Please note: Wild grasses and seeds are the natural stomach content of a cat's prey; there are two ways of duplicating this. By using the recommended feline supplement INSTINCTS TC with raw meat & liver, their needs are in line with a species appropriate diet. Alternately if you wish to do your own mix, cats can be fed alongside dogs, using the same ingredients and ratios - remember neither dogs nor cats generally need more than 25% veggies mixed into their ground meat, and additionally both require a good supply of meaty bones. Chicken necks and wings work well for cats.

BONES
Consumable vs Recreational
Consumable bones are those that are soft enough to easily crunch down and swallow, often offering a fair amount of meat, fat, & more. These types of meals are the most beneficial because of the complete gastrointestinal exercise, and the nutritional content they offer. Examples are chicken carcasses taken from the human food industry after select cuts of meat are removed, ostrich & turkey necks, poultry wings & wingtips, and lamb, goat & venison neck and rib bones.
Recreational bones are those that are quite large & hard-often joint or leg bones, and considered something to spend time on rather than consuming quickly. Ideally given to dogs who are calm and not prone to cracking teeth on larger, harder bones. If provided with scraps of meat, fat & marrow still attached, they can provide good exercise, and are excellent given after a meal when the natural instinct is to lie down and relax with "desert". Large herbivores such as cattle, musk ox & bison, and adult goat, sheep & deer are examples. 

VARIETY = BALANCE
Enough can not be said about variety. Variety of proteins, of vegetables, of ground vs whole meats, of supplementation, of meal size, of time of meal. A carnivore/opportunivore has evolved to accept circumstance and opportunity as the method of survival. Nature did not educated dogs and cats to expect their meal to come at the same time, in the same quantity, and of the same selection, on a regular basis. Instead Nature was cruel and these animals learned to exist and thrive under the most difficult of conditions. A well rounded carnivore/opportunivore diet is found in a two to four week period, unlike humans who require their variety in a much shorter time period. This means that one type of protein may be fed for days on end, as long as the variety comes at some point in that two to four week period. Some people are comfortable with primarily feeding one/two main protein choices and supplementing alternates here and there throughout the month. Other people choose one protein to feed for several days, then switch to the next and so on. The same goes for vegetables. However you choose to tailor your meals, keep the time period and variety in mind and you will succeed.

SUPPLEMENTATION
Vitamins/Minerals: Such a huge variety is available, but are any of them good? Look for natural sources and reputable manufacturers. Good quality food in variety will provide for a good portion of needed vitamins and minerals. Unless supplementing for a specific reason, avoid overuse or regular daily dosages. It is well known that our food supplies from our soil are lacking in nutritional value, so occasional use with variety in amount, type and frequency is often closest to what nature could herself provide. Essential Fatty Acids (EFAs): Absolutely Essential! as the name says. Supportive for the immune system, the senses, organ function, detoxification, digestion, coat, teeth, energy levels, development during growth, prevention of degeneration in age... the list just goes on and on. EFAs are linked to every facet of life and should never be forgotten.
Enzymes: Very helpful for young puppies during and after weaning, and geriatric animals­especially those with notable hard lives, ie: heavily bred, or poor nutrition for many years. The average, healthy adult dog should not require enzymes added to the diet on any regular basis. If fed the way nature intended, the rest should fall neatly into place. Some dogs and fewer cats, are the result of poor breeding where an inferior digestive system is evident and may need that extra boost to get the most out of mealtime.
ProBiotics: Whenever an animal, including ourselves, is in poor health or has been subjected to antibiotic treatment, probiotics should be added to the diet immediately. Can be fed as goat's or sheep's yoghurt or purchased as a powder filled capsule. We feel cow¹s yoghurt is not as reliable, as there are many allergic reactions to bovine dairy products. Dairy, in general, is usually not part of a natural diet beyond nursing age. 
Joint Relief: Some excellent, natural supplements are available for joint relief and other such ailments. From Elk's Antler to Green Lipped Mussels, or Shark's Fin Cartilage to Glucosamine/Chondroitin/MSM. Feeding a species appropriate diet is a sound foundation to build upon, and supplementation with a clear understanding of needs can often improve a poor condition dramatically.

GASTROINTESTINAL SYSTEM TEETH & SALIVA ESOPHAGUS & TRIGGER POINT STOMACH SMALL INTESTINE & COLON BOWEL/RECTUM & ANUS

The entire gastrointestinal system (GIS) is designed to take in food quickly, often in large pieces and sometimes in less than fresh condition; then to break down into extractable nutrition while at the same time killing potentially harmful bacteria and parasites in a powerful, acidic stomach; finally expelling waste quickly. Although the elements of the GIS are much the same as a humans, the carnivore/opportunivore system

functions slightly differently­enough to separate humans from dogs in a big way. Unfortunately for some dogs and cats, their owners cannot see this dilemma and continue to feed them as if they were omnivores or herbivores.

TRANSITION
Dogs: We recommend a fast prior to switching immediately. This can be water only or a light broth. Replace one meal with the fast and then start with the new diet. See below for additional advisement regarding age. Please note that initially you may witness a change in stool. This is normal as a result of increased water content in a ground meat and vegetable diet. Bones in the diet will alter the stool to a very firm consistency. Diarrhea can occur initially and should improve daily. If no improvement is seen after 3-4 days, there may be another issue at hand. On occassion a new food will be consumed, then thrown up­at which point the dog may choose to reconsume the meal­this is normal and should be encouraged. In some cases dogs are surprised by the change in diet and will show hesitancy which gradually changes to glee when presented with their new food. In all cases, the dog must be given every chance to adapt in their own way, remembering at all times that they are dogs­not humans.

Very Young Puppies (weaning ­ 12 weeks): Can be switched over to raw feeding immediately. Their systems are still very natural as they are only just weaned from their mother's milk and have not been subjected to weeks, months or years of an unnatural diet.

Older Puppies (12 weeks +) & Young Adult Dogs (+ 2 years): In most cases can be switched over either immediately or within a couple of days of mixing in the raw food with the current diet. By the third day a completely raw diet is embraced. Start with one type of protein with veggies for the first week, and gradually introduce two other types of protein over the following month.

Adult & Geriatric Dogs: If these dogs have not eaten a natural, raw diet their systems have adapted to an unnatural diet. In most cases these dogs will switch over to a raw diet fairly quickly. If there are health concerns related to digestion it would be best to switch over under the advisement of a holistic veterinarian. Many times we see older dogs switch over immediately with no problems whatsoever. Each dog is an individual and should be switched at your discretion.

Cats: In most cases felines are far more difficult to convert than dogs. Cats have evolved to be solitary hunters and true carnivores-requiring a diet consisting exclusively of whole animal prey. They are very selective about what they eat, preferring fresh food to "anything else" (which dogs usually will gobble down). After eating an unnatural diet, especially if they do not hunt outdoors, it can often take some time to convert them and great patience is required to break them of their "addiction". Kittens are easy, as their experience with an unnatural diet is at a minimum and it is during their youth that they learn what is acceptable for diet. We advise going to the Feline Future website and learning all about cats from this foremost authority. www.felinefuture.com
In all cases (dogs and cats), an improvement in the ability to digest is evident over time (depending on age and condition), often showing up as a requirement of less food to maintain a healthy body weight and condition. Gasiness indicates an inability to digest a natural food effectively, and should improve with time. For some dogs and cats, you will learn they do best with certain foods over others.

TOXIN RELEASE
Toxins are regularly released through the exterior of the body as a way of cleansing the internal organs and surrounding tissues. In cases of regular or excessive intake of chemicals & preservatives, impurities, and non-species appropriate or chemically altered (cooked) foods toxins will be released more dramatically and in some cases build up beyond the body's ability to deal with them. Over the lifetime of a dog or cat, these signs may not show up as obvious until later in life when chronic illness and disease sets in, resulting in death far earlier than would naturally be expected.
As a result of switching to a species appropriate raw diet, you may see a sudden toxic release happen. This can be seen as ear discharge or redness, skin eruptions which then subside, hair dropping off and regrowth of new; all of which can alarm the owner if not expected. These are actually very good signs which indicate the body is now able to deal with the overload as new impurities have stopped entering the system. Shedding of the mucus membranes, which line the bowel, with the stool is a very good sign of toxic release. It is also a natural cleanse the body will go through every so often.

BENEFITS
The typical conditions seen in our companions that are repairable or improved by a switch to a species appropriate diet of raw food:

• itchy skin (red, rashes, moist, dry, flaking)
• discharge from ears (inflamed, itchy, infected)
• coat (dry, dull, lacking pigment, smelly, oily, patchy, overly matted)
• excessive chewing & licking of toes &/or other body parts
• dirty teeth, smelly breath, gum disease
• anal gland problems
• staining around eyes, ears, mouth and anus
• digestion and bowel problems
• excessive drinking
• inability to deal with parasites, fleas
• overweight or underweight
• coprophagy (stool eating)
• chronic hunger or disinterest in food
• listlessness/lack of energy­especially in geriatric
• some diseases can be improved (see an holistic vet)
• some behavioural problems can be improved (see an holistic trainer)

As a result of this diet change we regularly see strong, healthy looking-smelling-acting dogs with a vitality for life emerge. In most cases initial, surface changes are seen within 2 weeks. (See toxin release section for information on other changes that may take place.)

MIXING RAW FOOD WITH KIBBLE ???
Feeding kibble most often means feeding an unnaturally high percentage of carbohydrates to a carnivore whose natural system is not designed to digest it. Carbohydrates use up digestive acids in the carnivores¹ stomachs. Carnivores depend on, and thrive by having highly acidic systems. Their hormonal balance, and organ function/interaction linked to an acidic system. When a carnivore system is depleted of acids and converted to alkaline, it becomes less able to deal with parasites and bacteria, which normally would be no threat.
We recommend feeding all natural diets without mixing man-made products such as kibble into the meals. If it is unavoidable, and kibble must be fed mixed or alternately with raw food, we suggest feeding more raw food and less kibble. Allowing the carnivore system to regain it¹s natural pH over a period of a minimum of 1/2 day, preferably a full day, is also advisable, especially if a full kibble meal has been fed.