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Can Cats Eat Raw Pork?

7/27/2016

1 Comment

 
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YES! Pork is a wonderful meat for cats. Most cats both love pork and do very well with it. At Food Fur Life and in our Raw Feeding for IBD Cats group we often recommend pork loin as a starter meat when introducing raw food to cats. For many it is essentially a “novel” protein. Of course it should be introduced properly and slowly as with any new food or new protein in a raw diet.  An excellent source of taurine, pork is a healthy addition to any homemade food protein rotation (though we'd like to note the more electrically active muscles will always have much higher concentrations, e.g. tongue, lung, heart and the dark meats - in pork, being the shoulder).
 
The most maligned meat, many of the myths and misconceptions surrounding the feeding of raw pork are simply outright misinformation; others are outdated health concerns. Let’s address those myths and fears. They are:

  • Pork fat globules are too large. This is one of the oddest ones. The statement is “fat globules of pork are larger than other fat globules in other meats and can clog the small blood vessels of dogs.” We have NO idea when this rumor struck, but it tracks back to – of all places – Petco. No longer on their website (thank you!), this reason not to feed pork was included in a list of “Dangerous Foods and Plants.” The Internet Archive “Wayback Machine” captured a picture of that article on August 30, 2011. Raw feeders contacted Petco asking for the references for the claim: they were never provided and the article eventually removed. This information about pork fat simply isn’t true, yet the myth persists.
  • Pork is too fatty. Actually, pork in 2016 is a lean meat. On a dry matter basis, pork trimmed to one-quarter inch fat is about 79% protein and 18% fat (see table, below). This compares to farmed rabbit, which is 74% protein, 20% fat; lamb, with 76% protein and 20% fat; and duck, at 70% protein and 23% fat. Chicken with skin is about 55% protein, 44% fat, which is similar to beef, with 50% protein and 45% fat. Clearly pork is not a particularly fatty option within our commercially available meats.
  • Pork is high in saturated fats. While it is true that the natural diet of the cat has a different fat profile than most of the meats raised commercially for human consumption, cats handle fats very well, and do not have the same physiological processes that create clogged arteries from saturated fats that people do. But that pork is high in saturated fats is an outdated concern: apart from having a lower fat content than most believe, according to the USDA, the saturated fat content of pork trimmed to one-quarter inch of fat is just 21%. That is the LOWEST option for saturated fat content of any commercially available meat except skinless chicken breast! Again, please refer to the table below.
  • Pigs don’t sweat and release toxins. This is another odd rumor that pops up. First of all, pigs do sweat. Secondly, the liver and kidneys do the primary job of removing toxins from the body in mammals.
  • My cat will get trichinosis. This is the most common reason people are afraid to feed raw pork. Trichinosis is caused by the roundworm parasite, trichinella. It was a widespread problem up to the mid-20th century, but in many parts of the world, aggressive management steps have been very effective, and in human grade commercial meats, trichinella is effectively non-existent. In the United States between 2008 and 2012, a total of 10 human cases of trichinosis reported were linked to consumption of commercial pork. Canada has had no confirmed cases since 1980, and while it varies from country-to-country within the EU, again, almost none of the reported cases are related to commercial pork. Sweden, Belgium and the Netherlands are declared trichinosis-free. Australia is also trichinella-free, and although there have been some recorded cases of the roundworm in wildlife in South Africa, there are no recorded cases of trichinosis in humans or domestic pets in South Africa. In fact, most reported cases around the world are associated with wild game, such as boar, deer, and bear. To kill trichinella (and other potential parasites), ALL wild hunted game should be frozen for three weeks at -5F (-20C). And if one is concerned about commercial meat, simply freeze it as one would for wild game.
 
Of course, when we say pork is a wonderful raw meat for cats, we do not mean bacon or ham. Salted or smoked meats should never be fed to any pet, due to the sodium content, smoke flavoring chemicals, nitrates and potentially preservatives. But cuts of pork meat: loin, boneless rib meat, butt, shoulder – these are all excellent sources of protein and should be welcomed in any healthy meat rotation in a raw diet. With moderate fat, and low in saturated fats compared to other red meats, pork truly is “the other white meat.” So put your fears aside, and let your kitty enjoy this nutritious protein in its natural state.


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1 Comment
Lola link
8/18/2016 07:45:43 pm

Thanks for posting this info! I know a LOT of people that go into panic mode when they hear I feed pork raw.
Thanks again.

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The information provided through our www.foodfurlife.com website is informational and educational. We are here to help make feeding a properly balanced homemade diet to your pet simple and to provide guidance for some of the problems that can crop up when transitioning your pets to a new food. But please be advised, we are not veterinarians. Food Fur Life LLC will not be held responsible for any adverse reactions your pet might experience based on the information on our website, nor can Food Fur Life LLC be held responsible for any problems due to using our product in any manner other than as directed. The health of your pet is 100% in your hands. We expect you to use your knowledge of your pet and your circumstances to determine, with the knowledge and input of your trusted veterinarian, whether any advice provided on this site is appropriate for your pet.


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  • Home
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  • DOGS
    • EZComplete fur Dogs Premix Information >
      • Nutritional Analysis - EZcomplete fur Dogs - Chicken Liver Formula
    • How To ... fur Dogs >
      • How to Prepare EZComplete fur Dogs
      • How to Transition Your Dog to EZComplete
      • How to Add EZC fur Dogs premix to cooked meat AT the time of feeding
    • Feeding Guidelines fur Dogs
    • Raw or Cooked? Which Should I Feed and Why?
    • Why Probiotics Are So Important For Our Pets >
      • Kefir for Pets
    • How to Shop for Meat >
      • Online Meat Suppliers - Resource Links
    • Can Our Pets Eat Raw Pork?
  • Cats
    • EZComplete fur Cats Premix Information >
      • Nutritional Analysis - EZcomplete fur Cats - Chicken Liver Formula
    • How To ... fur Cats >
      • How to Prepare and Feed EZComplete fur Cats
      • How to Add EZC premix to cooked meat AT the time of feeding
      • How to Slowly and Properly Introduce EZComplete fur Cats
      • How to Transition to EZComplete fur Cats
      • How to Transition Your Cat to Timed Meals
      • How to Best Manage Hairballs >
        • Make Homemade Dried Egg Yolk Powder
      • How to Shop for Meat >
        • Can Our Pets Eat Raw Pork?
        • Online Meat Suppliers - Resource Links
    • Raw or Cooked? Which Should I Feed and Why?
    • Feline Nutrition Articles >
      • The Natural Diet of the Cat
      • Why Feed Your Cat A Raw Diet
      • Cat Food vs Cat Health
      • What is Digestibility and Why Does it Matter?
      • Raw Feeding and IBD in Cats
      • Turmeric & The Golden Paste - Unsafe for Cats?
      • Water - The Essential Nutrient
      • Water - 15 Tips to Increase Your Cat's Water Intake
    • Feline Health Articles >
      • Hairballs Are Not Normal
      • Why Probiotics Are So Important for Our Pets >
        • Kefir for Pets
      • My Cat Has Diarrhea - What Do I Do?
      • My Cat is Vomiting - What Do I Do?
      • My Cat Stopped Eating Raw - What Do I Do?
      • What is IBD
      • Manage Nausea - the role of food
      • Manage Nausea - healthy supplements & meds
      • Medicating & Assist Feeding Your Cat
      • Feline Health Resource Links
    • What does it mean the cat is an obligate carnivore?
    • Why You SHOULD Feed Your Immune Compromised Cat Raw Food
    • My Cat Stopped Eating Raw - What Do I Do?
  • FAQ / Contact
    • Shipping Rates & Policies
    • Samples
    • Contact
    • Premix Information
    • How Much Meat vs How Much Food
    • About Us
    • Return Policy
  • Blog & News