raw foods: I am hopefully getting a cat (or two) in a few weeks, and I've been reading about raw food diets for cats. It seems like a great idea but I'm not sure I'll be able to afford it. Is it expensive to keep cats on a raw food diet? Also, is it necessary to shop at a butcher, or is supermarket meat okay for cats?|||Supermarket meat is perfectly fine. As long as you have a freezer feeding raw is far, far less expensive than feeding the premium cat foods. Watch for sales. Most grocery stores mail out sale flyers every week. Watch the flyers for good sales and stock up when meat is cheap. Stash it in the freezer and you're set. Talk to the people in the meat department at your grocery store. They can get you deals and specials on things. Meow Mix is one of the most disgustingly awful things you could ever feed a cat. Don't waste your money. If you're thinking kibble, go with Felidae, Natura, or Wellness.|||The most important thing is balance. I good balance is fresh meat (something like hamburger mince is good - just make sure it is not lean meat), tinned food and good quality dry food. Cats DO need to have roughage (ie. dry food) in their diet and the tinned food gives them something different as they like variety in their food. Our cats get a small handful of dry food in the morning and either mince or tinned food at night (they also like these two mixed together). Just be sure that they dry food and tinned food as no colouring added and minimal preservatives (preferable natural ones). As far as the quality of the meat - it need to have around a 30% fat content which is why hamburger or pet mince is good) - it doesn't actually matte where you buy it as long as it fresh!|||Be sure to feed your kitties small enough cuts so that they won't choke on it. We like the Kirkland brand, which is sold at Costco, our cats thrive on it. Raw food for cats is basically meat, which doesn't need to be purchased as cat food. If it costs a lot I don't think you would be spending wisely. We also feed our kitties Whiskas pouch food, which is the same as canned but with less landfill. Treats for tartar control is also recommended.|||hold it. there are two types of raw food. prepared, and the one you make yourself. make it yourself and you may have to add taurine. depends on the meat you use. I assume you are aware a raw diet is not just buy a hamburger and throw it at the cat. as far as I know, raw is a lot more expensive.|||raw food diet is the best way to go but if you cannot afford it, try the best bet, meow mix. its not canned and disgusting like most cat foods. and its affordable.