We get a lot of requests for more information about what meats to use in the preparation of cat food - especially, if the meat of some animal species is more suited then that of others. Muscle and organ meats are the most important foods for the cat, and accordingly, when selecting them for your cat(s), special care should be applied.

Sources:
It is highly recommended to seek out a small, local butcher from where to acquire your cat's meats. Supermarkets often lack the necessary variety in meats and typically don't sell organ meats. The prepackaged meats also make it difficult to purchase the correct amount of meat for the recipe.
A local, independent butcher will be glad to weigh out your meats and organs to the precise amount that you require. Often, if the butcher does not carry meats or organs that you desire, it is possible to order them.

Origin of the meat:
"Wild" refers to meats from animals that are wild born. It is possible, here in Canada, to acquire meat from Caribou or Muskox, sold through specialty meat suppliers, from Inuit communities. Otherwise, wild deer, elk, moose, or game birds are often taken by sports hunters. It is also possible to acquire wild ungulates from the local wildlife conservation office as road kill.

"Free range" refers to meats from domestic/farmed animals that are not penned, but have free range of the land to graze. Cattle, sheep as well as buffalos are usually raised free ranging, and it is more common now to find free range poultry.

"Free run" refers to meats from domestic/farmed animals that are penned in enclosures, but are not caged or stalled. Most exotic animals, such as deer, antelopes, emus, or ostrich, as well as domestic poultry are raised this way. They have access to sun and fresh air, as well as space to exercise and to interact with each other.

Meat that is not labelled specifically, can have its origin from free ranging or free run livestock, but is most likely - especially with poultry or rabbit - from caged or stalled animals, who have marginal room for movement, and typically no access to sun and fresh air.

"Organic" is not officially defined as a national or international standard. Various organisations follow their own set standards, although all are similar, in that livestock is raised with no exposure to chemical herbicides or pesticides through their feed, and have been reared without routine administration of antibiotics or hormones. Organically reared animals are not automatically of free range or free run origin, although farmers, who acquire organic certification, also often incorporate more humane housing standards for the animals.

"Non-medicated", as "organic" has no set definition, but generally refers to meats from animals who have not been routinely treated with antibiotics or hormones during their lifetime.
Whenever possible, we should choose meats from animals which are the least polluted, for the protection of the cat's health who is to consume them. Also, we should strive for more humane treatment of livestock and other farmed animals, and support the efforts of farmers who raise animals free ranging or free run.

Meat Grade:
The choice of meat quality should always be human grade. Unlike dogs, cats seldom touch carrion and don't digest meat in any state of decay well. Most butchers will sell meats beyond the "best before" as pet food, which are not suited for the preparation of cat food.

Prime, Choice, Good, and Standard might be important for the human palate, determining fat marbling and expected tenderness after cooking, but does not play a role when selecting meat for your cat. In fact, so called Commercial and Utility Grade will serve the purpose just fine, and will save you money. Commercial and Utility refers to very lean meat grades from older animals, which are usually used for soups and stock in human cuisine. However, the degree of tenderness is not important when purchasing meat for your cat, because it won't be cooked. In fact, we have found leaner meats to be more suitable for a feline diet.

Fat Content:
Fat content can vary, but should not exceed 40% by mass, because a high fat content may lead to indigestion. We recommend a fat content of no less than 3%, but not much more than 20%.
Venison and Rabbit, for example, are very lean, with a fat content of 3%-4%. A mouse has a fat content of 8% - obviously the ideal to strive for. Lamb and Chicken with skin can be very fatty, but cuts like leg of lamb and chicken thigh, with a fat content of up to 20%, are well liked and tolerated by cats. Lean ground beef - for example - has a fat content of 21%. Determine fat content of your meats by what your cat tolerates best. Otherwise, a variety of meats with various degrees of fat content is recommended.

Choice of Species:
Not all meat is the same, and not all meat is equally suited for a cat's diet. The following outlines a list of species in order of preference.

1. wild or farmed rabbit/hare
2. wild or farmed venison
3. wild or farmed game, such as caribou, muskox, elk, or buffalo
4. lamb, goat
5. game birds, such as pheasant and lean duck.
6. chicken - but not as a sole staple. Prepare without skin if cat suffers from indigestion.
7. beef - non medicated. Some cats do not tolerate beef liver, and regurgitate food shortly after ingestion.
8. farmed turkey

We realize, that game - wild or farmed - is not readily accessible for most people. However, they do represent the best choices for a cat's diet.
Although beef and turkey are rather low on our list, they have been fed as a staple to many cats with great success. The golden rule is to observe your cats and to see how they do on various meats. Our personal experience is, that cats have a distinct preference for wild venison, caribou, and rabbit - they are more "spunky" on these meats, and a definite improvement in well being can be observed when cats are switched from domestic livestock meats to wild game.

Variety is the key when feeding meats from livestock. You can feed turkey, chicken, and beef with no concern if you can also include some of the other meats higher on our list. In general, offer as much species variety as you can. Game meats may be sourced through meat packers dealing with "game meats" and "specialty poultry". Check your Yellow Pages.

Pork is not suitable and its use not advised. It can not be fed raw because pigs may carry many disease causing pathogens including Trichinella and the virus that causes Pseudorabies (Aujeszky's disease).

Fish may be fed sparingly as treats, but is not recommended to be used as the meat ingredient in the recipe. Raw fish fed in excess can lead to a Thiamine deficiency. This presents a problem, since we urge care givers to feed meat raw. Cats also get all too easily hooked on the potent taste of fish.