Homemade Raw vs. Premade Raw

If you've decided that you like the idea of feeding your cat a raw diet, you don't necessarily have to start buying meat and a grinder.

There are really two very different ways to feed raw: you can make the food yourself, or you can purchase a commercially prepared raw diet.

I use homemade raw for my own cats, but that doesn't mean I think homemade raw is the best choice for everyone. In fact, for many families, I think a good premade raw food is the better option.

The right choice depends less on which one is "better" and more on what you are realistically able and willing to do well and consistently.

Homemade Raw

Homemade raw gives you the most control over what goes into your cat's food.

You choose the meats and other ingredients, you control the sourcing, and you make the food yourself. I particularly value this because we know exactly what we're feeding our cats, and because we have a large number of cats to feed, making our own food is also the most cost-effective option for us.

It also gives us flexibility that is particularly useful with a breeding household. We have intact adults, pregnant and nursing cats, kittens, and cats at different life stages, so being able to formulate and adjust what we're feeding is valuable to us.

But that flexibility comes with responsibility.

Homemade raw means you are responsible for the whole diet

Throwing together a bowl of raw meat isn't the same thing as making a complete feline diet.

Cats need specific nutrients in specific amounts and proportions. A homemade diet requires muscle meat, organs, calcium or bone, essential fatty acids, amino acids, vitamins, minerals, and other components depending on the formulation.

You are responsible for making sure those pieces come together appropriately.

That means learning about feline nutrition, understanding the purpose of the ingredients you're using, measuring accurately, sourcing ingredients consistently, preparing the food safely, and maintaining a system that you can keep up with.

It can be incredibly rewarding, but it is a real commitment.

You'll also need things like freezer space, preparation space, equipment, time, and access to ingredients that aren't always available at a normal grocery store.

If you want a more realistic look at that commitment: What Homemade Raw Actually Takes

Premade Raw

Premade raw takes much of that work off your plate.

A commercial raw-food company has already done the formulation, sourcing, grinding, mixing, portioning, and packaging. Your job is primarily to choose an appropriate product, store it correctly, and feed it according to the manufacturer's directions.

For someone who wants to feed raw but doesn't want their weekend to involve grinding several pounds of meat and cleaning a grinder afterward, this can be a fantastic option!

The whole point of feeding a raw diet is not to win a prize for doing the most work.

If a commercially prepared food allows you to feed a complete raw diet consistently, safely, and without becoming overwhelmed, that may be a much better choice for your household than attempting to make something yourself that you're not fully prepared to formulate or maintain.

The Biggest Difference: Responsibility

The biggest distinction between the two is who is responsible for formulating the diet.

With homemade raw, you are.

With a properly formulated commercial raw food, the manufacturer has taken on that responsibility for you.

That doesn't mean you should blindly trust every bag or tub labeled "raw." Commercial raw foods vary, and you still need to read labels and understand what you're purchasing.

Look for a food that is intended to be fed as a complete and balanced diet for the appropriate life stage, rather than a product that is simply a package of raw meat or a supplemental food.

This distinction is especially important when you're feeding a kitten. Growing animals have different nutritional requirements than adult maintenance cats, so make sure the particular product is appropriate for growth or all life stages.

Cost: Don't Assume Homemade Is Always Cheaper

Homemade raw can be extremely economical, particularly when you're feeding multiple cats.

But don't forget to include the less obvious costs:

• A quality grinder or other equipment

• Freezer space

• Storage containers or packaging

• Supplements

• Ingredient sourcing

• Your time

• Travel and transportation to obtain ingredients

• Food waste if ingredients aren't used efficiently

Premade raw has a higher price per pound in many cases because you're paying someone else to do all of that work.

For me, the savings of homemade raw are worth the effort because of the number of cats we feed and because I don't mind the process (and have enough freezer space to buy a whole butchered cow at a time to keep &/lb low)

That doesn't mean everyone should make the same calculation.

What About Traveling?

When you're traveling, frozen raw isn't always particularly convenient.

You have to transport it, keep it frozen or appropriately cold, and make sure whoever is caring for your cat understands how to handle and feed it.

And if you're flying, obviously you're dealing with a completely different set of practical limitations.

This is one reason I having freeze-dried raw as an option, even for people whose normal diet is frozen raw.

It can be useful for vacations, boarding, road trips, emergencies, or simply those times when your normal system isn't practical.

Having a backup plan doesn't mean you aren't committed to raw feeding.

It means you're thinking ahead.

Which One Should You Choose?

Here's how I'd think about it.

Choose homemade raw if:

You genuinely want to make the food yourself and are willing to take responsibility for learning how to formulate it properly.

You have the freezer space, equipment, time, ingredient access, and organizational system to make it work.

You're comfortable continuing to learn and paying attention to what you're feeding rather than simply following a recipe forever.

Choose premade raw if:

You want to feed raw but don't want to formulate and prepare the food yourself.

You want the convenience of having someone else handle the grinding, mixing, supplementation, and formulation.

You have limited freezer or preparation space or simply don't have the time or energy to make food yourself.

And honestly, you can use both.

You don't have to choose one forever.

You could feed homemade raw at home and use a commercial raw food when things get too busy. You could feed homemade most of the time and keep freeze-dried raw in the pantry for emergencies. You could even decide that premade raw makes more sense for your household now and revisit homemade raw later.

Your feeding system can evolve.

What I Recommend for Most Pet Parents

If you're asking me which one I'd recommend to someone who says:

"I want to feed my cat raw, but I'm not sure I'm ready to make it myself."

I'd say start with premade raw.

You can learn about raw feeding without simultaneously taking on the responsibility of formulating and preparing the entire diet. And if you eventually decide you enjoy learning about feline nutrition, have the time and equipment, and want to make your own food, you can make that transition later.

There's no requirement that you start with homemade raw. A good premade raw diet is still raw feeding.

And if homemade raw is going to become one more overwhelming household chore that you eventually stop doing, a convenient premade option that you can consistently provide is the better choice.

That's really what I want people to consider when choosing between the two:

Don't choose the diet that sounds best on paper. Choose the diet you can understand, manage, and provide consistently and responsibly.

Disclaimer: This information is for educational purposes only and is not veterinary or nutritional advice; you are responsible for decisions regarding your cat's diet and care.