salmonella fears

[pigfoot]

ok, so just about everyone i tell i'm trasitioning the cats to raw meat say 'oh no! what about salmonella? isn't it BAD for them?' so-i know that their systems are far more acidic than ours to combat the bacteria that may be in raw meat, and their GI tracts are much shorter-so the bacteria doesnt tend to sit and fester as long-what else can i tell these idgits in my defense of raw meat for the cats???

[sugarcatmom]

Originally Posted by pigfoot

what else can i tell these idgits in my defense of raw meat for the cats???

That cats have been eating raw meat for 1000s of years and if bacteria really was such a problem for them, wouldn't they have all died off by now? Cats evolved eating raw meat. You don't see them out in the wild with little hibachis or microwave ovens, cooking up their freshly caught mice and birds, do ya? Commercial cat food has really only been popular for the past 30-40 years or so - what the heck do they think cats had been THRIVING on for millenniums before that? The truth is that highly processed pet foods, kibble in particular, is one of the biggest disservices we've inflicted on the domestic cat in recent times. Dry food probably accounts for more health problems and subsequent deaths than all other factors. Name any of the major feline ailments (kidney disease, diabetes, IBD, obesity, cystitis, skin allergies, etc.) and they ALL have a potential link to feeding dry food. Not to mention the misguided trust people have in commercial pet food that it's always inherently safe. Pet food recall anyone?

So ya, tell them that.

[pigfoot]

yea, YEA! thats right. thanks! i'll learn 'em a thing or two.

[mummummum]

Originally Posted by sugarcatmom

You don't see them out in the wild with little hibachis or microwave ovens, cooking up their freshly caught mice and birds, do ya?

You're friends and family may also want assurance that you are caring for yourself. Make sure to tell them that you use separate cutting boards for meats and veg's and that you use either grape seed extract or a bleach to disinfect.