gourmet cat food, watch your picky eater twist their whiskers in anticipation.

To ensure that the ingredients’ original bioavailability is maintained during production, we gently steam every meal. Your cat will experience the Untamed effect as soon as they finish their first meal because we don’t overprocess our food! The following is a summary of the immediate and long-term health advantages our diet can offer:

Timeline	Health benefits
Within a week	Regulated bowel movement Increased energy
After two months	Decreased shedding Shinier and thicker fur Improved oral hygiene
Within four months	Fewer hairballs Optimal muscle tone Stable digestive health Stronger bones
Life-long benefits	Fewer gastrointestinal issues Stronger immune response Natural weight management Overall stable health

Why to add rabbit or rodents

If raw beef is the most convenient option for you as well, the secret is to mix it with another food source. This could be another type of raw meat, such as rabbit or small rodents that are sold for cat food.

Find raw ground rabbit meat here. Rabbit is recommended for cats, and moderately affordable.

For those who have never considered raw cat food before, this may sound extremely strange. Cats in Europe have actually been fed a combination of beef and any rodents they could find around a farm for centuries. This level of variety works well for cats’ nutrition.

As you can see, it can be kept very basic! Rodents provide bones and optional organs for a cat’s diet, and they contain different nutrients than beef.

This company provides rodents, rabbit and a huge variety of options. You may wish to rotate these foods with your own raw beef, to keep life easy and affordable.

This is the strategy I’m using to get even Zeus, our pickiest cat, to eat only raw food.

Giving our cats raw rabbit isn’t any more difficult than giving them raw beef.

Again:

Feed your cat a combination of low-carb, grain-free, or freeze-dried food and extremely fresh (or freshly frozen) raw ground meat. This is an excellent short-term strategy, and it might be a step in your long-term transition to eating only raw meat. Due to concerns with stomach acidity, some experts do not believe that combining raw and dry foods is a good idea in the long run. Though I don’t think their reasoning is sound, do what feels most natural to you.
Purchase the highest-quality, responsibly sourced meat when it comes to wet food.
Follow the recipe for Easy Cat Food, using pre-ground meat and optional egg shell powder (if no bones are included).
Switch up your diet by serving raw beef and raw rabbit instead of these two expensive, easy-to-feed animals that don’t need extra human supplements. (Choose option #3 above, if you feel safer adding supplements. ).

FAQ

How much raw beef should I feed my cat?

This will vary based on your cat’s age, metabolism, activity level and even the season. A good general rule of thumb is to feed approximately 2% of their body weight, divided into two meals a day. For example, a healthy 10-pound cat should have roughly 3 oz of raw food at each meal.

Is it better to feed cats raw or cooked meat?

Cooking with heat can cause the meat to lose nutrients, which is why raw feeding is considered to be very beneficial. However, if you are concerned about feeding your cat uncooked meat because of the potential for bacteria, Lisa A. Pierson, DVM and owner of CatInfo.org advises that you can also partially cook the meat.

Is it safe for cats to eat beef?

Meats. Cooked, lean meats such as beef, chicken, turkey, liver and lamb are all ok for you cat to eat. However, it’s important that you take great care when serving to make sure the meat’s cooked through – never give cats raw meat – and remove all skin and bones before feeding your cat.