Can Cats Eat Raw Mince?

Yes, cats can eat plain raw mince.

With some caveats. 

The ground beef should be plain without any seasoning. Flavourings like onion, garlic, and salt can be very harmful to a cat’s health. 

(Cats obviously do need salt in their diet, but this is carefully formulated in pre-cooked cat food. Eating too much added salt from human food can cause sodium poisoning.  

Bear in mind that raw meat diets have a higher health risk than commercial pre-cooked cat foods. Uncooked meats have a greater chance of being contaminated with pathogens both during the production and storage processes and then, afterwards, in your kitchen.

To be honest, as a vegetarian, I wouldn’t feed my cat a raw meat diet as I’d probably end up poisoning myself, the cat, and anyone else within a 5-mile radius of my fridge. I don’t have quite the same worry preparing lentils and tofu, but I don’t think my cat would appreciate those in her diet.

But if you regularly and confidently handle raw meats, then you’ll probably be way more open to the idea of a raw diet for your pet.

Raw mince in the grocery store is for humans, so it’s meant to be cooked before eating. Raw pet food is designed to be eaten without cooking, so it’s a good idea to look at pet brands rather than buying human-targeted products.

Ground beef is high in fat, so pick a leaner meat or a lighter cut. Too much fat can cause pancreatitis or weight gain in cats. 

Commercial pre-cooked cat food will always be the safest option for cats. If you want to improve your cat’s food but don’t like the sound of a raw diet, then take a look at some of the high-meat-content brands. I buy in bulk, so it doesn’t cost much more than generic brands in the supermarket.

🐈‍⬛ What Current Veterinary Guidance Says

While veterinarians don’t always have a tonne of nutrition training, it’s worth considering their official position. Note that most of the concern isn’t about raw diet per se but rather the risks of consuming and handling contaminated meat.

British Veterinary Association	“An issue which particularly concerns vets is that an increase in raw feeding could pose a risk to animal and public health, due to the potential presence of pathogens and bacteria, which would normally be killed during the cooking process.”
The American VMA	“The AVMA recognizes public interest in feeding raw diets to dogs and cats. However, the AVMA discourages feeding any raw or undercooked animal-sourced proteins (e.g., meat, poultry, fish, egg, milk*) to dogs and cats because of their risk to human and animal health.”
RSPCA Australia	“Bones and raw meat are not recommended as they carry bacteria that can make both animals and humans ill and bones can break teeth and cause constipation and internal blockages.”

🐈‍⬛ Why Do Some Owners Feed Cats Raw Mince?

Cats are obligate carnivores, so they HAVE to eat meat to survive. Unlike humans (or dogs), cats can’t survive on a vegetarian diet alone. 

For some owners, it makes sense for cats to have a diet that mirrors what they’d eat naturally in the wild. Some owners will argue that commercial cat food, while convenient, can contain low-quality and low-volume meat as well as too many fillers, sugars, and grains. They’d also argue that a raw diet is better for a cat’s digestion and teeth. 

I don’t feed my cat a raw diet, but I do understand some of the concerns. I noticed how low the meat content was in some of the big commercial brands. This made me fall down an internet rabbit hole, which led to me finding pre-cooked commercial food brands that I was much happier with. 

🐈‍⬛ Is Raw Mince Safe for Cats?

Cats can eat raw mince, but it’s worth understanding the whole picture before you add it to your cat’s diet. 

Mince is a high-quality protein and rich in fatty acids and amino acids, which help give a glossy coat. Your cat will also get some taurine, which is essential for cats as it helps maintain heart health, digestion, and eye health.

Raw food also contains moisture, which is important in helping cats stay hydrated. Traditional cat food like biscuits and kibble can keep cats mildly dehydrated. 

BUT

There are risks to using ground beef. These come in the form of things like Salmonella, E.Coli, and Listeria, which are all very serious.

When cat food is pre-cooked, these pathogens are often destroyed, rendering the food safe for consumption. It’s easy enough to store a tin or sachet in a cupboard until needed. Once opened, it’s just a case of sealing the lid and keeping the can cool for a day or two until the food is eaten. 

But raw food has a higher risk of cross-contamination. This isn’t just a concern for your cat’s health but for you and anyone you live with too. It’s why in the UK, the PDSA advises that if you do choose a raw diet, you don’t prepare the food yourself and instead source the raw meat from a trusted supplier.

Cats can carry salmonella without any symptoms and then shed the bacteria and pass it onto humans. If owners come into contact with the bacteria on infected surfaces, or inside litter trays, or in saliva, etc, then humans can become ill without the cat having ever shown symptoms. If you’re thinking of raw feeding in a household where someone is pregnant or living with a vulnerable immune system, then it can be dangerous. 

Advice seems to be to stick to commercially prepared raw food, but that can also have health risks. 

Here’s what one study on PubMed Central found

“Surveys in Europe and North America have consistently found Salmonella species in a proportion of samples, typically of fresh‐frozen commercial diets. Another emerging issue concerns the risk of introducing antimicrobial‐resistant bacteria. Raw pet food commonly exceeds hygiene thresholds for counts of Enterobacteriaceae.”

There’s also the danger of malnutrition or nutritional deficiencies in a raw food diet, especially when owners lack sufficient knowledge about nutrition. Certainly, no owner should be feeding their cat an exclusively raw mince diet as there just isn’t the full range of nutrition to support health in the long-term. 

🐈‍⬛ Is Raw Mince Nutritionally Complete?

No, it’s not.

According to the Nutrient Research Council, cats require protein, fat, essential fatty acids, amino acids, minerals, fat and water soluble vitamins, and choline. 

These include things like linoleic acid, lysine, taurine, calcium, zinc, vitamin A,  biotin, choline, etc. 

Beef is high in protein and contains several essential vitamins and minerals, including iron, zinc, niacin, vitamin B6 and B12, amongst others but it lacks vitamin A and D. Cucially, it doesn’t contain enough taurine. 

Similarly, if you were feeding your cat chicken liver or even raw pork every day as a main protein source, it wouldn’t be enough.

🐈‍⬛ Should You Feed Your Cat Raw Mince?

If you understand cat nutrition and the nuances of a cat’s diet and have a good handle on how to safely handle raw meats, then preparing a raw food diet for your cat could be a viable option. 

If you’re interested in feeding a raw diet but doubt you have the experience or time, then you can buy pre-prepared raw cat food. This will be more convenient and, if purchased from a reputable supplier, means you don’t have to know the ins and outs of cat nutrition. Again, just remember you can’t feed ground beef alone to your cat. 

Researching high-meat-content pre-cooked cat food is the best option for those of us who can’t imagine anything worse than chopping up gristle and bone on a Sunday morning. 

🐈‍⬛ How to Feed Your Cat Raw Mince Safely

Researching high-meat-content pre-cooked cat food is the best option for those of us who can’t imagine anything worse than chopping up gristle and bone on a Sunday morning. 

Buy ground beef specifically for cats and from a reputable source. There are online communities which may provide guidence on brands and products worth buying. 

Make sure the raw meat is refridgerated and handled properly.

If you’re worried about the date on the packet, then freeze it and defrost when it’s needed. 

Make sure food bowls and utensils are always thoroughly washed. 

Wash your hands before and after preparing the food

Make sure kitchen surfaces have been cleaned properly

Don’t leave food sitting out for long periods, especially in the hot weather. 

Be aware of the signs that your cat has eaten bad meat. For example, vomiting, diarrhoea, lethargy, refusing food can all be signs of food poisioning. 

🐈‍⬛ FAQs

⭐ Can cats eat raw beef mince every day?

No. Ground beef isn’t nutritionally complete and doesn’t contain enough essential nutrients like taurine. 

⭐ Can cats eat frozen raw mince?

Cats cat eat raw mince that has been frozen but it must be thoroughly defrosted before served. 

⭐ Can cats eat seasoned mince?

No. They shouldn’t. Seasoning can upset their digestive system and even make them seriously ill. Remember that onions and garlic are toxic to cats. If you are giving your cat beef mince, then make sure it’s plain. 

⭐ Is raw mince better than wet canned food?

No, not necessarily. Wet cat food is nutritionally balanced and will include taurine. Raw mince lacks several key nutrients. Wet cat food is also safer to eat. 

⭐ Can kittens eat raw mince?

Some owners feed their kittens raw mince, but kittens may find it difficult to digest. They have a weaker immune system too which would be a problem if they became ill from contaminated meat. 

⭐ My cat ate raw mince by accident. What do I do? 

If it was plain raw mince, then there’ll probably be no issue or at least nothing too serious. Keep an eye on your cat to make sure they’re behaving normally. If they show signs of illness like vomiting or diarreah, then contact your vet for advice. If there was seasoning on the meat, then check to see the ingredients in the mix to check for anything that may be harmful for your cat. If in doubt, contact a professional. If it’s an outdoor cat, keep it inside for a few hours to make it easier to monitor them. 

Your cat will likely be fine.

 

🐈‍⬛ Bottom Line

Plain raw mince isn’t toxic to cats. It can be given as food occasionally as part of a balanced diet. If you’re going down the raw route, then make sure your pet is eating a wide variety of meats to give them access to a full nutritional profile. 

If you don’t like the sound of raw cat food, but you’d like to serve higher quality food in your cat’s diet, then there’s a lot of brands now which sell premium pre-cooked foods, but also be aware that the marketing of cat food can make some products seem better than they actually are.