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-   -   Raw to kittens (http://www.pets.ca/forum/showthread.php?t=52352)

Love4himies May 15th, 2008 06:52 AM

Raw to kittens
 
As some of you know I have some foster kittens, they are about 6 weeks old, but I think they are closer to 5. I have purchased some prepared raw (Pawsitively-raw) which has some small crunches of bones.

Do you think the small bones will be an issue with these tiny sweeties? I didn't have an issue with my previous fosters but they were given raw when they were first being weaned at 4 weeks.

want4rain May 15th, 2008 08:41 AM

are you worried about them chewing them or digesting them? im not sure how confident someone on here could be abotu them CHEWING the bones but in digesting them, they should be fine. a bone is a bone is a bone to their tummies!

-ashley

Love4himies May 15th, 2008 08:47 AM

It was their digestion I was thinking about. The bones are tiny and I was worried about them cutting their delicate tiny intestines.

Oh they can chew alright. They chewed through my finger when I put some kitten food on it for our first introductions, lol.

My last foster kittens chomped down on the raw like there was tomorrow. These ones just seem so different :shrug:. Maybe it is because I don't know them as well.

want4rain May 15th, 2008 09:06 AM

watch their poo carefully. intestines are pretty tough, regardless of the species. if it makes it past the stomach whole, the bones will still have seen some damage. ive heard some of dogs having issues digesting CUT bones because of the strange angles. *shrugs*

-ash

Love4himies May 15th, 2008 09:09 AM

I will, I am also watching for any sign of parasites, this litter is from a farmer who won't get his female spayed:mad:

ancientgirl May 15th, 2008 10:58 AM

Maybe you can pick the bones out?:shrug:

Love4himies May 15th, 2008 11:14 AM

I was thinking that but was concerned that they get their calcium. I will however if anybody thinks I should.

ancientgirl May 15th, 2008 11:48 AM

Isn't there other stuff in the raw mixes that have the calcium they need? I know the stuff I give Maks has some veggies in it.

Bah, I just don't know enough about this stuff to be giving my opinion:laughing:

Love4himies May 15th, 2008 11:56 AM

The raw mix I buy has no veggies in it, so the bones provide the calcium.

ancientgirl May 15th, 2008 12:13 PM

I went to the site, to see if maybe it's something I can guy here, but it's only sold up in Canada. But I saw this:

“PAWS-itively Complete” is our line of premium daily meals available frozen in ½, 1 and2 containers. Selected items packed in 5lb bags. Just thaw and serve.

Muscle Meat and Bone
Each variety is prepared with one of the following Ground: Chicken, Turkey, Pork, Beef, Duck, Salmon, Rabbit and Herring (when available). (All of the above contain ground bone as an additional source of calcium).

[I]Fresh Vegetables
PAWS-itively Raw Foods blends a small proportion of a variety of leafy green vegetables as a natural source of many essential nutrients.[/I]

Organ Meat
PAWS-ititvely Raw Foods selects only organs that provide essential nutritional value and includes them in careful proportions approximating what a carnivore would consume in the wild.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~

If this is what you have maybe it does have veggies and what it has is enough calcium for them until you feel more comfortable with the bones. Or maybe there is a supplement you can get from the vet:shrug:

Love4himies May 15th, 2008 12:17 PM

That's the doggie formula, the feline doesn't have any.

want4rain May 15th, 2008 12:19 PM

i would *not* take any bone out unless you find something to replace the calcium from that. they are kittens who, greater than adults, need calcium for their growing and developing bones.

i wouldnt worry about it really. not unless you see chunks of bone coming out in their poo... of which im not sure is possible or if it was would be indicative of a worse problem.

-ashley

ancientgirl May 15th, 2008 12:20 PM

[QUOTE=Love4himies;593377]That's the doggie formula, the feline doesn't have any.[/QUOTE]

See, I told you I shouldn't even be giving my opinion.:o

Love4himies May 15th, 2008 12:38 PM

Of course you should be giving your opinion, if everybody thought that way, there would be no education!

ancientgirl May 15th, 2008 12:42 PM

Thanks:D

I'm just new to this. Maks is my little guinea pig I guess. Speaking of the little bugger, he ate 4 medallions this morning! :eek: I want him to put on a little weight, he's just so skinny, but I know I'll have to cut back soon. I also don't want him to be rotund.

Love4himies May 15th, 2008 01:16 PM

[QUOTE=ancientgirl;593383]Thanks:D

I'm just new to this. Maks is my little guinea pig I guess. Speaking of the little bugger, he ate 4 medallions this morning! :eek: I want him to put on a little weight, he's just so skinny, but I know I'll have to cut back soon. I also don't want him to be rotund.[/QUOTE]


I think there is a lot of water content, plus little or no carbs so he won't gain weight, just muscle. :D He needs to catch up to Vlad.

ancientgirl May 15th, 2008 01:18 PM

He's got a loooooong ways to go.:D

14+kitties May 15th, 2008 06:27 PM

JMO - but seeing as my guys start out feral - think of it this way....... mom in the wild starts weaning her kids around 3 to 4 weeks. Guess what she feeds them? Mice = bones. I have watched the ferals here go out 4 or 5 times a day hunting and bringing back meeces. Luckily they are plentiful around here. I have stood back and watched the little beggars tear into those things :yuck: and polish one off in about 2 minutes. I would think the bone in the meat you want to feed isn't big? So what would the difference be? :shrug:

ancientgirl May 15th, 2008 07:11 PM

Hey, you make a very good point.

growler~GateKeeper May 16th, 2008 01:48 AM

Ground bone they should have no problems with, they only thing to watch for is if you are feeding whole bones:

[Quote] From [B]In The Raw Petfood[/B]

*Puppies, kittens, seniors and beginners choose softer bones like backs,
and necks. They are a softer cartilage & bone mix and are padded with
meat all around so they are easily digested.[/quote]

Love4himies May 16th, 2008 06:42 AM

1 Attachment(s)
Well the raw food was a HUGE SUCCESS. They chomped down on this food like they hadn't eaten in days. They don't mind the kitten food, but they much prefer this. Only had problems with one bone out of the two meals they had last night and I took it away from them: Note Charlie's ears, she has a white stripe up the back.

Love4himies May 16th, 2008 06:47 AM

[QUOTE=14+kitties;593441]JMO - but seeing as my guys start out feral - think of it this way....... mom in the wild starts weaning her kids around 3 to 4 weeks. Guess what she feeds them? Mice = bones. I have watched the ferals here go out 4 or 5 times a day hunting and bringing back meeces. Luckily they are plentiful around here. I have stood back and watched the little beggars tear into those things :yuck: and polish one off in about 2 minutes. I would think the bone in the meat you want to feed isn't big? So what would the difference be? :shrug:[/QUOTE]

That was how these kittens reacted to raw, it was like they were ferocious. One was even making little growls when it was first put down.

Love4himies May 16th, 2008 07:35 AM

Another question
 
So now question 2:

Me superparanoid about kittens getting all their nutrition:

I am thinking of feeding them Kitten Wellness Canned for their morning feeding to ensure they get all their nutrition, especially calcium and taurine. Feeding them raw for their afternoon and night meals.

What do you think? Will there be a problem with canned (it is grain free, but has sweet potatoes in it) and the raw.

BTW, their poops didn't stink as much this morning as they did yesterday before raw. Yesterday they were wicked:yuck:.

14+kitties May 16th, 2008 07:54 AM

[QUOTE=Love4himies;593628]That was how these kittens reacted to raw, it was like they were ferocious. One was even making little growls when it was first put down.[/QUOTE]

Ohh, I love hearing those little growling sounds!!! The little ones in the house now do that when they are playing with their favourite toys! It is so cute! My big guys still do that when I take raw over to them.
I'm glad the raw worked out so well for them. They are adorable! I love little Charlie's stripes. :cloud9:

sugarcatmom May 16th, 2008 08:12 AM

[QUOTE=Love4himies;593645] Will there be a problem with canned (it is grain free, but has sweet potatoes in it) and the raw.[/QUOTE]

No problem. That's what I do everyday with my dude. He gets Wellness for breakfast and raw for supper.

Also, wanted to add that what you're doing for these little sweeties is awesome! Thanks for being there for them and giving them such a good start in life. :thumbs up

Love4himies May 16th, 2008 09:24 AM

[QUOTE=sugarcatmom;593659]No problem. That's what I do everyday with my dude. He gets Wellness for breakfast and raw for supper.

Also, wanted to add that what you're doing for these little sweeties is awesome! Thanks for being there for them and giving them such a good start in life. :thumbs up[/QUOTE]

Thanks sugarcatmom, I really feel this is my calling in life, to help kitties. I would do dogs too, but I am really not a good doggie person, not firm and knowledgeable enough. If I could afford to I would quit my job and work with animals full time.

I'll continue with the kitten Wellness then.

Love4himies May 16th, 2008 09:25 AM

Oh, the bones are not a worry anymore, they crunch through them as natural as anything. :thumbs up

Love4himies May 16th, 2008 02:57 PM

I purchased some NV, Rabbit and Chicken flavours because I had the coupon form their website. I see what you mean ancientgirl about the discolouration. I think I like the Pawsitively-raw brand better. It seems fresher and the Pawsitively-raw has chunks of meat and bone so they have to chew their meat, but the NV looks like it is all ground up.

They are having rabbit for dinner tonight.

ancientgirl May 16th, 2008 03:09 PM

You got the same coupon I did then. That's cool. I think it is mostly ground up. When I take the medallions apart, they look sort of like hamburger, but I can feel little bones and stuff. They don't sell the Pawsitively raw here, but I did notice another brand the one place near my job has. I'd like to do some investigating to see if I can find out more about it on the net.

Still, the Natures Variety seems like the most sold here so...

Let me know what the Rabbit and Chicken look like. I'm thinking of getting one of those for Maks next.

growler~GateKeeper May 16th, 2008 11:59 PM

[QUOTE=Love4himies;593627]Note Charlie's ears, she has a white stripe up the back.[/QUOTE]

OMG!!! :lovestruck: That's gotta be the cutest thing ever :lovestruck: love those ears :cloud9:


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