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.
It’s never a bad time to chill. 🧘♀️ 🐾
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Swell`s My Chill Time Premium Dog Gelato is made with functional ingredients like chamomile and passion flower tea, which help your pup stay cool, calm, and collected when summer activities makes thier day-to-day a little more stressful. Plus, it includes blackberries, 🥥 coconut milk, ginger, beets, and 🍯 🐝 honey, which are great for digestion and antioxidant support.
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Swell Premium Dog Gelato is not only a tasty treat on a hot summer day, but it also helps keep your pup living their best life and staying CHILL. Shop My Chill Time from Swell in-store or online at Mud Bay this summer. 🌞
#mudbay #swelldoggelato #swell #dogs #chill
Adventure-ready and made for the water, the Ruffwear Float Coat helps keep your dog comfortable during every swim.
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The Float Coat offers a secure, telescoping neck closure that adjusts to fit a variety of dog sizes, while the lightweight foam panels support natural movement and buoyancy in the water, keeping them comfortable and safe.
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Plus, it offers a super handy, low-profile handle that makes it easy to lift your pup out of the water, and reflective accents that add extra visibility for long days at the lake, beach, or river.
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Bring your pup in-store or shop with us online for the Ruffwear Float coat today!
#mudbay #summer #adventures #ruffwear #doglife
🌞 🎆 🎉 Summer brings celebrations, late nights, travel and events that can leave your pets feeling uneasy.
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Mud Bay is here to help, offering products that bring calm and comfort to your cat or dog when things get noisy.
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We carry calming collars, tinctures, treats, and pheromones to help your pets handle everything summer brings—Shop Mud Bay in-store or online to find the right calmatives for your pets.
#mudbay #summer #keepcalm #healthypets #calming
Fluff & Tuff`s #IGIVEAFLUFF is Coming Soon!
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Starting June 8th, National Best Friends Day, our friends at Fluff & Tuff are once again kicking off #IGiveAFluff to help put toys in the paws of shelter and rescue dogs who need them most.
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And we want you to be a part of it, and it couldn`t be easier to participate!
Here`s how it works:
📸 Snap a photo of your dog with their favorite Fluff & Tuff toy.
📱 Share it on social media using #IGiveAFluff.
🐾 Fluff & Tuff donates a toy to a shelter or rescue dog.
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Since 2015, with the support of pet parents like you and the generosity of Fluff & Tuff, over 22,000 toys have been donated to shelters and rescue dogs. Want to participate, but you need a Fluff & Tuff toy? Take a tip from Frank and stop by your local Mud Bay or visit us online. Click the link in our bio to learn more about #IGIVEAFLUFF
Canagan canned cat food is grain-free and made with your cat in mind, using high-quality protein from chicken, salmon, tuna, and more.
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It’s inspired by what cats are naturally built to eat, with a focus on animal protein and no artificial flavors, colors, or preservatives.
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It’s also an easy way to add moisture to your cat’s routine—something many cats don’t get enough of—which can help support your feline friend with kidney and urinary-tract health.
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🛍️ Shop Canagan Complete Cat Food in-store or online at Mud Bay.
Summer is coming, so be like Goose 🐕 and stay cool 😎 ❄️ on every outing with the Swamp Cooler Harness from Ruffwear.
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Whether she’s out on a trail or enjoying a long walk or run, this harness is built for warm-weather adventures, offering cooling comfort and secure control in one breathable design.
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Shop in-store or online at Mud Bay.
#mudbay #adventures #pnw #dog #summeriscoming
Mud Bay Memorial Day Hours ⏰
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Today, Monday, May 25, all Mud Bay locations will be open from 10 am to 6 pm.
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Delivery orders placed after 2 pm on Sunday will arrive on Tuesday. Store pickup and Instacart will still be available. 🐈 🐕 🚚
#mudbay #holidayhours #healthypets #mudbaydelivery #pets
🐾🌷The Ruffwear Front Range Flex Collection
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Meet Harley, out in the tulip fields and ready for her next outing in the Front Range Flex Harness, Collar, and Leash.
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Whether it’s a walk through the neighborhood or your next PNW adventure, this collection is designed for everyday use and changing conditions:
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Lightweight and built to handle wet conditions
Easy to clean, just hand-wash and air-dry
Made with durable materials for every outing
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Harley picked her look… now it’s your turn.
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The Ruffwear Front Range Flex Collection is now available at Mud Bay. Shop in-store or online today!
#mudbay #ruffwear #adventure #dogwalk #pnwdogs
This cheese-flavored 🧀 💊 pill wrap helps make giving medicine easier for both dogs and cats. 🐕 🐈 Simply tear, wrap, and serve. It’s quick and mess-free.
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The soft texture can be torn to fit any pill, and the cheese flavor makes each dose easier to give. Now with pumpkin, and always free from grain, gluten, and soy.
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Stashio’s is a woman-owned company from Minnesota that creates simple solutions for daily pet care.
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You can find Stashio’s wrap-ups at Mud Bay, both in-store and online.
#mudbay #stashios #wrapup #healthypets #pnwpets
Let your dog relax 💆 and unwind with a Puptail.
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After a walk, run, hike, or just because, this brunch-inspired Puptail is a fun way to help your pup slow down and take it easy. It’s easy to make and flexible, so you can mix and match to make it your own.
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Ingredients
- 3 tbsp Green Juju Golden Blend
- 1 tbsp blueberries
- 1 tbsp banana slices
- 1/2 cup Primal Raw Goat’s Milk Cranberry Blast
- Swell Dog Gelato Banana and Peanut Butter (for topping)
- Wagster Banana and Toasted Coconut Biscuits
- Green Juju Freeze Dried Vitality Blend
- Furvor Concentrated Beef Bone Broth (for ice cubes)
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Optional Extras 🐕 🐶
Blueberry and bone broth ice cubes
Wag and Bright Supply Co. Spirulina and Beef Collagen dog chew
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Directions
1. Add Green Juju Golden Blend as your base
2. Layer in blueberries and banana slices
3. Pour in goat’s milk between layers
4. Repeat layers as desired, then freeze or serve as is
5. Top with gelato, biscuits, and freeze-dried blend
6. Add ice cubes and extras for a cool finish
#mudbay #treatyoself #pup #summeriscoming #puptail
Furvor bone broth is made with 100% human-grade ingredients and is up to 30 times more concentrated than regular broths. It provides protein, collagen, amino acids, and important nutrients to help your dog’s gut, joints, skin, coat, and overall health.
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The 20 oz bottle provides more than 20 servings, making it an easy way to add beneficial nutrition to your dog’s daily routine at home.
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If you’re out and about, Furvor’s single-serve pouches will help keep your dog hydrated, with a pep in their step wherever you go. They’re great for summer, hikes, walks, or days by the water.
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Just tear open, squeeze, and serve. You can mix it with water, pour it over kibble, or give it on its own. You can buy them one at a time or in a pack of six.
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Shop Furvor Bone Broth in-store or online today! 🛍️ 🐾
#mudbay #furvor #healthypets #pnwpets #bonebroth
Capstar Oral Flea & Tick Treatment
🐾When fleas show up, it helps to act quickly. Capstar is an easy-to-use oral treatment that starts working in about 30 minutes and can kill most fleas within the first few hours. It’s a simple way to bring fast relief and can be used alongside your dog’s regular flea and tick routine.
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Vetality Flea & Tick Monthly Topical Treatment
🐾 For ongoing protection, Vetality Avantect offers vet-quality coverage at a great value.
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These broad-spectrum topicals kill and repel fleas, flea eggs, ticks, and mosquitoes, while also targeting all stages of the flea life cycle. It also helps repel biting flies and kill lice. Available in four weight ranges and a four-month supply for continued protection.
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🛍️ Shop in-store or online today.
#mudbay #fleaandtickseason #healthypets #dogs #fleafree
