Daring to give raw meat to your cat is the most "natural" possible diet — physiologically perfect. But it comes with risks that require strict rules. Let's see how to do it right.

## The benefits

- **Natural hydration** (fresh meat is 70-75% water)
- **Shiny coat**
- **Small, well-formed, low-odor stools**
- **Cleaner teeth** (chewing on pieces)
- **Better quality of life** for many cats

## The risks

- **Salmonella, E. coli, Listeria:** a healthy cat can tolerate them, but may excrete them in its stool
- **Toxoplasma:** pork and lamb require freezing
- **Nutritional imbalance:** "only meat" can cause severe deficiencies
- **Trichinella:** pork and wild boar requires freezing

## The absolute rules

1. **Buy from a certified supplier** (BARF shop)
2. **Freeze everything at -20°C for a minimum of 7 days**
3. **Never cooked bones**: only raw, meaty, appropriately sized (chicken necks)
4. **Balancing**: 70% muscle, 10% meaty bones, 10% organs (liver, heart), 5% extras
5. **Hygiene**: dedicated cutting board and knife, always washed hands

## The transition

Never abrupt:

- **Week 1-2:** mix 25% raw + 75% previous food
- **Week 3-4:** 50/50
- **Week 5-6:** 75% raw
- **Week 7+:** 100% raw

## When NOT to do the raw diet

- Immunocompromised cat
- Very small children in the house
- Cat with inflammatory bowel diseases
- Owner without time to plan

## Conclusions

The raw diet for cats can be excellent, but it requires preparation and balancing. If you cannot follow the rules, a quality commercial wet diet is a safer choice.