Leaving raw food out

[sharviss]

I am trying to get our cat to eat some raw food and have a couple questions: First, how long can you leave raw food out? Our cat is a grazer and I think that trying to get her on a strictly scheduled diet would be difficult. Second, I will likely be mixing raw with canned food and am wondering if that makes a difference in how long I can leave the food out.
TIA

[angeldogs]

Originally Posted by sharviss

I am trying to get our cat to eat some raw food and have a couple questions: First, how long can you leave raw food out? Our cat is a grazer and I think that trying to get her on a strictly scheduled diet would be difficult. Second, I will likely be mixing raw with canned food and am wondering if that makes a difference in how long I can leave the food out.
TIA

I'm not sure about cats.when i was raw feeding my dog it wasn't recommened to feed raw and pet food in the same.kibble one meal and raw the next was fine.

Me i wouldn't let the raw sit out all day.

[sugarcatmom]

I've let raw sit out for a few hours (like around 4 or so) without issue. If you're concerned, perhaps putting a tablespoon or 2 of raw in your cat's dish while it's still frozen would be an option. Your cat can nibble on it while it thaws. My guy is also a grazer, which most cats naturally tend to be. I don't see a problem with mixing canned and raw together and it can be a great way to transition a cat over to a raw food diet.

[growler~GateKeeper]

When I first started my cat on raw I was leery about leaving it out and didn't think she would eat it if I did. Now, a little over a year later, when I leave for work in the mornings around 9am I leave a heaping teaspoon or two of (ground) raw in her dish & she eats it while I'm gone - I'm guessing around 2-3pm (on my days off that's when she asks for a snack) & there's usually nothing left in her dish when I get home at 7pm. Then she gets fresh dinner.

Cats are usually good about not eating something if it smells "off" or has gone bad.

Mixing raw & canned is fine the time leaving it out would be the same if it was just raw.