Each step of the transition will slowly progress a cat to a raw diet. The third step of the raw feeding transition introduces liver and other secreting organs to continue progressing towards balanced meals.
Secreting organs play an important role in raw diets. Therefore, it is time to feed organs once the cat is successfully eating red muscle meat, raw meaty bones, and nutritional yeast.
Continue Red Meat
Continue feeding the red muscle meat from step 2.
Raw Meaty Bones Remain Consistent
Continue feeding raw meaty bones from lean, white proteins.
Introduce Secreting Organs
Introduce liver and other secreting organs.
Nutritional Yeast Remains Consistent
Continue feeding nutritional yeast throughout the transition.
It’s important not to rush the transition process. It is normal to get excited and want to push forward. However, it is best to allow the cat to set the pace of the raw transition. Some cats take easily to a raw diet while others will need more time.
Adding Organs to a Raw Diet
The diet begins to match Prey Model Raw ratios in step three of the raw feeding transition. Organs are introduced in step three to provide essential fat-soluble vitamins, water-soluble vitamins, and minerals.
The ratios are starting guidelines – not rules, and may require modification based on each cat’s individual needs. Some cats require more bone to maintain firm and consistent stool in comparison to others.
Meal Example 1
Beef Muscle Meat
Rabbit Ribs
Beef Liver
Beef Kidney
Meal Example 2
Ground Beef
Calcium Supplement
Ground Beef Liver & Kidney
Secreting Organ Options
The red muscle meat, raw meaty bones, and nutritional yeast in step three should remain the same ingredients as in step two. Step three of the raw transition is meant to introduce liver and secreting organs, which increases the available nutrients of the meals.
Secreting organs are nutrient-dense, so a little goes a long way! They are high in fat-soluble vitamins, water-soluble vitamins, and minerals in comparison to other ingredients, which makes secreting organs an ideal food to include in raw diets to ensure essential nutrients are met.
Raw Liver
Liver is recommended as the first secreting organ to introduce in step three of the transition process. Out of all organ options, raw liver is highly recommended to feed in raw diets. Liver includes a high concentration of the essential nutrient Vitamin A, and ruminant livers are a good source of minerals such as copper and iron.
Liver from different animal species will yield different nutrient levels. On average, beef liver and chicken liver are the easiest liver options to source in supermarkets.
Raw Kidney
Following the introduction of liver, it is recommended to introduce secreting organs in step three as well. Secreting organs are beneficial to providing additional essential nutrients that raw liver does not provide. Raw secreting organs, particularly kidneys, provide every B vitamin in substantial amounts and are an excellent source of minerals such as selenium.
Different secreting organs from multiple animal species will yield varying nutrient levels. On average, beef kidney and pork kidney are the easiest secreting organs to source in ethnic markets.
Sourcing Ingredients
The availability of secreting organs will vary regionally. Raw liver is generally the easiest to source out of all organ options. Adding liver to raw diets is highly encouraged to ensure Vitamin A requirements are met. Other organs, such as kidneys, are not required, but can be beneficial in ensuring all B vitamin needs are met. However, these nutrients can also be fulfilled through other raw ingredients.
Calculate Ingredient Amounts
It is recommended to slowly introduce secreting organs in step three of the transition process. A slow introduction is a proactive measure to prevent gastrointestinal (GI) upset.
Step three is not intended or recommended to feed long-term.
The third step of the raw feeding transition is not nutritionally complete and should not be fed long-term. The final step is to balance the diet with all essential nutrients through appropriate whole foods.
CLOSING COMMENTS
Step three of the raw feeding transition is designed to introduce cats to secreting organs. Transitioning a cat to raw is exciting, but it is best to allow the cat to set the pace.
Past Ingredients
Continue feeding the same red muscle meat, raw meaty bones, and nutritional yeast from steps one & two. Ingredient variety will come once the cat is fully transitioned to a raw diet.
Raw Liver
Step three introduces liver to increase the nutritional value of the raw diet. Start with adding 2.5% liver to the raw meats and increase to 5% when the cat's stool is firm and consistent.
Other Organs
Once liver has been fully introduced and is tolerated well, start with adding 2.5% other organs to the raw meats and increase to 5% when the cat's stool is firm and consistent.