Beginner's Guide to Raw Feeding for Bengals

Introduction: Why Consider a Raw Diet for Your Bengal?

Raw feeding, often referred to as "BARF" (Biologically Appropriate Raw Food) or "PMR" (Prey Model Raw), aims to mimic the natural diet of felines in the wild.

For the naturally active Bengal, with its Asian Leopard Cat ancestry, a raw diet can offer a range of significant benefits:

• Excellent Digestive Efficiency: Noticeably smaller and less odorous stools.
• Healthy Skin & Shiny Coat: Thanks to the high-quality fatty acids and proteins in raw meat.
• Stronger Muscles & Ideal Physique: A high-protein, zero-carb diet helps build lean muscle.
• Improved Dental Health: Chewing on raw bones helps clean teeth and reduce tartar.
• Higher Energy Levels and Satisfaction.

Important Disclaimer: Raw feeding is a path that requires a significant investment in time for learning and practice. It is not suitable for every owner. An unbalanced raw diet can lead to severe nutritional deficiencies, and improper handling carries a risk of bacterial contamination. Before you begin, we strongly recommend consulting a veterinarian or a professional pet nutritionist with in-depth knowledge of raw diets.

Part 1: Safety First! The Four Core Principles of Raw Feeding

Safety is the non-negotiable bottom line in raw feeding. Always adhere to the following principles:

1. Nutritional Balance is Key: It's Not Just "Feeding Meat"

A single type of meat cannot provide all the nutrients a cat needs. A balanced raw meal must simulate a whole prey animal, typically following the "Prey Model Raw (PMR)" golden ratio:

• 80-84% Muscle Meat: Includes skeletal muscle (like chicken thigh, beef chunks), heart (rich in taurine, counted as muscle), gizzards, tongue, etc.
• 10% Raw Edible Bone: Provides calcium, phosphorus, and other minerals. Key: Must be raw, non-weight-bearing bones, such as chicken necks, duck necks, or rabbit ribs.
• 5% Liver: Provides Vitamin A and other nutrients.
• 5% Other Secreting Organs: Such as kidney, spleen, pancreas, etc., providing various trace elements.

⚠️ WARNING: Never feed any cooked bones! Cooked bones become hard and brittle, and can splinter, potentially perforating the cat's digestive tract and causing a life-threatening emergency.

2. Ingredient Sourcing and Handling: Combating Bacteria and Parasites

• Source: Always purchase fresh, "human-grade" meat.
• Freezing: Freeze all meat at -18°C (-0.4°F) or below for at least 3 days (a week or more is recommended) to effectively kill most parasites (especially for pork and fish).
• Hygiene:
  • Establish a "raw food only zone": Use dedicated cutting boards, knives, and containers.
  • Clean thoroughly: Wash all tools, countertops, and your hands with hot water and disinfectant before and after each preparation.
  • Use stainless steel bowls: Feed in stainless steel or ceramic bowls, as they are less prone to scratches and easier to clean than plastic, effectively inhibiting bacterial growth.

3. Safe Bone Feeding

Choose raw bones appropriate for your cat's size, ensuring they can be chewed but not swallowed whole. Always supervise your cat when it is eating bone-in meals. For beginners or cats with poor dental health, you can grind the bone-in meat (like chicken necks) with a heavy-duty meat grinder, or use a balanced bone meal/eggshell powder as a calcium source.

4. Gradual Transition

Do not abruptly switch your cat's diet to raw. Give their digestive system time to adapt:

1. Step 1: Start with a single protein source (like chicken), mixing a small amount of raw ground meat with their favorite wet food.
2. Step 2: Over several days to a week, gradually increase the proportion of raw meat while decreasing the wet food.
3. Step 3: Once the cat has fully adapted to pure raw meat, gradually introduce new protein sources (like duck, rabbit, beef) and different parts.

Part 2: Beginner's Recipe (PMR Model Example)

This is a chicken-based starter recipe to help you understand and get started.

Recipe For: A healthy 4 kg (8.8 lb) adult Bengal cat.

Daily Amount: Calculated at 2.5% of body weight, i.e., 4000g * 2.5% = 100g per day.

Batch Size: This recipe makes a 10-day supply (1000g total), convenient for making once and freezing in portions.

Ingredient List (Total 1000g)

Preparation Steps

1. Preparation & Disinfection: Thoroughly clean your hands, tools, and work surface.
2. Weighing: Accurately weigh all ingredients.
3. Processing: Cut the chicken meat, hearts, liver, and kidneys into bite-sized pieces appropriate for your cat. Chicken necks can be used whole or chopped into smaller pieces with a heavy cleaver for beginners. If you have a meat grinder, grinding all ingredients (including bones) together is the safest and most balanced method.
4. Mixing: In a large bowl, mix all prepared ingredients thoroughly to ensure each meal has a consistent nutritional ratio.
5. Portioning & Freezing: Divide the 1000g mixture into 10 equal portions (100g each) and store in airtight bags or small containers. Place immediately in the freezer. Thaw one portion in the refrigerator overnight or for several hours before feeding. Never use a microwave to thaw bone-in meat.

Optional Supplements

While a balanced PMR model is quite complete, you can also consider adding:

• Omega-3 supplement: Such as salmon oil or krill oil (2-3 times a week) for skin and joint health.
• Vitamin E: As an antioxidant, especially when adding fish oil.
• A small amount of feline probiotics: To help maintain gut health during the transition period.

Part 3: Frequently Asked Questions (Q&A)

Q1: Can I just feed my cat the chicken breast I usually eat?
A: Absolutely not! Pure muscle meat is severely deficient in calcium, phosphorus, and various vitamins (like Vitamin A). Long-term feeding of only muscle meat will lead to serious skeletal and health problems. You must strictly follow the balanced nutritional ratios.

Q2: My cat isn't interested in raw meat. What can I do?
A: Try some "enticement techniques":

• Briefly sear the surface of the meat with hot water to release its aroma.
• Sprinkle its favorite freeze-dried treat powder or a small amount of nutritional yeast on top.
• Try different proteins; some cats might just dislike chicken but will love rabbit or quail.

Q3: I don't have the time or confidence to DIY. Are there other options?
A: Yes! This is an excellent question. There are many high-quality commercial raw food brands that offer scientifically formulated, nutritionally balanced, and High-Pressure Processed (HPP) frozen or freeze-dried raw products. This is a very safe and convenient option for beginners who want to try raw feeding but are worried about the risks.

Conclusion: Embark on an Exciting Feeding Journey

Raw feeding is a new exploration for both you and your Bengal cat. It may require more effort than feeding commercial kibble, but seeing your beloved cat become healthier and more vibrant makes it all worthwhile. Be patient, keep learning, and always prioritize your cat's safety and health.