Many potential feline health problems can be avoided with proper nutrition. Raw food, especially raw frozen food, fits the profile of what a cat evolved to eat in the wild, which is a moisture-rich high-quality protein diet. By giving your own carnivore the meat their ancestors ate, their digestive system and other organs work at peak efficiency. This type of eating can also help stave off the risk of urinary tract disease and chronic kidney disease; two common problems for many felines.
One interesting thing about most raw foods is the low carbohydrate count. Why are fewer carbohydrates beneficial for cats? The fact is cats don’t necessarily digest carbs because they are obligate carnivores. That term is exactly what it sounds like – their bodies are obligated to eat meat to maintain optimal health. Cats aren’t omnivores like humans (or dogs).
Cats were animals that evolved in the desert, so they relied on prey to get all their nutritional requirements. They don’t get many benefits from most carbohydrates because their digestive system doesn’t produce the necessary enzymes to digest them.
So, knowing that, what are some of the benefits of adding raw food, and therefore more moisture and high-quality protein, to a cat’s diet? When you add raw food to your cat’s diet, you’ll spot changes in their skin and coat in a few weeks. You’ll also notice smaller stools, and some people report that their cats’ breath smells better, too.
Raw food, unlike other cat food options, also contains natural enzymes that make it easier for cats to digest. Those enzymes, combined with the moisture in the meat, make it easier for their digestive system to use.
Furthermore, kidney disease is a prevalent problem in older cats. Most cats live in a state of constant mild dehydration. They’re evolved to get moisture from meat, so they don’t naturally drink enough water to stay hydrated. And being dehydrated is hard on the kidneys.
Thus, one of the reasons it’s good to feed your cat a high moisture diet—like one found in many raw foods—is to help the kidneys work more efficiently. If your cat is well-hydrated, their kidneys can work better to filter out the toxins in your cat’s system.
The same concept works for preventing urinary tract infections. If your cat is well-hydrated, it helps keep the urinary system healthy and prevents bad bacteria from thriving.
There are a couple of different ways to get moisture into your cat’s diet, depending on your cat’s flavor preferences. If your cat doesn’t like frozen raw food, you can feed freeze-dried raw and add warm water to the food to increase the moisture. You can also add bone broth or goat’s milk as a way to rehydrate it and make it a little tastier.
Using warm liquid is best because it emulates the heat of a fresh kill. It’s also more appealing to the cat because warm food has more smell, and cats rely on smell over taste to choose foods. If your cat prefers wet food, which is already moisture-rich, you can boost the moisture content even further by adding some warm liquid to that.
For cats who are presently on a diet of pure kibble, or if your cat isn’t inclined to eat canned food, you can start by trying small amounts of warm liquid in their kibble. Once you start adding liquid to any type of food, it’s important that you clean the bowl after every meal and don’t let it sit out. Don’t just add more kibble and liquid, because your cat’s bowl could become a breeding ground for bacteria.
When adding different foods to your cat’s diet, it’s important to be patient. Think about placing a very small amount of new food in a separate dish near your cat’s old food. That helps your cat learn that the new item that they’re seeing is actually food. There’s plenty of other food transition tips you can try if your cat is resistant to eating kibble.
Ultimately, having an easily digestible food with plenty of protein and packed with moisture benefits the health of many different cats. But wet food or gently cooked foods offer many of the same benefits to cats.
Of course, there are other things you can do if raw food doesn’t make sense for your household or your cat’s specific needs. If you want to add more moisture, you can provide multiple sources of water throughout the house. Using a cat water fountain is also great for some cats because many cats prefer to drink moving water.
There are also a lot of water-rich treats available, made with various proteins such as chicken, fish, liver, and egg. As well, toppers can provide additional moisture to a diet and also enhance overall digestive health.
So, no matter how you decide to offer it to your cat, it is important to make sure enough moisture is available. Between various diet types—such as raw, wet, or gently cooked—along with moisture-rich treats and toppers, and abundant amounts of available water, you should be able to formulate a plan to help your feline friend stay healthy and hydrated. And remember, you can always ask a Muddy—either in-store or online—for solutions-based tips and advice.
Furvor bone 🦴 broth for dogs is made with 100% human-grade ingredients and is highly concentrated, so every squeeze adds real nutrition to your dog’s routine.
🐕 It’s packed with protein, amino acids, and nutrients that can support gut health, mobility, skin and coat, and overall wellness.
🐾
It’s also an easy way to boost hydration and bring a little excitement back to the bowl—especially for picky eaters. Just mix it with water, pour it over kibble, or serve it on its own.
🐶
Shop Furvor 🛒 🛍️ 🐕 Bone Broth in-store or online at Mud Bay!
#mudbay #furvor #bonebroth #dogs #healthypets
Weruva WX Phos Focused Freeze-Dried Chicken and Tilapia is a low-phosphorus, high-protein supplement made from 93% boneless, skinless chicken breast, tilapia, and egg white. It has no grains, fillers, bones, or organs.
🐈
Due to its naturally low phosphorus content, this food is suitable for cats requiring phosphorus management, particularly those with kidney conditions. Additionally, it’s highly digestible protein helps maintain lean muscle mass.
🐈
You can serve it dry or add water to soften the texture. Adding water can help your cat digest it more easily and boost their daily water intake. This recipe is meant as a supplement and works well as a topper or treat alongside a complete, balanced diet.
🐈
If you want help figuring out if this is right for your cat, visit your local Mud Bay and speak with a Muddy, or shop with us online today.
#mudbay #healthypets #kidneyhealth #cats #catfood
If your pup brings the energy indoors, meet their new favorite toy. The ultra plush Fluff & Tuff Soccer Ball is designed for fetch, toss, and all-out play.
⚽ 🐕
With a strong inner mesh liner and concealed double stitching, it delivers the durability Fluff & Tuff is known for in a soft, soccer-inspired design.
⚽ 🐕
Kick off the fun and shop the Fluff & Tuff Soccer Ball in-store or online at Mud Bay.
#mudbay #fluffandtuff #dogs #timetoplay #healthypets
Need to keep your dog engaged while you work, host, or help them burn energy?
🐕 🐶
The Woof LickMat and LickMix make enrichment easy.
The textured design encourages longer licking, helping promote calm behavior and engagement. Premeasured lines make portioning easy every time.
🐾 🐕
Simply mix the grain-free Cheddar and Bacon LickMix. It’s easy to digest, simple to prepare, and each bag provides 10 or more lick sessions. Made from 100 percent silicone, BPA-free, and dishwasher safe. Strong suction cups keep the LickMat stable for easy, everyday use.
🐕 🐶
Enhance your dog’s daily enrichment—visit us in-store or online and bring home the woof LickMat and LickMix today.
#mudbay #woof #healthypets #dogs #petenrichment
👀 Looking for a way to slow down mealtime and keep your dog thinking? The GURU Pet Company Bobble Ball turns your dog’s food into an interactive activity.
🐕
Simply fill it with kibble or small treats, screw the top back on, and let the wobble begin. The weighted base creates unpredictable movement that keeps dogs engaged and working for every bite.
🐾
A great option for dogs new to enrichment or seasoned puzzle pros.
🐕
Shop in-store or online at Mud Bay today.
#mudbay #dogs #staybusy #healthypets #dogtoys
🎉 New Mud Bay Air-Dried Toppers are now available in-store and online at Mud Bay!
🐕
We’re excited to offer two new formulas that are complete and balanced for both cats and dogs.
🐈
The Digestive Support Formula has beneficial fiber from lentils and sweet potato, along with probiotic inulin from chicory root. It also includes organic apple cider vinegar for extra immune and digestive support.
🐾
Our Hip & Joint Support Formula features turmeric, oat flour, and omega-3 fatty acids from tuna 🐟 to help support joint mobility and immune health.
🐕
All Mud Bay Air-Dried Toppers are veterinarian-formulated and free of corn, wheat, soy, and artificial preservatives. And they are convenient and easy to use as a complete meal, a treat, or a topper.
🐈
You can find the full line—including Skin & Coat, Cognitive, Digestive, and Hip & Joint Support formulas—exclusively at Mud Bay.
#mudbay #healthypets #mealtime #pnwpets #mudbayairdriedtoppers
💫 New at Mud Bay!
🥥 🐕
CocoTherapy Cranberry Sweet Potato Pie and Peanut Butter Blondie Coco-Charms. Small in size and low in calories, they are an ideal training treat.
🥥 🐕
Made with 100% organic ingredients, you can feel good giving them to your dog during longer training sessions. CocoTherapy Coco-Charms are also free from grains, dairy, gluten, eggs, and preservatives, and are low glycemic.
🥥 🐕
Shop the Cranberry Sweet Potato Pie and Peanut Butter Blondie CocoTherapy Coco-Charms in-store or online today!
#mudbay #cocotherapy #trainingtreats #dogs #healthypets
🎉 🎉 GIVEAWAY! New Mud Bay Air-Dried Toppers for Cats & Dogs
🐾
We’re excited to give you a chance to win a bag of one of our newest Mud Bay Air-Dried Topper formulas.
Mud Bay Air-Dried Toppers are veterinarian-formulated, complete and balanced for cats and dogs, and easy to use as a topper, treat, or complete meal.
🐕
New Mud Bay Air-Dried Topper Formulas:
Digestive Support
Made with turkey, chicken, and lentils, plus organic apple cider vinegar and chicory root to help support healthy digestion and immune function.
🐈
Hip and Joint Support:
Made with turkey, chicken, fish, and oats, plus turmeric and omega-3s from tuna to help support mobility and joint health.
🐶
To enter:
👍 Like this post
😃 Tag us and tag a friend
🤝 Follow us
We’ll pick winners at random and notify them on April 16th. Each winner will receive a bag of our newest Mud Bay Air-Dried Toppers. 🍀 🤞 Good luck!
#mudbay #foodtoppers #dogs #cats #petfood
Check out these new aquatic-themed toys for your pup from Fluff & Tuff.
🦑
Available in-store now: Claude the squid, with tentacles that are great for tugging.
🐕
We also have Dottie the Puffer Fish, who will keep your pup active with a nice fetch session, and, last but not least, we have Millie the Axolotl, who is an engaging option for all of the above and ready to shake up your pup’s toy selection.
🐠
Shop these fun new Aquatic options for your pup in-store or online today!
#mudbay #fluffandtuff #dogtoys #playtime #pnwpets
We visited the local dog park today to share a fun spring surprise 👀🎉
🐕
The park pups got to try our newest Mud Bay Air-Dried Toppers!
🐾
We can’t share all the details on these new toppers yet, but here’s what we can tell you:
🐾
Two new formulas are coming soon, and you’ll find them both in stores and online. They’ll be available in 8-ounce and 24-ounce bags.
🐕
Just like our current toppers, these new formulas give both cats and dogs complete and balanced nutrition. You can serve them as a full meal, sprinkle them on top of their food, or offer them as a treat.
🐾
Thank you to all the pups who came by to try them today.🐾🎉
Check back next week because we have a giveaway coming up. Stay tuned and have a great spring!🌈 💐 🌷 ☀️ ☔
#mudbay #dogpark #sneaktreat #mudbayairdriedtoppers #new
Keep your pet happy and blissfully engaged with the woof LickMat and LickMix.
🐾 🐕
The LickMat is BPA-free, 100% silicone, and dishwasher safe on the top rack, with suction cups for stability and a design that encourages longer licking. It also features suction cups for stability and a design that encourages longer licking, while its built-in mixing bowl and measuring lines make mixing easy.
🐾 🐕
The Bacon and Cheese LickMix is grain-free and designed for use with the LickMat, woof Pupsicle, or as a meal topper. Each bag yields about 10 LickMat sessions when used as directed.
🐾 🐕
Treat your dog with the Woof LickMat and LickMix. Shop all woof products in-store and online today!
#mudbay #woof #dogs #enrichment #petproducts
Stock up on your dog’s favorite Bulk Biscuits and make every refill count.
🐾
Mud Bay’s Bulk Biscuits are all-natural, with many locally sourced options, including organic and grain-free varieties. When you refill your Mud Bay Mud Bucket, you pay $4.24 per pound instead of $4.99 on every refill. That’s 75 cents saved per pound, or 15% off each refill.
🐕
Our Mud Buckets are BPA-free, dishwasher safe, and come in two handy sizes: 2.75 liters and 8.5 liters. Designed for easy refills and fresher storage, they help make treating your dog simple and eco-friendly.
🐾
Refill. Reuse. Re-Biscuit. Visit your local Mud Bay today to pick up a Mud Bay Mud Bucket and some tasty biscuits for your dog!!
#mudbay #mudbuckets #dogs #treats #healthypets
