Raw diet (commercially prepared, complete and balanced)
Description
A commercially manufactured raw meat-based diet (fresh, frozen, or freeze-dried) formulated to meet AAFCO or FEDIAF complete-and-balanced nutritional standards, distinct from an owner-assembled raw diet in that the nutrient profile has been actually calculated and typically tested rather than assumed adequate from "meat is natural for cats" reasoning alone.
Suitable For
Generally healthy adult cats whose owners have specifically chosen this feeding approach and are prepared to follow proper raw-food handling and storage practices consistently.
Cautions
Verify "complete and balanced" claims are backed by actual AAFCO or FEDIAF formulation standards on the label, not just marketing language — a raw diet that is simply ground meat and organs without deliberate nutrient balancing is genuinely not nutritionally complete regardless of how "natural" it looks. As with any raw diet, immunocompromised cats, very young kittens, and households with immunocompromised members should discuss the real, if generally low with reputable tested products, bacterial contamination risk with a veterinarian before choosing this option.