Raw Cat Food Explained: Nutrition, Benefits & Health

Feeding your cat a raw food diet isn’t just a trend — it’s about aligning their meals with their biology. To understand why, we need to look at how cats have evolved and what their bodies are designed to eat.

 

Domesticated Cats vs. Wild Cats

Domestic cats have lived alongside humans for thousands of years. Evidence of domestication appears in Egyptian hieroglyphs, Chinese records, and Japanese art dating back over 10,000 years.

Despite their smaller size and selective breeding, cats still share over 95% of their DNA with wild relatives like lions, tigers, and lynxes. This means the digestive systems and nutritional requirements of domesticated cats are still very similar to those of wild cats.

Even though humans have bred cats for different traits, their biology hasn’t changed much. At their core, they are still predators built to hunt and eat meat.

So we might ask, "Why Feed Your Cat a Raw Food Diet?" or maybe "Why not?"

Understanding a Cat’s Biology

Cats are obligate carnivores, which means they require meat for survival. They cannot synthesise certain essential vitamins and amino acids from plants, making animal protein vital to their health. Without a meat-based diet, cats can quickly develop nutrient deficiencies that lead to serious health issues.

A cat’s anatomy shows why a raw diet makes sense:

• Sharp claws and teeth built for hunting and tearing prey
• Tapetum lucidum for superior night vision during nocturnal hunts
• Short digestive tract designed for protein, not plants
• Strong stomach acid capable of breaking down raw meat and neutralising bacteria
• Limited taste buds, so they need nutrients more than flavours
• Everything about a cat’s biology points to a fresh, meat-based diet.

The Benefits of a Raw Food Diet for Cats

In Australia, around 37 per cent of pet owners have a cat (University of Melbourne). Despite this, there’s still a huge gap in understanding what the optimal diet for cats really is.

Feeding your cat a raw food diet provides significant health and well-being benefits:

1. Kidney Health Support

Research suggests that diet plays a major role in long-term feline Kidney issues/health. For example, studies from veterinary schools such as Cornell University’s College of Veterinary Medicine have highlighted how nutrition impacts the risk and management of chronic kidney disease in cats. While no diet can guarantee prevention, a fresh, moisture-rich raw diet can support kidney function and reduce stress on the organs compared with heavily processed foods.

2. Improved Dental Health

Chewing raw meat helps reduce tartar buildup and plaque, keeping teeth strong and healthy. Cooked or heavily processed foods, by contrast, can make teeth brittle and prone to decay.

3. Natural Taurine Intake

Taurine is an essential amino acid for cats, critical for heart, eye, and muscle health. It’s also the most common nutrient deficiency in cats on processed diets. Raw meat provides taurine in its most natural, bioavailable form. If you feed your cat Raw & Fresh meals, you can be confident they’re getting enough taurine naturally.

4. Easier Digestion for Sensitive Cats

Some cats struggle with conventional kibbles or processed foods. A raw diet is often easier on the digestive system and ideal for cats with sensitivities or food intolerances.

5. Weight and Metabolic Benefits

Raw diets lower the risk of obesity and diabetes, conditions commonly linked to processed, carbohydrate-heavy foods.

6. Nutrient Density and Bioavailability

Raw meat provides protein without added sugars or fillers. It delivers nutrients in the most bioavailable form, meaning your cat absorbs and uses them more effectively.

 

Supporting Your Cat’s Health Through Diet

The evidence shows that a raw diet can offer meaningful benefits, from kidney health to better digestion. Understanding feline biology is the first step; providing a species-appropriate diet is the next.

Cats thrive on a fresh raw diet. For more information about buying our raw cat food online, please get in contact with us today!