Mud Bay recommends a raw diet for cats because it offers several benefits that can improve their health. Kibble-eating cats are at significant risk for chronic dehydration that can lead to lasting health problems. Meanwhile, moisture-rich raw food contains high-quality protein and low amounts of carbohydrates, which is exactly what these obligate carnivores need to survive.
To find out more about raw diets for cats and transitioning to raw foods, we talked to Allison Strange. Allison is currently one of our community outreach coordinators, but before that, she worked at the Seattle Humane Mudlet helping owners learn about the nutritional needs of their new animals. Last week she talked about what it takes to help dogs transition to raw food, and this week she’s discussing feline food transitions.
AS: While raw food doesn’t work for every cat (or dog!), there are many healthy animals that would benefit from a switch to raw food. Frozen raw food contains intercellular moisture that’s the exact same type of moisture a cat’s ancestors consumed in the wild. Freeze-dried raw or dehydrated food doesn’t have the intercellular moisture, but you can add water, bone broth or another liquid to rehydrate the food for your cat.
Cats are chronically dehydrated. They don’t seek out water until it is absolutely vital, which can lead to a lot of stress to their kidneys over time. Their whole urinary tract has to work harder when it’s constantly dehydrated.
Adding water into the diet helps to constantly flush the entire urinary tract. It helps the kidneys operate better, which in turn keeps the kidneys healthier. It keeps kidney stones and bladder stones at bay. You see a lot of healthier urinary tracts in cats that eat wet food or raw food because of that high moisture content.
What all raw foods have in common is high-quality, minimally processed protein. Raw frozen is the least processed protein, but any form of raw food retains a lot more of the natural enzymes than any other food option. Plus, all raw foods tend to be low in carbohydrates—and cats, being obligate carnivores, actually don’t need the number of carbohydrates found in other food options.
AS: Some cats are difficult when it comes to transitions. Cats are particular about texture in a way that dogs are not. Try to be patient and help them get used to the new texture in order to successfully transition.
Any time you start a new transition, start slowly. You should take at least two to four weeks to transition between different food forms. And many cats prefer to go even more slowly with food transitions.
If your cat has been kibble-fed their whole life, and you try to just add raw food, your cat might not even recognize the raw food as edible. So I always recommend switching to canned food first. If you can, start feeding a canned food that has a similar consistency to raw food—something like a loose pâté wet food. That’s the best possible way to start a raw food transition.
But if your cat is particular about texture, they might only want to eat certain textures of canned food as well. So be prepared for a multistep transition process. Start by finding a wet food that your cat will eat and transition them to that food first. Then, when your cat is regularly eating that canned food, you can try to add raw food.
You can experiment with adding moisture to create a texture that your cat likes if you’re using a freeze-dried food. If your cat likes pâté canned food, you can buy nuggets for your cat and mix that into the canned food. Then you can transition to mashing just the raw food with a fork and adding additional moisture as necessary to make it the right consistency.
Because cats are picky about texture above anything else, it makes sense to experiment between different brands within a raw food type as well as between different raw food forms. Each manufacturer’s raw food has a slightly different texture.
AS: Cat owners have developed several tricks to help their cats transition to new foods. Some owners report that their cat will eat a new food if it’s completely mixed into the old food. Other cats won’t. Some owners suggest feeding 90% of your cat’s current diet and then placing 10% of the new food in a separate dish beside the current food bowl. Your cat might be willing to try it that way. Really, if your cat doesn’t want to switch from their existing food, come into a Mud Bay and we’ll try to troubleshoot the problem with you.
One thing you don’t want to do is try to force your cat to eat their new food. Some people think that a cat will eat when they’re hungry enough. But your cat should always eat several times a day. If your cat ever goes without food for 24-hours, they’re at risk for fatty liver disease. And if your cat won’t eat food after 36-hours, please call your veterinarian!
AS: Getting a cat to eat some moisture-rich food, whether it’s canned or raw food, is extremely important to a cat’s longevity and overall health. So whatever moisture you can get into your cat’s diet is terrific. If your cat won’t eat raw food but will eat canned food, that’s great! If your cat will only eat a little bit of canned food as a topper for a kibble diet, that’s good too! Any moisture-rich cat food is going to help your cat’s overall health.
Even 25-percent raw or wet food will make a huge difference in your cat’s health. Don’t obsess if your cat refuses to eat raw food. Take a break and try a raw food transition with a different food when you want to try again.
Allison Strange has worked at Mud Bay for nearly four years. You might recognize her from the Mercer Island Mud Bay or Seattle Humane’s Mudlet. Now she’s a community outreach coordinator who you’ll see at numerous events throughout Puget Sound. When she’s not at a Mud Bay, you might spot her hiking with her pink-haired goldendoodle, Sadie Starship.
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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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?
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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A great option for dogs new to enrichment or seasoned puzzle pros.
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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!
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We’re excited to offer two new formulas that are complete and balanced for both cats and dogs.
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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.
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Our Hip & Joint Support Formula features turmeric, oat flour, and omega-3 fatty acids from tuna 🐟 to help support joint mobility and immune health.
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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.
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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!
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CocoTherapy Cranberry Sweet Potato Pie and Peanut Butter Blondie Coco-Charms. Small in size and low in calories, they are an ideal training treat.
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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.
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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
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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Available in-store now: Claude the squid, with tentacles that are great for tugging.
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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.
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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 👀🎉
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The park pups got to try our newest Mud Bay Air-Dried Toppers!
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We can’t share all the details on these new toppers yet, but here’s what we can tell you:
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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
