Raw Feeding for Cats: Benefits, Risks and My Veterinary Advice

Fresh raw meat for cats: the benefits I look for

Cats are natural hunters. Their ancestors ate whole prey, and many cats enjoy the taste and texture of fresh raw meat. Some prefer it, while others are firmly attached to what's already in their bowl. Feeding history and individual preferences make a difference. ^[18]

Offering suitably sized pieces of boneless meat can give them something different to explore and chew. That connection with their natural feeding instincts is part of the appeal for me.

There are nutritional reasons to be interested, too.

Protein they can use well

Cats need protein to support their muscles and everyday health. Some cat studies have found better protein and nutrient digestibility with the raw diets tested than with the particular canned or dry foods used for comparison. In everyday terms, those cats digested more of the protein in those meals. ^[3,4]

That's a useful finding. The ingredients and recipes matter, though, and cooked meat diets have also performed well.

More water in their meals

Fresh raw meat contains much more water than dry food. For a cat who barely visits the water bowl, food can contribute to their daily fluid intake.

Wet food and cooked meat meals can also provide moisture. If your cat has kidney or urinary problems, ask your veterinarian about the right diet for their condition.

Sometimes smaller poos

Some raw-fed cats produce less poo. A small kitten study found this with the raw diets tested. ^[3]

It's something you might notice in the litter tray, but smaller doesn't automatically mean healthier. Hard, dry stools, straining or constipation need attention.

What raw feeding research means for your cat

There is research worth discussing, even though we still have questions.

In 2025, board-certified veterinary nutritionist Dr Susan Wynn published two reviews looking at raw food, cooked food and the possible effects of processing. They make a case for looking more closely at these foods and having informed conversations with owners. Her papers disclose that she worked for a raw pet-food manufacturer at publication. ^[1,2]

The cat studies give us some encouraging results on digestion. They also remind us to look at the whole meal. A small 2024 study found that both raw and cooked meat diets performed well compared with the dry food tested, with cooked meat scoring higher for protein digestibility. ^[4]

My view is that fresh raw meat can have a place in feeding your cat. We still need stronger long-term research before promising that raw feeding itself will prevent disease or help cats live longer. ^[5]

You don't need to read every paper to feed your cat well. I've kept the sources at the end if you'd like to explore them.

How much fresh raw meat can cats eat?

You don't have to switch your cat's entire diet to include fresh raw meat.

My own approach is a combination: commercial dry food as the foundation, with fresh raw meat and cooked lean meat for variety.

For a healthy adult cat eating a complete commercial food, keep plain meat and other unbalanced treats or extras within about 10 per cent of their daily calories. That includes both raw and cooked meat. It's a calorie guide, so a spoonful of one food won't necessarily equal a spoonful of another.

If you'd like fresh raw meat to make up more of their meals, this next part matters.

Meat alone is not a whole diet

Cats need particular nutrients, including taurine, as well as the right balance of vitamins and minerals. Plain meat, even lovely human-grade meat, won't provide everything in the amounts they need.

For homemade meals, I recommend a recipe from a qualified veterinary nutrition specialist, with the exact feline balancing supplement or premix that recipe calls for. A general multivitamin or a scoop of taurine won't do the same job.

Measure the ingredients carefully. If the recipe and supplement instructions allow it, you can mix the supplement through the fresh raw meat, divide it into meal-sized portions and freeze it. Check whether anything needs to be added after thawing.

If buying a ready-made raw diet, check whether it says complete and balanced for your cat's life stage or is simply a complementary meat product.

Kittens, pregnant or nursing cats and cats with medical conditions need individual advice. A recipe for a healthy adult cat may not suit them.

Choosing fresh raw meat for your cat

I recommend human-grade fresh raw meat from a reputable butcher or a supplier with stringent hygiene and quality-control procedures.

Ask where the meat comes from, how it's kept cold and whether anything has been added. With prepared raw food, ask about testing and the steps taken to reduce harmful germs.

Choose plain meat. Avoid marinades, seasonings, onion, garlic and processed meats such as sausages.

Human-grade meat can still contain bacteria or parasites. It is usually sold with the expectation that a person will cook it, so the label doesn't make it risk-free to feed raw. My current poultry precaution still applies.

Sulphites in raw cat food: what to check

Some prepared pet meats, including raw pet mince and some meat rolls, contain sulphite preservatives. These help slow spoilage or preserve colour, but they can also destroy thiamine, which is vitamin B1.

Cats need B1 for normal nerve and brain function. A deficiency can cause serious illness and can be fatal. This has been documented in Australian veterinary cases. ^[19,20]

My recommendation is to choose fresh raw meat without added sulphite preservatives. Check the label and ask the supplier if you're unsure. Look for sulphur dioxide, sulphites or metabisulphites, or preservative numbers in the 220 to 228 group. ^[21,22]

Adding a vitamin powder or mixing the meat with another food is not a reliable workaround. Sulphites can destroy B1 in those other ingredients, too. ^[19,20]

Australian rules prohibit adding these preservatives to plain raw meat and mince sold for people, although some processed meats can contain them. Not every commercial raw food contains sulphites; check the actual product. ^[21]

Raw poultry, bird flu and my current advice

As of 28/10/26 and until further notice, my personal recommendation is that you do not feed raw poultry, including chicken, turkey and duck, or unpasteurised milk and dairy products.

This is my precautionary advice in response to the H5 bird flu situation, including the risks associated with H5N1.

At this update, Australian Government reporting confirms H5 bird flu in wildlife, with no reported detections in Australian poultry or the wider agricultural industry. Overseas, cats have become seriously ill or died after eating contaminated raw animal products. ^[8,9,10]

For now, choose thoroughly cooked poultry or an appropriate cooked or canned cat food. Plain cooked meat still counts towards the small extras allowance unless it's part of a balanced recipe. Freezing raw poultry is not a substitute for a process shown to inactivate H5N1. ^[10]

Keep your cat safely contained and away from sick or dead birds. If they become suddenly unwell after possible exposure, especially with breathing problems, tremors or seizures, phone your veterinarian immediately and explain what happened before attending. Suspected H5 bird flu must be reported on 1800 675 888. ^[11]

I'll review this precaution as veterinary guidance develops. For current Australian information, use the government bird flu updates.

How to store and serve fresh raw meat

Good habits matter when uncooked meat is going into your cat's bowl.

Raw meat can carry germs such as Salmonella and parasites such as Toxoplasma. Your cat can sometimes carry and shed harmful germs without looking ill. People can be exposed through the food, bowls, surfaces or faeces. ^[7]

If your household includes young children, a pregnant person, an older adult or anyone with a weakened immune system, talk to your veterinarian about a cooked alternative.

Keep it cold

Aim for 0 to 4 degrees Celsius in the fridge, keeping it below 5 degrees, and minus 18 degrees Celsius or colder in the freezer. A fridge thermometer takes the guesswork out. ^[12]

Keep meat cold on the trip home. I prefer to portion and freeze it on the day of purchase where practical. NSW Food Authority advises freezing raw meat if it won't be used within two days; always respect an earlier use-by date. ^[13]

Freeze in meal sized portions

Small portions are easier to thaw and mean you don't have a large container sitting in the fridge for days. Label each batch with the contents and preparation date, and follow the recipe and supplement's storage directions.

Freezing does not make raw meat germ-free. It stops bacteria multiplying while the food stays frozen, but surviving germs can become active again as it thaws. ^[14]

Freezing can reduce some parasite risks under certain conditions. However, there is no universal three-day, seven-day or fourteen-day rule that makes every raw meat product safe. Guidance about freezing to reduce Toxoplasma risk is followed by cooking, rather than a promise that the meat is safe to feed raw. ^[15]

Thaw only what you need

Defrost the next day's portion in a sealed, leakproof container on the bottom shelf of the fridge. Keep it covered and away from food your family will eat. Don't thaw it on the kitchen bench.

My conservative recommendation is to use it within 24 hours of complete thawing, provided it has stayed cold and remains within any earlier use-by or recipe limit. That is an extra precaution for raw feeding, rather than a guarantee that the food contains no harmful germs. NSW guidance allows an additional refrigerated day after thawing before meat is cooked. ^[13]

Serve a small meal and clean up

• Keep preparation time short. Some bacteria can multiply quickly in warm conditions; there isn't one safe bench-top time for every piece of meat. ^[14]
• Serve the meal promptly and remove leftovers when your cat has finished. Raw food is not a good option for all-day grazing.
• Wash your hands before and after preparation. Use separate utensils for raw meat, then clean and sanitise them and the work surface.
• Wash bowls after each meal. Keep children and vulnerable family members away from preparation areas and used bowls.
• Don't put food from a used bowl back into the main batch. Don't wash raw poultry in the sink, because splashes can spread germs. ^[13]

If the meat's storage history is uncertain, or it has passed its use-by date, discard it. Smell and appearance cannot reliably tell you whether harmful germs are present.

Freeze-dried raw food still needs care. Freeze-drying doesn't reliably remove all harmful germs. ^[7]

How to introduce fresh raw meat to your cat

If your cat has ever sniffed a carefully prepared meal and walked away, you'll know their preferences deserve a say.

Introduce new food gradually. The following example is for changing from one complete, balanced diet to another, not replacing complete food with plain meat. For a healthy adult, you might start with about a quarter of the new complete food and three-quarters of the existing food, move to half and half, then three-quarters new food, and make the full change over roughly two weeks. Allow longer if needed, and compare portions by calories rather than volume alone.

If you're only introducing plain raw or cooked meat as an extra, start with a small amount and keep all unbalanced extras together within about 10 per cent of daily calories, as explained above.

Some cats prefer a little of the new food offered separately. Watch their appetite, poo, weight and general wellbeing as you go.

Never withhold food to persuade a cat to eat something new. If an adult cat hasn't eaten for around 24 hours, contact your veterinarian promptly. Seek advice sooner for kittens, cats with medical conditions or any cat who seems unwell. If your cat has diabetes, discuss a diet change with your veterinarian before starting. ^[6]

Your raw feeding questions, answered

Can I mix fresh raw meat with wet food or kibble?

Yes, you can offer them together. Keep the overall portions appropriate and follow the raw-food handling advice above.

Should I add fibre?

Some cats benefit from it, particularly for stool consistency. Being a carnivore doesn't mean fibre has no role, but I wouldn't add it at random. Follow your cat's recipe or individual advice.

What about bones and teeth?

I don't recommend whole bones for dental care or as a way to supply calcium. Bones can break teeth, get stuck or cause constipation and other injury. Cooked bones can splinter. ^[7]

My dental advice is informed by the 2026 WSAVA Global Dental Guidelines. Regular veterinary dental checks, toothbrushing where tolerated and suitable dental products are a better starting point for looking after their mouth. ^[16]

How do I know whose advice to trust?

Look for clear qualifications, sources you can follow and an honest explanation of what a study actually found. Be cautious with promises that one diet will fix everything. Someone else's happy cat is lovely to hear about, but it doesn't tell us what will suit yours. ^[17]

My advice on raw feeding for cats

I like fresh raw meat as part of a thoughtful feeding routine. I also want you to feel confident choosing an approach that suits your cat, your household and the time you have.

Start with the amount you want to feed. Choose your ingredients carefully. Keep the sulphite and current poultry warnings in mind, and make cold storage and clean-up part of the routine.

If you want to move beyond small extras, get the whole diet planned before you make the switch.

You're welcome to contact me at Best Fur Forward with general questions, or speak to your veterinarian about your cat's individual needs.

Cats first. Always.

Dr Tanya Phillips

Veterinarian and Founder of Best Fur Forward