WAFFLES: Hey Boss! This is the best chicken I've ever had in my whole life.
KATIE: Funny, I had you pegged as more of an extra crispy kind of cat. You do realize this is raw, don't you?
WAFFLES: Extra crispy is so yesterday, Boss. RAW is where it's at.
KATIE: Looks like your chin is where it's at too.
Convenient Raw Diets for Cats
This is big, kitties. REALLY big!
Balanced Blends, founded on the principles of providing a species-appropriate diet for cats (and dogs), has created what we believe is one of the best diets you can choose for your furry family members. Easy to order online, it's shipped straight to your door frozen and packed inside an insulated cooler. This is truly a breakthrough for cat parents who've been wanting to transition their pets to a raw food diet, but just couldn't figure out how to pull it off.
When we first learned about
Balanced Blends and heard them use words and phrases like 'Obligate Carnivore' and 'Raw Meat, Bones and Organs' we have to admit got more than a little excited. Unlike humans and unlike even dogs, cats are Obligate Carnivores. That means quite simply, they need animal protein in order to sustain life. And for cats, it also means they lack the digestive means to appropriately process fruits, vegetables, corn, grains, etc. Cats are anything
but vegetarians and to truly thrive and survive, they need meat.
You could say a raw food diet like Balanced Blends is as close to what a cat would eat in the wild as you can find. ...short of inviting a family of mice over for dinner each night.
Raw Revolution
We understand raw may not be for everyone. In fact for many years, it wasn't for us. As much as Glogirly loves cats, years ago she didn't know much about feline nutrition. Like many cat parents, she thought if the food was sitting on the shelves at the vet clinic, it must be good. So she'd pick up a bag of dry kibble every few weeks and think nothing of it.
As she learned more and more and realized that switching to a wet diet of canned food would be a far healthier choice than dry, she looked for the best she could find. But navigating the multitude of choices and looking for what should and shouldn't be in the food was often like walking through a mine field of cat food. Just try reading a few labels and you'll know what we're talking about.
So she decided she needed to learn even more. She began reading about the species-specific dietary needs of cats. She talked with feline nutrition experts, vets and other cat parents. Then when Katie developed IBD (Inflammatory Bowel Disease) Glogirly realized pretty quickly that landing on the right diet for the tuxedo kitty she adored so much was not only a priority, it was a matter of life and death.
That's when we made the switch. And we've never looked back.
What are the benefits WE'VE experienced in feeding raw and whole foods?
VITALITY & ENERGY
For Katie, it's been like a fountain of youth. We probably didn't even realize how poorly she must have been feeling prior to learning of her IBD. Within just a few weeks of transitioning her diet, she was a changed cat. She has more energy, more interest in playing, she's even more affectionate and 'present.' She flies up and down the stairs like a cat half her age.
GOODBYE PICKY EATERS
Both Katie and Waffles used to be pretty fickle and finicky. They'd be fine for a few months and then one day wake up and decide for whatever reason that they were done with that brand, that flavor... Since our transition over a year ago, no one has turned up their nose at a single bite. In fact, they both eat with a gusto that can only mean they love what they're eating.
HELLO SILKY COAT
Katie was born with a gorgeous coat, but Waffles has always been a little scraggly around the edges. Maybe it's a tabby thing. But since eating raw, Waffles' coat is so soft and smooth it rivals even Katie's. And according to our vet, Katie's coat is THE silkiest she's ever felt of any cat in all her years of practice.
HEALTHY WEIGHT CONTROL & MAINTENANCE
It's been very easy for Katie and Waffles to get to a healthy weight and maintain it. Because their bodies are absorbing SO much of the nutrition in their food, they really get to take advantage of each and every calorie. That said, Glogirly is diligent about measuring out the appropriate portions. She also no longer uses treats everyday, instead only when taking photos that require a certain amount of cooperation.
GOODBYE LITTERBOX ODOR
When some people say their you-know-what doesn't stink, you know they're full of it. But on a raw food diet, there is absolutely NO fecal odor. Seriously. It's like magic. They're like little kraft paper colored tootsie rolls, very dry and lightweight. Proof again, that all of the nutrients from the food are being absorbed and utilized. With canned and dry food, that just doesn't happen.
NO STICKER SHOCK, REALLY!
One of the reasons some people are reluctant to change to a raw or whole food diet is cost. Although it's true that a raw diet will cost more than a dry kibble diet, it's actually very comparable to most premium canned foods. (And we won't even factor in all the food that's gone to waste because *somekitty* decided it was no longer acceptable.)
In fact, we did the math:
When we were serving canned food we spent on average $1.49 - $2.29 per 3 ounce can. Katie and Waffles would eat one can each per day, based on their recommended daily caloric intake.
DAILY COST PER CAT: $1.49 - $2.29 not including tax/shipping/transportation/fuel.
The cost of Balanced Blends Raw, not including any of their Kickstarter discounts and incentives, is $7.00/LB for chicken or $8.00/LB for beef. Katie and Waffles eat 1/4 cup twice a day, so for one cat that's 4 ounces a day based on their weight and activity level.
Now for a little math -
Balanced Blends Chicken will cost us .44 per ounce or $1.64 per day
Balanced Blends Beef will cost us .50 per ounce or $1.76 per day
DAILY COST PER CAT: $1.75 - $2.00 no tax and free shipping on 20 pounds or more
Ingredients - All the Good Stuff
Balanced Blends is making complete and balanced raw diets for cats of all life stages a reality with high quality and fresh ingredients:
- Chicken - USDA GRADE A, cage free, antibiotics free, no added hormones
- Beef - USDA Approved, naturally raised, antibiotic free, no added hormones
- Added vitamins, trace minerals and wild caught salmon oil for Omega-3s fatty acids
- NO fruits and vegetables in any of their cat diets
- NO grains, NO glutens, NO fillers, NO artificial coloring, NO artificial preservatives
- Made in the USA
Pre-order Campaign on Kickstarter
Balanced Blends is already 100% funded. This is GREAT news! Their food will be available for shipping in June. The other good news is that you can pre-order now through May 27, 2016 and receive a number of awesome deals to get you started.
The Early Cat Special will save you $15-20 on 10 LB of raw food.
The Extended Promo will give all backers 5 LB extra for very 20 LB order of the same item from their website for 3 or 6 months after the Kickstarter campaign ends.
A Few Notes on Transitioning
There's some fantastic information on the
Balanced Blends Website and we really encourage anyone considering a transition to take a read through it.
It's no secret that cats are creatures of habit and even suspicious of change. That's why it's so important you take your time when transitioning to a raw diet.
If a cat has eaten nothing but kibble their whole life and you all of a sudden put a dish of raw food in font of them, they will very likely not even recognize it as food. It's critically important to introduce the new food VERY gradually, starting with just a tiny amount along with their current food, gradually increasing the amount of raw over time. Each cat is different. It took Katie almost two months to transition. It took Waffles only a couple of weeks.
Think baby steps. Go slow. Be patient. It's worth it.
This blog post is sponsored by Balanced Blends. We are being compensated for creating and featuring this content. Regardless of the payment received, we only feature products and services on GLOGIRLY that we use or feel our readers would enjoy using. All sponsored posts on GLOGIRLY will always reflect our honest and unbiased opinions.
KATIE: M.
