Raw Meaty Bones are Good for Your Cats
[/et_pb_text][/et_pb_column][/et_pb_row][/et_pb_section][et_pb_section fb_built="1" custom_padding_last_edited="on|desktop" _builder_version="3.22" background_color="#f7f7f4" custom_padding_tablet="50px|0|50px|0" custom_padding_phone="" transparent_background="off" padding_mobile="off" global_colors_info="{}"][et_pb_row padding_mobile="on" column_padding_mobile="on" _builder_version="3.25" background_size="initial" background_position="top_left" background_repeat="repeat" custom_margin="|auto|10px|auto||" custom_padding="50px|||" global_colors_info="{}"][et_pb_column type="4_4" _builder_version="3.25" custom_padding="|||" global_colors_info="{}" custom_padding__hover="|||"][et_pb_text _builder_version="4.7.1" text_font="PT Serif||||" text_text_color="#363636" text_font_size="24" text_line_height="1.4em" background_size="initial" background_position="top_left" background_repeat="repeat" max_width="839px" custom_margin="10px||0px||false|false" text_font_size_tablet="" text_font_size_phone="" text_font_size_last_edited="on|tablet" use_border_color="off" global_colors_info="{}"]What are raw meaty bones?
Raw meaty bones are edible bones with meat around, coming from animals the same size of a cat’s prey. Suitable raw meaty bones include raw chicken (necks, wings, or drumsticks) and raw lamb shanks.
Why do cats need to consume raw meaty bones?
It is important to understand that bones are mandatory in a raw diet. A diet without bones is going to be severely deficient: bones provide calcium, phosphorus and several other essential nutrients.
Cats are obligate or true carnivores, meaning that they need a source of animal protein to survive. In the wild, cats eat the carcass of the prey animals they hunt, which consist of raw meat, bones and organs. They also consume a small amount of the vegetable matter contained in the gut of their prey.
Raw meaty bones provide several important health benefits such as keeping teeth and gums healthy.
Cats need to do some serious gnawing and chewing – using those side teeth – to keep their teeth and gums in top shape. The scraping action that occurs when a cat uses those side teeth to slice through skin, sinew, cartilage and small bones is what keeps the teeth clean and gums stimulated.
And the lack of carbohydrates also helps keep plaque at bay. Feeding foods that require a cat to use their teeth as nature intended can make all the difference in their dental health.
It is also a much more natural way for your cat to eat and provides stimulation and enjoyment.
How to feed bones?
These bones need to be:
- Raw - Never feed cooked or dehydrated bones, as they will splinter! Never feed your cat cooked bones as these can splinter, causing potentially fatal internal damage or blockage.
- With meat around. Bones with all the meat removed cause pose a danger if they’re too dry or hard as they can break teeth. The meat around bones helps to cushion and also gives nutrients.
- Adapted to the size of a cat. A cat won't be able to eat bones which are too big and may damage its teeth trying. Avoid large marrow bones (these have very thick outer rims), large knuckle bones or bones sawn lengthwise as cats may crack their teeth on these. Although, the bone must not be so small that the cat can fit the whole bone into their mouth or swallow the bone whole.
- Uncut - Except if you cut two separate bones at the level of the joints.
Too many raw bones may lead to constipation. Generally, 1 to 2 raw bones may be offered per week with a few days in between each serving.
You can start offering your kitten raw chicken necks and wings from an early age (approximately 8 weeks). They must be introduced at an early age; otherwise your cat will refuse them.
Always supervise cats when they eat raw bones.
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Which types of bones can you feed your cats?
Here is a list of bones adapted to a cat:
- Quail bones (all can be fed)
- Rabbit ribs
- Coquelet (young chicken), any parts
- Chicken neck
- Small chicken wings
- Rabbit front legs
- Chicken feet
- Chicken back
- Small duck neck
For a cat starting with raw feeding, we would recommend either quail bones or rabbit ribs.
Variety in bones
Like for the meat, you should feed a variety of different types of bones.
It is very important not to feed only chicken necks, as they may cause hyperthyroidism. Rotating proteins is key!
How much bones to feed?
There are two methods used to calculate the amount of needed bones for your cat.
Method One: Pure Bones
A cat requires around 6% to 10% of pure bones in its daily ration. For example: A chicken neck = 36% bones + 64% meat.
Quantity of raw meaty bones (in grams or ounces) = Daily ration (in grams or ounces) x bones need (6% to 10%) / Percentage of pure bones in the raw meaty bone.
-This method is more precise, but it may be hard to find the bone percentage of a raw meaty bone. And this would need a lot of calculations.
Method Two: Raw Meaty Bones
A cat needs around 30% of raw meaty bones in its daily ration.
Assuming that you don’t always feed the same type of bones, this method is based on the fact that if 30% of the daily ration is composed of raw meaty bones, on average this will translate in feeding your cat with 6% to 10% of pure bones.
So, if your cat daily ration is 100g, you need to feed 30g of raw meaty bones.
-This method is easier to calculate. But it’s less precise, especially for the case of atypical bones such as chicken feet, which are composed of 60% pure bones.
In our humble opinion, don’t get too caught up in the minutiae of bone feeding and stick to 1-2 bones per week and a lovely fresh diet.
Risk of bones
Feeding bones may sound really scary. However, most outdoor/feral cats hunt birds and mice. They often eat them, including the bones, without any problem, as it’s their natural food.
Nevertheless, zero risk doesn't really exist, as with everything else. So, you should always supervise your animal when it is eating bones.
In conclusion, bones are a mandatory part of a raw diet, as they provide essential nutrients.
They may be scary at first, but with the appropriate precaution, raw edible bones are safe and definitely a nutritiously delicious addition to your cat’s diet.
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