A Look Inside Our Feeding Routine

Take a closer look at how nutrition fits into everyday life at Tufted Tigers. We love sharing the care and intention that go into raising our Maine Coons.

Built to Eat Meat

Cats are obligate carnivores. They depend on nutrients naturally supplied by animal tissues, including preformed vitamin A, arachidonic acid, and taurine. Their nutritional needs are not the same as those of dogs or humans.

That is why we encourage families to look beyond appealing packaging and ask a more important question: Does this diet meet a cat’s specific nutritional needs?

Why We Choose Raw

Our Maine Coons are raised with a strong emphasis on thoughtfully prepared, meat-based meals. We value knowing what goes into the bowl and being intentional about ingredient selection, freshness, and variety.

That is our firsthand experience—not a promise that raw feeding prevents disease or that every cat will have the same outcome. Overall health also depends on genetics, environment, preventive care, and the nutritional adequacy of the diet.

We want families to feel informed and confident, not pressured. For those interested in raw feeding, the goal is a complete, balanced, and safely handled diet.

Healthy From the Inside Out

When families ask why we care so much about feeding, we point to the everyday details we observe in our Maine Coons. In our experience, thoughtfully planned, meat-focused nutrition is reflected in their overall condition and vitality.

A Noticeable Litter-Box Difference

One of the practical differences we often notice with our feeding routine is less odorous stool and manageable litter-box cleanup. Stool volume and smell vary with ingredients, digestibility, and individual cats, so this is our observation rather than a guaranteed result.

NuVet: A Simple Addition to Our Routine

We believe a feeding plan should be thoughtful without feeling overwhelming. NuVet is one of the products we choose to include in our cattery’s routine as an additional supplement, helping us keep that routine consistent and straightforward.

For families who want to simplify the supplement side of their routine, we like having a clearly defined product to discuss rather than guessing which individual extras to add. But even a high-quality supplement cannot make an unbalanced raw recipe complete or replace the calcium, phosphorus, taurine, vitamins, and other nutrients a cat needs from its full diet.

We encourage families to review the specific NuVet product’s ingredients and directions, confirm it is appropriate for their cat’s age and diet, and check with their veterinarian before adding it—particularly for kittens or cats with health conditions.

Learn more about NuVet and why we love it →

Raw Feeding Doesn’t Have to Be Complicated

We understand that preparing fresh food can seem intimidating at first. Our approach is to start with familiar animal-based ingredients and build a consistent routine, rather than getting lost in a cupboard full of products. We use NuVet as part of our own supplementation routine, alongside thoughtfully selected foods.

Meat, organs, and appropriate bone-derived nutrients are building blocks that can feature in a properly formulated feline raw diet. However, adding these ingredients to NuVet in arbitrary amounts does not necessarily produce a complete and balanced meal. Kittens in particular need carefully calculated calcium, phosphorus, taurine, energy, vitamins, and trace minerals. Choose a complete commercial raw diet formulated for your cat’s life stage, or follow a recipe prepared by a qualified veterinary nutrition professional.

It’s a saying that captures how we think about investing in everyday nourishment. We would rather prioritize thoughtful food choices from the beginning than treat nutrition as an afterthought. Of course, no diet can guarantee fewer veterinary bills or prevent illness; regular veterinary care and preventive health measures still matter.

Raw Meat Is Not the Same as a Balanced Raw Diet

Chicken breast or ground beef alone is not nutritionally complete for a cat. An unbalanced homemade diet can cause serious deficiencies or excesses over time, even when the ingredients look wholesome.

• Taurine: essential for normal heart, eye, and other body functions.
• Calcium and phosphorus: must be provided in appropriate amounts and proportions, especially for growing kittens.
• Vitamins and trace minerals: including vitamin A, vitamin D, iodine, and other micronutrients must be accounted for.
• Life stage: growing kittens have different nutritional requirements from healthy adult cats.

If preparing food at home, use a recipe formulated for cats by a board-certified veterinary nutritionist or another appropriately qualified veterinary nutrition professional. If buying a commercial raw diet, check that it is labeled complete and balanced for your cat’s life stage.

Raw food safety is part of responsible feeding

Raw animal products can carry pathogens such as Salmonella and Listeria, which can affect cats and people in the household. Keep ingredients cold, prevent cross-contamination, wash hands and surfaces, and follow reliable storage and thawing guidance. Freezing does not reliably eliminate all pathogens. Families with pregnant, elderly, immunocompromised, or very young household members should discuss the added risks with their veterinarian and healthcare professional.

Look Beyond the Pretty Bag

Pet food and treat packaging can make almost anything sound wholesome. Instead of relying on buzzwords such as “natural,” “premium,” or “ancestral,” take a closer look at the actual product.

Not every additive is harmful, and an unfamiliar ingredient name is not automatically a red flag. What matters is its purpose, safety, and the nutritional quality of the product as a whole. Even a single-ingredient treat should be offered in moderation.

Behind the Big Pet Food Brands

Many familiar pet food labels are part of much larger corporations. Mars, Incorporated, for example, owns major pet food brands including Royal Canin, WHISKAS, SHEBA, and IAMS in various markets. Mars also owns ACANA and ORIJEN through its acquisition of Champion Petfoods in 2023. Other large companies, including Nestlé Purina and Colgate-Palmolive’s Hill’s Pet Nutrition, also play major roles in the industry.

It would not be accurate to say Mars owns most cat food manufacturers. But corporate ownership is worth understanding: different brands on the shelf may belong to the same parent company.

Our encouragement is simple: research the company, examine the food itself, and make feeding decisions based on your cat’s needs—not advertising alone.

Interested in Feeding Raw? Start with a Plan.

A successful transition should prioritize nutritional completeness, food safety, and your individual cat’s tolerance. Sudden diet changes can cause digestive upset, and kittens need special care because they are growing quickly.

• Choose a nutritionally complete diet appropriate for your cat’s age and health.
• Discuss the plan with your veterinarian, especially if your cat has a medical condition.
• Introduce changes gradually when appropriate, while monitoring appetite, stools, hydration, and weight.
• Use safe handling and storage practices every time.
• Never let a cat go without adequate food while trying to force a transition.

We are always happy to share what we feed our Tufted Tigers and explain the practical routines that work in our home.