Raw Meow Kitten Feeding FAQ
Bringing home a kitten can feel overwhelming, especially when you’re receiving different feeding advice from breeders, vets, pet shops and online groups.
This guide explains how to use Raw Meow Kitten Mix correctly and how to feed a growing kitten safely and confidently.
When can my kitten start eating Raw Meow?
Raw Meow Kitten Mix was formulated for kittens from weaning, as well as pregnant and lactating queens.
There’s no need to wait until your kitten is older before feeding a properly balanced raw diet.
Which Raw Meow Kitten Mix should I use?
We recommend rotating between our Chicken Liver Kitten Mix and Lamb Liver Kitten Mix.
Using both mixes provides variety and makes it easier to rotate different meats.
Our Neutral and Hypoallergenic options may be more suitable for kittens with specific allergies or intolerances, but healthy kittens can use the Chicken and Lamb Kitten Mixes.
What do I add to Raw Meow Kitten Mix?
Raw Meow Kitten Mix is designed to be combined with:
Plain muscle meat
The correct amount of water
The correct amount of Raw Meow Kitten Mix
Use the batch calculator on our website to calculate the correct amounts.
When prepared according to the directions, Raw Meow Kitten Mix and plain muscle meat provide a complete and balanced diet that meets and exceeds AAFCO nutritional requirements for growth.
Should I add bone?
No.
Raw Meow Kitten Mix already contains the calcium and minerals required to balance the meat.
Do not add ground bone, crushed bone, chicken frames, bone mince or additional calcium to a Raw Meow batch.
Adding bone changes the calcium and phosphorus balance and may make the finished food nutritionally unbalanced. Correct mineral balance is especially important for growing kittens.
Should I add liver or other organs?
No.
Raw Meow Kitten Mix already supplies the secreting portion of a balanced diet.
Use plain muscle meat
Can I add multivitamins?
No additional multivitamin or mineral supplement is required.
Raw Meow Kitten Mix contains all the vitamins and minerals required.
Adding extra vitamins or minerals may result in unnecessary or excessive nutrient levels.
Can I use probiotics as well?
Yes.
Probiotics can be used alongside Raw Meow Kitten Mix. Raw Meow makes an excellent pre- and probiotic, Ava’s Blend.
What meat should I use?
Plain human grade muscle meat from the supermarket or butcher is completely suitable.
Suitable options include chicken, turkey, beef, lamb, pork, duck and roo.
You don’t need to buy special pet mince. Many pet minces contain bone, organs, preservatives or unknown ingredients, which may make them unsuitable for use with Raw Meow.
Always check exactly what is in a mince before using it.
Can I use kangaroo?
Kangaroo can be included as part of a wider protein rotation, but it shouldn’t be the only meat fed to a growing kitten.
Kangaroo meat contains only around 2% fat. Growing kittens and adult cats require a finished meat mixture containing approximately 10% fat.
Kangaroo can be mixed with a fattier meat, but it’s usually easier to begin with chicken, beef or another meat with a more suitable fat level.
Kangaroo must also be frozen for three weeks before feeding raw.
See our freezing guide for more information.
How much fat should the meat contain?
Aim for approximately 10% fat in the finished meat portion.
Choose naturally fattier cuts or combine lean meat with a fattier meat.
Can I mix different meats together?
Yes.
You can rotate proteins or combine more than one protein in the same batch.
There’s no nutritional reason to feed only one protein at a time unless your kitten has a suspected food allergy, intolerance or sensitive stomach.
When introducing a completely new meat, start with a small amount and gradually increase it.
Aim to feed at least three different proteins over time, and more variety where possible.
Can I add heart?
Yes.
Heart is considered muscle meat rather than secreting organ.
Heart can make up around 10% of the meat portion of the batch.
Does the meat need to be minced?
No.
You can use minced meat, diced meat, strips or a mix of textures of boneless muscle meat.
Larger pieces can encourage kittens to chew and use their teeth.
Start with small chunks and gradually increase them as your kitten becomes accustomed to chewing
How much should I feed my kitten?
We don’t recommend restricting a growing kitten according to a strict weight chart.
Kittens will generally eat around 5 to 10% of their current body weight each day, divided over six or more small meals.
This is a guide only. Kittens should be fed to appetite, on demand, because their needs can change quickly during growth spurts.
If your kitten finishes a meal and is still hungry, offer more food.
Can I feed breakfast and dinner only?
No.
Two meals a day isn’t enough for a young kitten, or appropriate for any adult cat either.
Kittens have small stomachs, high energy requirements and are growing rapidly. They need frequent small meals throughout the day.
Can I feed a mixture of fresh raw with Raw Meow Mix, freeze dried meals and canned?
Yes.
You can feed a combination of fresh raw meat balanced with Raw Meow Kitten Mix, freeze dried complete meals, and high quality canned food.
Many cat owners use a mixed feeding approach, especially during transition or for convenience.
The key is that each meal should be complete and balanced. When using Raw Meow Kitten Mix with fresh meat, that portion is fully balanced. Likewise, only use freeze dried or canned foods that are labelled as complete and nutritionally balanced.
You can rotate between formats or use them at different meals throughout the day, depending on what suits your kitten and your routine.
Should I feed dry food?
We strongly recommend removing dry food altogether.
Dry food contains very little moisture and is generally high in carbohydrates. Cats are designed to obtain most of their moisture from their food, and drinking water doesn’t fully compensate for eating a dehydrated diet.
Dry food may also make some kittens less interested in fresh food and can make the transition to raw more difficult.
Dry food isn’t required as part of the transition to raw.
Can I feed plain meat as a meal?
No.
Plain chicken, beef mince or any other unbalanced meat isn’t a complete meal for a growing kitten.
Can I feed tuna?
Tuna isn’t an appropriate regular meal for a kitten.
A teaspoon of tuna as an occasional treat when you’re making yourself a tuna sandwich is fine, but there’s no nutritional reason to include it in your kitten’s diet.
Do not feed an entire can of tuna as a meal.
Should I add vegetables?
No vegetables are required when using Raw Meow Kitten Mix.
Cats don’t require vegetables as part of a complete diet.
Cats are obligate carnivores, meaning they are designed to eat and digest animal tissue, not plant matter.
Can my kitten eat raw bones?
A whole raw chicken neck can be offered occasionally for chewing and dental exercise.
Freeze the chicken neck for at least three days before feeding it.
Always feed it whole, never cooked, and supervise your kitten while they’re eating it.
One chicken neck per week only.
Can I partially thaw meat and refreeze it?
Yes.
Frozen meat can be partially thawed in the fridge until it’s soft enough to portion. Keep it cold, add the powder, portion it into meals, and return it to the freezer.
Don’t leave meat thawing at room temperature.
Follow the recommended freezing time for each meat before feeding it raw.
Where can I find meat suppliers?
You don’t need a specialist pet meat supplier. Plain human grade meat from a supermarket or butcher is suitable.
Our Australian Raw Fed Cats Facebook group also has lists of meat suppliers in each state, along with transition advice, preparation help and support from experienced raw feeders.
I’m still confused. Can I ask for help?
Absolutely.
Please contact us before adding extra ingredients or changing the preparation instructions. We’re always happy to help with suitable meats, batch preparation, feeding amounts, transitioning or any questions about Raw Meow products.
You’re also welcome to join our Australian Raw Fed Cats Facebook group, where you’ll find guides, supplier lists and plenty of support.