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 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! 🛍️ 🐾
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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.
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We have all the treats, toys, and zoomie-inducing catnip options for your cat, both in-store and online at Mud Bay.
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So whether you have a cat who likes to bite, rabbit-kick, or lie back and relax with a nice treat and some catnip, we have what your feline friend needs to keep them happy, healthy, and engaged.🐈
#mudbay #cats #cattreats #catnip #cattoys
Oven-fresh meals straight to your dog’s bowl.
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Nulo Culinary Harvest is a high-protein, oven-baked dog food, basted in bone broth to support your dog’s digestion and joint health.
Nulo only uses high-quality proteins like turkey, herring, chicken, pork, lamb, and beef, then bakes each formula slowly at low temperatures to retain nutrients and make meals easier to digest.
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Choose from Adult recipes such as Chicken & Whitefish, Turkey & Herring, or Pork & Lamb, available in 4-lb or 25-lb bags. For small breeds, Beef & Lamb comes in 4-lb and 10-lb bags.
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Shop Nulo Culinary Harvest Oven-Baked Dog Food in stores or order online today!
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Did you know that Mud Bay now has sushi 🍣 for cats?
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Thanks to our friends at Fabcat, your cat can now enjoy a 5-piece sushi combo platter at Mud Bay. Each piece is not only fun to play with, but also filled with North American-grown catnip that will get your cat excited to bite, swat, and zoom around.
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Check out the Fabcat Sushi Combo Platter and treat your cat to something special. Available in-store or online.
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Looking for a simple way to slow things down at mealtime or keep your dog busy?🤔
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The Walkabout from Woof is a multi-purpose enrichment toy that can hold up to 2 cups of food or treats. Just twist it open, fill it up, and rotate the inner dial to adjust how quickly food is released.
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It’s designed for quieter play, gentle on teeth, and safe for your floors—no marks, no noise, just steady engagement.
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A great option for busy days, working from home, or dogs that need a little extra enrichment. 🛒 🛍️ Shop the Walkabout in-store or online at Mud Bay.
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You heard us, now we want to hear from you! 📣 👂
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We want to know your dog’s favorite woof Pupsicle recipe. Let us know what your pup loves most in their Pupsicle. We’d love to share your recipes with our followers, too.
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Send us a DM, leave a comment, share photos, or tag us in your favorite woof recipe. We might even make your recipe in-store and give you a shout-out! We can’t wait to hear from you.
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Stay tuned, because we’ll be sharing some of your recipes 🧑🍳 in the coming weeks!
#mudbay #woof #letusknow #healthypets #pupsicle
Nulo Culinary Harvest coming soon at Mud Bay!
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This new option from Nulo is an oven-baked, high-protein dog food basted in bone broth. And because it’s oven-baked, that means it’s cooked at a lower temperature, so your dog can absorb more nutrients and get the most out of each meal. The bone broth also adds extra flavor, perfect for dogs who appreciate something extra at mealtime that also has functional benefits to their overall health.
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Nulo Culinary Harvest for Adult and Small Breed dogs, will soon be available both in-store and online at Mud Bay.
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🐝 🌷 🌈 Spring is here, and that means fleas and ticks are back. To help protect your cat, we’re excited to offer new TropiClean 🌴 options designed to make care simple and effective.
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TropiClean Laundry Additive helps tackle fleas, ticks, eggs, and larvae right in your wash. Just add half a cup with your regular detergent, let it soak for 10 to 15 minutes, and use it on bedding, towels, blankets, rugs, and toys. Plus, it’s safe for use with your dog!
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TropiClean Gentle No-Rinse Cat Shampoo offers an easy way to clean and protect without the hassle. It helps eliminate fleas, ticks, and mites, protects against mosquitoes, and is safe for pets and kids.
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TropiClean Gentle Mist for Cats is a quick, on-the-go option for added protection. Just spray and go for an easy way to help protect against fleas, ticks, mites, and mosquitoes.
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You can shop TropiClean products for your cat in-store and online at Mud Bay.
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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!
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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.
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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.
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