Starting out with raw feeding can seem overwhelming, but no need! First, take a deep breath! Relax. Every MPC product is tailor-made by raw feeders for raw feeders. We are so confident in the quality of our pet food that we believe it will help you succeed & improve the health of your furry family members. Different styles of raw feeding do abound! We have food varieties that can help with all of them. There is a lot of literature out there, online & in books & some of it conflicts. There is no reason to get bogged down in the details & worry too much about how to start.

The good news, there are many right ways to raw-feed. Just like there is an abundance of potential ways to have a healthy diet for humans, there are a lot of healthy options for pets. Our suggestion is to feed a wide variety of meals. For your pet, more variety means more vitamins & minerals, a healthier digestive system & more satisfaction from mealtime. Our products are selectively sourced. This dedication translates into more nutritionally dense food for your pet.

What is the best protein with which to begin?

There’s no such thing as a “starter protein.” When you are first starting, getting a selection of different meats will give you a range of foods to try. Just like people, many pets have distinct preferences. Having a wide selection will give you a chance to see what your own pet’s likes & dislikes are. If you are really unsure as to which protein to start, look at your pet’s current food &  see if you can figure out what the primary meat flavors are. This should give you a good starting point.

The recommended amount to feed adult pets is 2-3% of their ideal body weight per day & about twice that amount for a growing puppy or kitten. Adults are usually fed twice a day. Puppies & kittens should be fed several times a day. Wanna skip the math? Check out our easy-to-use Feeding Chart.

We think the easiest products to use are our Ground Whole & Whole Prey products since they contain the meat, bones & organs of the whole animal. It is the quickest, most straightforward option for a beginner to raw feeding. Just thaw the containers in the fridge, scoop & serve! Some animals, especially cats, tend to prefer food a little warm, but that can be as simple as placing their food bowl in some warm water for a few minutes. Serving the food cold isn’t harmful. However, your pet may want to wait until it warms up a bit.

 

Transitioning to Raw-feeding, Specifics for Dogs & Cats

For dogs, the easiest thing to do is to skip one meal so they’re good & hungry, then just put down the raw food for their next meal. There’s no need to supplement their raw food with kibble or to transition them gradually (though it can be an option). Cats can be a bit more finicky. They tend to be much more texture-driven than dogs & may take longer to transition from kibble to raw. We highly recommend checking out feline-nutrition.org for more in-depth information about switching a cat to raw food.

 

Guidance for our Raw-Feeding Ferret Friends

We love our ferret customers! The ferret fan favorites are any of our Fine Ground Whole products. The products are triple ground for more smoothness & smaller bone chips.

That’s pretty much it! There’s no need to get worried about what’s “right,” because right comes over time. The exact ratio of bone & organ & meat does not have to be achieved in every meal. By feeding a variety of meals, everything will even out in time. Just jump in & go for it your carnivore will thank you!