Wednesday, April 27, 2016

Balanced Blends Convenient Raw Diet For Cats



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.
Free Shipping too for all pre-orders to the lower 48 states.

Visit Balanced Blends Kickstarter Page to learn more and place your pre-order.

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.


36 comments:

  1. I read on another website that this food was HPP to ensure it was pathogen free. It saddens me that they feel the need to do this. When the raw food I was feeding started HPP, my cats went off the food.

    I'm seriously tempted to give it a try though.. I mean I'm all for supporting raw feeding and the more things we can do to make it easier for people the better!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thanks for bringing that up, Connie. We'll reach out to the brand to find out why they felt the need to use HPP. Just curious... Did your cats go off their HPP food right away or was it gradual?

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    2. I had that experience with one of the raw brands I feed, too: once they started using HPP, my girls got more finicky, and it took a while for them to start eating the food again.

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    3. Hi everyone, we HPP our raw diets because we want make sure they are safe and free from harmful pathogens. We pay special attention to safety and quality in every step of our process starting with quality ingredients all the way to our test and hold procedures. HPP is our extra safety step, that we take, on top of the multiple steps we perform in making sure our raw diets are safe, you can learn more about our safety steps here http://balancedblends.com/pages/safe-raw-diets. HPP is an anti-pathogen process that also retains the nutrients and enzymes of raw diets. We believe that is it very important for us to make sure that we are feeding a safe raw diet to our 4-legged family members and that we do not take any chances, thus we believe this extra step is worth it =)

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  2. As you know, my human gives us a partly raw diet because she says she can't afford to give it to us full time. Well, not only did this prove her wrong, there is also additional math to figure in: fewer vet bills because we are healthier on a raw diet! So raw is a good deal for anyone who is already feeding premium canned.

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    Replies
    1. We totally agree, Summer! Katie has fewer and fewer IBD flare ups the longer she's been on a good diet like this.

      Delete
  3. Callie tried this food and it was her first time trying raw food. She needed a little extra tempting at first but she seems to like it just fine at the moment.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. So glad to hear that Callie is liking it!

      When we first switched from canned food, it definitely took a little convincing. Waffles was pretty easy and switched in a couple of weeks. Katie was a hold out though. But she's 11 and was probably suffering residual discomfort from her IBD. It took her a couple of months.

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  4. I've been afraid of it due to the cost but Sherpa had been tossing the old food with appalling regularity so I've been trying to find something he'd keep down so I've bumped them up the the "premium" cans. Trying to find some they ALL like is still a work in progress but Sherpa hasn't thrown up in two months. Other than an occasional hair ball. I just put in to the kickstarter to try this. IF the 4oz amount is accurate per cat per day I'd need 30lbs a month. Not an inexpensive switch....so we'll see.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. We've found it to be very consistent cost-wise with a premium canned food. Katie and Waffles are each 10 pounds so 4 oz a day is perfect for them. Larger cats (if not overweight) may need a tad more. There's a feeding guide that's pretty accurate on their site. We go by calories though. Our vet gave us an optimum daily amount for them and we've been sticking to that with success.

      We'll be excited to hear how it goes for you!

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    2. Hi Patty,
      Would like to let you know that we have a money back satisfaction guarantees. I hope you can give us try. If your little ones does not like our raw diets, we'll refund your $! =) - Yik

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  5. I really appreciate that you have added the bit about taking it slow to transition your cat to raw. Do it propelry, patiently and well you make a BIG difference to your budget AND your cat's health! With the 9 here in NZ we have a local company that does similar (although I am jealous!) but this is something so important cat owners HAVE to pay attention!

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    Replies
    1. Thank you, Dash! Yes... slow and steady was the way that worked for us. That's awesome that you've got a great local source in NZ!

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  6. Oh dear the only thing we would have liked would be the box!

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  7. Thanks for the information! We have been experiencing the finicky phase lately, and also a lot of voting. There hasn't been any explanation other than response to food (vet visits normal, thankfully) so Z-girl is considering this. With 5 of us and one foster visitor, she says it won't be easy. Good to know that Katie and Waffles has different response rates--sometimes Z-girl throws in the towel early if we dig our paws in... But we'd all like to feel better! Thanks for the tips!

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    Replies
    1. Hi Z-Girl! It's tempting to throw in the towel... especially when each cat responds and transitions a little differently. Then again, it was that way for us with almost every kind of food we tried before raw too. But it's been SO worth it. : )

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    2. Hi Z-Girl,
      Consider giving us a try. With our money back satisfaction guarantee, you can try our raw diets risk free. =) Transitioning may not be easy for some kitties, but like Glogirly said, it will be worth it!

      Delete
  8. This looks like a great food. I like seeing more and more raw diets coming out that make it as easy to feed raw as it is to feed canned. I tell my clients that the only difference with these types of diets is that instead of opening a can, you thaw out the food a day or two ahead of time. And I love the photo of Katie and Waffles eating from the same bowl!

    ReplyDelete
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    1. We're thrilled to see more and more offerings like these too. We thaw out 3-4 days worth in advance and keep it in tightly covered glass container in the fridge. It's been very convenient.

      Katie and Waffles are funny. When it comes to food, Katie forgets that Waffles is annoying and Waffles forgets to annoy Katie. ; )

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    2. Hi Ingrid,

      We would like to make it as easy as possible for pet parents to feed a safe and nutritious raw diet. Would love to hear any suggestions you have for us! Feel free to reach me at hello@balancedblends.com. We are always looking for ways to improve our raw diets - Yik

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  9. We've been wanting to try some different raw foods so we will check this out.

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  10. We're looking for a similar company in Switzerland that offer "ready-to-eat" high quality raw food. We found one or two interesting website, but Mum has to investigate. Purrs

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    Replies
    1. That would be great! Sounds promising! It's hard to find, but fortunately it seems like more and more are popping up.

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  11. I want to transition Mudpie to a healthier diet SO badly but I just don't think I have the stamina to out-stubborn her right now.

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    Replies
    1. That must be her Tortie personality!

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    2. Hi Melissa,

      If you need some tips or help with the transitioning, feel free to contact us at hello@balancedblends.com. Why not give our raw diets a try, we have a money back satisfaction guarantee so you can try us risk free! - Yik

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  12. Sounds good, we'll have to check it out.

    Luv ya'

    Dezi

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  13. It looks like the Kickstarter just got going, hasn't reached the full Goal yet but hopefully they make it! I've been wanting to go to raw for our 2, particularly after having two previous co-habitants that were diabetic. I wonder how easy it is to transition them off of the (very small) amount of dry food too.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Hi there,
      Since we are not raising money, we will still offer our pre-order pet parents a pre-order deal if we do not hit our goal. If you are interested in our raw diets, now is a good chance to get in on our early bird special! We also have a money back satisfaction guarantee, so pet parents like you can give try us risk free. A tip on transitioning from kibble, it is good to 1st start them on a wet/canned diet to get them accustomed to the texture. We are happy to help if you have any questions on the matter, feel free to reach us at hello@balancedblends.com - Yik

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  14. Sounds like a convenient way to feed raw.

    ReplyDelete
  15. This sounds like a good way to transition kitties to raw. If only Gracie and Zoe weren't THE most finicky eaters in the world. :)

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Hi meowmeowmans,
      Why not give us a try? We have a money back satisfaction guarantee, try us risk free =). Check out our tips for transitioning http://www.balancedblends.com/pages/transitioning - Yik

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  16. Mom has been curious about raw....this is good info.

    The Florida Furkids

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    Replies
    1. Hi Florida Furkids,
      If Mom wants to learn more, tell her to feel free to reach us at hello@balancedblends.com! You guys can try our diets risk free too with our money back satisfaction guarantee! - Yik

      Delete

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