Switching to raw diet(hopefully!)

[Perseus]

Ya think ::)LOL! I'm going to leave the ratio until Wed., then up the raw a wee bit, and decrease the canned the same amount. I'm leaving the freeze dried the same(they all love it). Hopefully, they won't even know they've been switched to raw!
Then, we'll have to bone problem to deal with! Quick question, and this may sound silly. My 14 yr old cat needs a dental cleaning. He's going next month. With the switch up, do you think it will bother his teeth at first? They should(hopefully) be mostly raw by then?

sherrylynne, I'm not sure what you mean by bothering his teeth with the raw?  My experience has been a lot less tarter on the teeth when feeding raw vs feeding kibble if that's what you mean.  Let me know.  How's the raw food transition going, haven't heard anything in a while now!

[sherrylynne]

Well, we upped the raw, and decreased the canned, by a tsp. Not a lot, but no one noticed!!! I think there may be hope yet!

[sherrylynne]

sherrylynne, I'm not sure what you mean by bothering his teeth with the raw?  My experience has been a lot less tarter on the teeth when feeding raw vs feeding kibble if that's what you mean.  Let me know.  How's the raw food transition going, haven't heard anything in a while now!

When I have a cleaning done, my teeth are really sensitive for a while. I was wondering if the actual chewing(GODS< I HOPE) of the meat, since they will just have started on pieces a little bit larger, would bother him enough to not want to do it. The chewing, I mean. Having to chew meat will be a totally new experience for a very stubborn old man . I guess I'm just worried about anything that might throw this switch off track!

[Perseus]

sherrylynne, I'm not sure what you mean by bothering his teeth with the raw?  My experience has been a lot less tarter on the teeth when feeding raw vs feeding kibble if that's what you mean.  Let me know.  How's the raw food transition going, haven't heard anything in a while now!

When I have a cleaning done, my teeth are really sensitive for a while. I was wondering if the actual chewing(GODS< I HOPE) of the meat, since they will just have started on pieces a little bit larger, would bother him enough to not want to do it. The chewing, I mean. Having to chew meat will be a totally new experience for a very stubborn old man . I guess I'm just worried about anything that might throw this switch off track!

Well, I really don't know, good question.  The raw I feed is different from what you're feeding though.  My cats can actually lick up the raw, and any chewing is done with their back teeth but it's very little.  The raw I use has the bones all ground up into very small soft pieces.  For some reason all three of them like to lick it off the plate.

[Bonkers]

   If you kitty seems hesitant to eat the raw after his cleaning, I would suggest you cut the meat up for him for a short period of time. A few days of no bones would not hurt him or you could add ground up dried egg shells for added calcium. At least he is no longer eating hard kibble! 

[sherrylynne]

   If you kitty seems hesitant to eat the raw after his cleaning, I would suggest you cut the meat up for him for a short period of time. A few days of no bones would not hurt him or you could add ground up dried egg shells for added calcium. At least he is no longer eating hard kibble! 

And thank heavens for that!!! Now, I am just assuming they will be eating chunks, albeit smaller ones, at that point in time. I was just concerned about setbacks yet again! Oh, and more good news! Their appetites are coming back with a vengeance. From the time I finally got them on canned to today, the most they would eat in a day was a 2.5 oz. can of food, with small amount of raw, and about 2 tsp of freeze dried. Today, they all at normal freeze dried, tsp of raw per meal, and 2-3 cans EACH of cat food. Just to let you know, my kitties range from 10lbs to 16lbs. I was starting to be concerned by their lack of appetite, but if today is any indication, they are finally adjusted to the diet changes I've been making

[sherrylynne]

Breakthrough!!!(I think). Tonight, both Ligiea and Watson ate straight raw pork, about 1/2 dozen small chunks!!! We were in the kitchen, I was prepping the pork for the cat's meals, and I put down a raw sliver apiece, and they ate them! As well as at least 5 more pieces each! I am just so pleased with them. I can't believe it! Finally, we seem to be on our way!
How is it one can be so pleased over something so small ? Funny, isn't it?

[Perseus]

Breakthrough!!!(I think). Tonight, both Ligiea and Watson ate straight raw pork, about 1/2 dozen small chunks!!! We were in the kitchen, I was prepping the pork for the cat's meals, and I put down a raw sliver apiece, and they ate them! As well as at least 5 more pieces each! I am just so pleased with them. I can't believe it! Finally, we seem to be on our way!
How is it one can be so pleased over something so small ? Funny, isn't it?

Such typical kitties, aren't they!  When you least expect it, or maybe they're still playing mind games with you?

[sherrylynne]

Thanks, Perseus! They probably are though! I don't put anything past these kitties anymore. Even though they ate all their canned with about 1 1/2 tsp raw pork in it! And without the freeze dried topping! The store I was buying it from quit stocking it. They didn't sell enough, and I can't even order it through them anymore . Oh, well, the online store I order my ferrets freeze dried is sending me a sample pack of various kinds, so I'll try them all out, and see what they have decided they like on that particular day

[sherrylynne]

Just thought maybe I should update- all kitties are on 1/2 and 1/2 canned/raw diet. I'm taking it very slowly this time, so I hopefully don't have the same setbacks!

[Bonkers]

Just thought maybe I should update- all kitties are on 1/2 and 1/2 canned/raw diet. I'm taking it very slowly this time, so I hopefully don't have the same setbacks!

  Well I guess this means that you are half way there!!    There could still be some small setbacks, but for the most part you have already gone thru the most difficult period of transitioning. Should be downhill from this point on...............

[sherrylynne]

That's what I'm hoping, Bonkers! Already, some of them will nibble at the plain raw when I'm getting their food ready. The problem is that if I don't top it up with enough canned, that's all the brats do, is nibble! But we'll get there.

[coontuffy]

sherrylynne.........
You are an inspiration to us all!!!

I am facinated with you postings pertaining to raw and you have given me some inspiration and the knowledge that "slow and steady wins the race".

Continued success to you and yours!!!!!

[sherrylynne]

I'll be honest- I had no idea it would take this long! Some days, I think- wonderful! We're almost there!!! Next day, it's take 1,2 or even sometimes 3 steps back, and start again! It's so frustrating. Had it not been for seeing the difference it made in the ferrets before I started this, I would probably have given up, or torn my hair out- or both . But I WILL get there with them! Cats think they can outstubborn me, do they? Guess what kitties? You've met your match! I don't care if it takes a year- YOU WILL EAT RAW!!!
There, that feels better now. Thank you.
And yes- we had to take another step back- we are now on 1/2 canned, and 1/2 raw again. *Sigh.....*

[Perseus]

sherrylynne, just wondering how the battle is going?