When you're giving raw, are you just giving the pieces whole? Xena was intimidated by large pieces like legs, so I cut them into smaller, more manageable pieces. I use a giant meat cleaver and hack chicken legs and such into smaller pieces, but there's still bone in what they get. That way, they can chew through the bones but not have to learn how to be a wild cat, which they've never been. (Ok, so Xena was for some time, but she's a finicky little snip).
I'd start out by crushing some of the bones within the pieces as well, to let her get used to the texture and taste of raw food.
You want to get meat that is high in taurine, which cats need. Poultry legs are better for them than wings, because the chicken uses their legs and thus causes taurine to build up. Chicken wings are too bony and without enough meat to make a meal out of. Hearts are always good, FULL of taurine. Beef and pork may be too flavorful at first...kibble-fed cats get used to the bland taste of kibble and therefore balk at stronger tastes.
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rosecarmine
Here I am!
Date: 2007-01-26 12:56 am (UTC)When you're giving raw, are you just giving the pieces whole? Xena was intimidated by large pieces like legs, so I cut them into smaller, more manageable pieces. I use a giant meat cleaver and hack chicken legs and such into smaller pieces, but there's still bone in what they get. That way, they can chew through the bones but not have to learn how to be a wild cat, which they've never been. (Ok, so Xena was for some time, but she's a finicky little snip).
I'd start out by crushing some of the bones within the pieces as well, to let her get used to the texture and taste of raw food.
You want to get meat that is high in taurine, which cats need. Poultry legs are better for them than wings, because the chicken uses their legs and thus causes taurine to build up. Chicken wings are too bony and without enough meat to make a meal out of. Hearts are always good, FULL of taurine. Beef and pork may be too flavorful at first...kibble-fed cats get used to the bland taste of kibble and therefore balk at stronger tastes.
Here are some resources for you:
http://pets.groups.yahoo.com/group/rawcat/?yguid=127587557
http://community.livejournal.com/rawdogs/profile
http://www.rawfedcats.org/