I started feeding a raw diet to some of my cats when the medical management of each's particular problem seemed to not be working anymore.

Coober Pedy was being treated for Inflammatory Bowel Syndrome with twice daily Metronidazole and Prednisone. He was also on a particular diet of Eukanuba LB, which mostly worked well for him. He would still have periodic episodes of diarrhea, sometimes because of a known reason, sometimes unknown. He started losing weight even though he was on pred, which is unusual. So I decided I needed to do something.

Piper was being managed for 5 yrs worth of end stage kidney disease with Clavamox. She couldn't stomach any of the veterinary diets for kidneys. She was vomiting daily, losing weight, and seeming miserable. I took her off the Clavamox, which helped for a while with the vomiting. Then her kidney values rose above normal and she started vomiting again.

So I read some about raw diets and decided to try it for these at risk cats since they were having trouble anyway. They both love the food, which we introduced slowly. Since that change, I have weaned Coober off all meds and have been taking him to shows. Piper's bloodwork has returned to normal, even though her kidneys are the size of small grapes. She has stopped vomiting, except for hairballs, and is gaining weight.

Some of the others have had allergy-type symptoms which are decreasing. They still have Iams to eat as well and I expect that is the reason some symptoms are still there, though less severe.

I am also starting the new kittens on it and having much less problem with diarrhea from unknown causes. They are all doing so well!! [knock on wood]

The recipe I use is from Feline Future. It is for using the whole, dressed chicken carcass. Look for the recipe link part way down the main "About Cats" page.

I have a butcher who will grind the chicken and liver in a 5:1 ratio for me. He then packs it in 2 lb tubes. I get most of the rest of the ingredients from a health food store. I mix 12 lbs every 5 days or so. I am trying to get a grinder of my own to maybe help lessen the cost even more. It is fitting in with even my busy lifestyle pretty well.