Should Cats Eat Raw or Cooked Meat

Nutrition & Diet 📅 August 9, 2026 👁 6221

📝 Summary

Cats are obligate carnivores and don't digest carbohydrates, yet most kibble contains a fair amount of carbs and grains that can trigger allergies. Compared with meat, that is hard to digest and disrupts the gut flora.

1 Raw or Cooked Meat for Cats

The digestive system evolved for digesting prey (all raw). Cats dislike drinking; in nature their prey is at least 70% liquid, their main water source, so raw meat avoids urinary-system strain.

Whether raw or cooked, health and hygiene matter most. I think you can feed good (very fresh) raw beef, preferably state-inspected and parasite-free. Choose loin or leg (tender, low fat).

Follow-up care when feeding raw meat:

First, regular internal deworming (every 1-2 months).

Second, buy reliable raw meat and prep it before feeding (freeze below -18°C for over three days to kill parasites, then thaw in the fridge or by quick water bath).

Third, add taurine, fish oil, and calcium powder. Done well, this is the best feeding method for cats.

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