Should I feed dry food with the raw food?
This question comes up a lot, especially from people who are trying to do better for their cats but are unsure whether mixing foods is a safe or gentle option.
To understand the answer, it helps to understand how a cat’s digestive system actually works
An acidic stomach is a cat’s natural state.
Cats are obligate carnivores. Their digestive system is designed to process raw animal tissue efficiently and safely. To do this, a cat’s stomach produces a very strong acid environment.
As a fun but important fact, a cat’s stomach acid is significantly more acidic than a human’s. A healthy cat’s stomach pH can sit around 1 to 2, while a human stomach typically ranges from about 2 to 4. That difference matters. It allows cats to break down raw meat and bone properly and helps neutralise bacteria that would cause illness in other species.
Raw food relies on this acidic environment to be digested correctly.
Dry food does not.
Dry food is heavily processed and requires a more alkaline environment to break down. When raw and dry food are fed together, the digestive system cannot create optimal conditions for either. The stomach cannot be highly acidic and more alkaline at the same time.
The result is compromised digestion. This is why mixed feeding so often leads to vomiting, constipation, inconsistent stools, or ongoing gut issues. It also means the benefits of feeding raw are reduced or lost entirely.
There is also a broader issue that needs to be acknowledged.
Dry food does cats no favours at all
It is ultra processed, extremely low in moisture, and filled with ingredients cats do not biologically need. Protein sources are often vague and heavily rendered, chosen for shelf life and cost rather than quality. In many cases this can include by products from diseased animals or euthanised pets.
Raw food aligns with how a cat’s body is designed to function. Acidic digestion. Animal based nutrition. High moisture. Minimal processing.
When raw and dry are mixed, this natural system is disrupted. Mixing does not balance the diet. It simply dilutes what works with something that does not.
For cats transitioning from dry to raw, the most effective approach is also the simplest.
Remove the dry food from the house altogether.
If that feels overwhelming, put it in the garage or somewhere completely out of sight. Once dry food is no longer an option, most cats transition more smoothly and their digestive system can properly adapt.
Once your cat is fully transitioned, bin the dry food or donate it to a rescue where it may still serve a purpose.
If you are feeding raw, let it do its job properly.
So while it may sound gentle to say a little of both is fine, the kindest and most biologically appropriate choice is very clear.
Raw (balanced raw) on its own. Always. 