BARF Cat Disadvantages: What you need to know

BARF for cats sounds like a natural and healthy diet, but is it really the best choice for your furry friend?
Many cat owners are unaware of the potential disadvantages and risks of raw feeding, which can lead to serious health problems.

The disadvantages of BARFing cats include the risk of infections from raw meat, the difficulty of ensuring a balanced diet, and the high time and cost involved.
In this article, you'll learn about the challenges and risks of raw feeding, including preparation, costs, and potential health risks for your cat.

The challenges of preparing for BARF

BARFing your cat requires careful planning and preparation to ensure that each meal is balanced and contains all the necessary nutrients. First, you need to do a thorough job of researching your cat's needs. This includes understanding what types of meat, organ meats, and possibly plant-based additions are appropriate. You also need to know the correct amounts of these ingredients to ensure a balanced diet. Here are a few points to consider:

• Selection of ingredients : Make sure you use fresh, high-quality meat and suitable offal.
• Nutritional supplements : Sometimes additional vitamins or minerals are needed to avoid deficiencies.
• Meal planning : Plan your cat's meals at least a week in advance to ensure variety and balance.

In addition to selecting and planning the meals, the actual preparation of the BARF meals is also time-consuming. The meat not only has to be bought, but also stored and prepared properly. This includes washing, cutting and freezing the meat in portions to ensure easy use. Here are some steps you should follow when preparing it:

• Hygiene : Make sure that all utensils and surfaces that come into contact with raw meat are thoroughly cleaned to minimize the risk of cross-contamination.
• Storage : Raw ingredients should be stored at proper temperatures to prevent the growth of bacteria.
• Portioning : Portion the meat into daily rations so that you can easily defrost and feed it.

Costs of BARFing Cats

Many cat owners are concerned about the cost of raw feeding, especially when compared to traditional cat food. In fact, the price of high-quality raw meat required for raw feeding can be considerable. This is because a variety of meats and often special supplements are needed to provide a balanced diet for the cat. Here are some of the main cost points to consider when raw feeding cats:

• Buying raw meat : Depending on the quality and origin, raw meat can be more expensive than conventional wet or dry food.
• Supplements : To ensure your cat gets all the necessary nutrients, you may need to purchase additional vitamins or minerals.
• Storage and shelf life : Raw meat products often have a shorter shelf life and must be stored accordingly, which can mean additional costs for freezers or refrigerators.

The financial outlay for raw feeding can quickly add up, especially if you have several cats or value particularly high-quality meat sources. It is important that you do your research on prices and sources. Some cat owners choose to buy meat in larger quantities, which can sometimes be more cost-effective. Here are some tips on how you can perhaps reduce the costs of raw feeding:

• Buy in bulk : Check with local butchers or markets to see if you can get larger quantities at a better price.
• Take advantage of offers : Look for special offers or discounts in supermarkets or specialty stores.
• Portion and freeze yourself : Buy larger pieces of meat and portion them yourself instead of buying pre-portioned BARF meat, which is often more expensive.

BARF on vacation: A logistical challenge

If you are familiar with raw feeding and are planning to take your cat on vacation, you are faced with a logistical challenge. The main problem is often how to ensure that your cat continues to receive its usual raw diet while you are away. One option is to find a trustworthy cat sitter who is familiar with the basics of raw feeding. If that is not possible, you could consider preparing and freezing large quantities of meat before you leave. The cat sitter could then defrost a portion each day and feed it to your cat. Here are some points to consider:

• Trustworthy care : Make sure the cat sitter has experience with BARF or is willing to learn about it.
• Meal preparation : Prepare enough meals and instruct the sitter exactly how to thaw and feed the food.

Another challenge with raw feeding on vacation is storing the meat. Without proper refrigeration options, the raw meat can spoil quickly, posing health risks to your cat. If you don't have access to a refrigerator or freezer, raw feeding could become difficult. In such cases, it might be more practical to resort to a high-quality wet food alternative that is easier to handle and store. Still, if you are determined to stick with raw feeding, you could consider portable refrigeration units that provide a solution, at least temporarily. However, note that this requires additional cost and planning. Here are some storage considerations:

• Refrigeration : Invest in portable coolers or ice packs to keep the meat fresh.
• Safety Precautions : Make sure all storage equipment is secure and inaccessible to your cat to avoid health risks.

Risks of pathogens from raw meat

Raw feeding, often referred to as BARF, may seem natural, but it carries serious risks from pathogens such as bacteria and parasites. These pathogens can be dangerous for both your cat and you as the owner. Particularly problematic are bacteria such as Salmonella and Campylobacter, as well as parasites such as Toxoplasma gondii , which can be found in raw meat. These pathogens can cause severe gastrointestinal illness, fever, and other systemic infections. It is important to be aware of these risks when considering feeding your cat raw meat.

Handling raw meat also requires strict hygiene measures to avoid cross-contamination and minimize the risk of transmitting pathogens. Here are some important steps to keep in mind:

• Hygiene during handling : Always thoroughly clean hands, work surfaces and equipment that come into contact with raw meat.
• Safe storage : Raw food ingredients should be stored at appropriate temperatures to prevent the growth of bacteria.
• Regular veterinary visits : Have your cat examined by a veterinarian regularly to detect and treat signs of infection early. This will help protect your pet's health and may also prevent the transmission of disease to humans.

Be careful when feeding bones to cats

When feeding your cat bones, you need to be extra cautious. While bones can be a source of minerals and help clean teeth, they also carry risks. Raw bones are especially preferable, as cooked bones can splinter and cause injury to the digestive tract. The dangers include not only constipation and digestive problems, but also more serious threats such as:

• Injuries to the mouth and throat : Sharp edges of bones can cause cuts or puncture wounds.
• Tooth fractures : Hard bones can cause cats to break teeth.
• Bacterial infections : Raw bones can contain bacteria such as salmonella, which can be dangerous for both cats and humans.

It is crucial that you carefully select and prepare bones before offering them to your cat. Make sure the bones are free of sharp edges and are an appropriate size to avoid choking hazards. Clean the bones thoroughly to minimize the risk of bacterial infections. The frequency of feeding bones should be moderate - ideally once or twice a week to ensure a balanced diet and avoid digestive problems. These steps will help ensure your cat's safety while chewing and digesting the bones and will help minimize the risk of health problems.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Is BARF healthier for cats?

BARF is often considered a natural and healthy diet for cats because it is based on raw meat. However, there are also risks and challenges, such as the risk of infections from raw meat and the difficulty of ensuring a balanced diet. It is important to do your research and make sure that each meal contains all the necessary nutrients.

Why are so many veterinarians against BARF?

Many veterinarians oppose raw feeding because it poses serious risks from pathogens such as bacteria and parasites that can be present in raw meat. These can cause severe gastrointestinal illness, fever and other systemic infections. In addition, raw feeding requires strict hygiene measures to avoid cross-contamination and minimize the risk of transmitting pathogens.

What speaks against BARF?

There are several arguments against BARF: the risk of infections from raw meat, the challenge of ensuring a balanced diet, and the high time and cost involved. In addition, incorrect handling of raw meat can lead to health risks and careful planning and preparation of meals is required.

When should you not feed raw food?

You should not feed your dog raw food if you are unable to maintain strict hygiene standards or if you cannot ensure that each meal is balanced and contains all the necessary nutrients. Likewise, you should not feed your dog raw food if you do not have adequate storage and refrigeration facilities for the raw meat, as this increases the risk of bacterial infections.