If cats have been living indoors, a common way for them to get parasites is by consuming raw meat.

In the wild, the average lifespan of gray wolves is merely 5 to 6 years. However, with proper diet and care in captivity, they can live for 15 to 20 years. Similarly, wild cats (Felis silvestris) have an average lifespan of about 8 years in their natural habitat, while long - lived domestic cats can survive up to 20 years.

Evidently, the natural option isn't necessarily superior. To ensure that cats and dogs enjoy healthier, longer, and more fulfilling lives, it's advisable not to feed them raw meat.

Feeding only raw meat brings about numerous issues.

A balanced and comprehensive diet is crucial for maintaining the health of any animal. Nevertheless, many raw meat - based diets, along with some homemade foods, suffer from serious nutritional imbalances.

Using liver as the main food source can easily result in excessive vitamin A intake. If there is an overabundance of phosphorus in the food, it may lead to hyperparathyroidism. Moreover, when the levels of essential nutrients like calcium, phosphorus, and vitamin D are too low, it can cause insufficient bone development, which is especially detrimental to growing cats and dogs. Unlike dogs, cats need to obtain these vital nutrients from their diet because they are unable to synthesize enough taurine, arginine, and niacin on their own.

A dog once suffered from severe osteopenia. Due to the nutritionally deficient homemade food it was fed, it endured pain and became unable to walk. After being diagnosed, it was switched to a dog food with a balanced nutritional composition, and its bone development gradually improved.

In the minds of many, pets are often linked to the image of gnawing on bones. However, veterinarians do not advocate feeding bones to cats and dogs. There are significant risks associated with this practice. For instance, overly hard bones can easily cause teeth to break, and broken bones can scratch the esophagus, potentially leading to intestinal perforation. Additionally, bones are more likely to get stuck directly in the gastrointestinal tract, which usually requires surgical removal. Feeding bones not only incurs high medical costs but also poses a threat to the lives of cats and dogs, making it a rather unwise choice.

If you're feeding raw meat and bones in the hope of keeping your cats' and dogs' teeth healthy, you can consider safer alternatives.

For example, you can regularly brush their teeth, offer dental sticks, or take them to a veterinary hospital for a cleaning (which may require anesthesia).

If you still insist on feeding raw meat or homemade food, what should you be mindful of?

Although proponents of raw meat claim that it has many benefits, such as healthier teeth and skin, shinier coats, a stronger immune system, and even more pleasant - smelling feces, most of these so - called "advantages" are merely anecdotal, lacking sufficient research evidence to back them up.

After learning about the associated risks, if you still decide to feed raw meat or homemade food, pet owners are urged to be more cautious and take the following measures to minimize potential risks and hazards.

Hygiene aspects:

1. To inhibit the growth of harmful bacteria, raw meat should be stored in a frozen state. When thawing, it should be defrosted in the refrigerator rather than at room temperature. Any uneaten leftovers should be discarded promptly.

2. Wash your hands thoroughly after handling raw meat, and make sure to clean kitchen utensils like cooktops and chopping boards comprehensively.

3. Regularly disinfect the food and water bowls of cats and dogs.

4. Avoid kissing cats and dogs, especially after they have consumed raw meat. Also, don't let them lick you.

It's important to note that freezing doesn't kill bacteria, and since cats and dogs still defecate and groom themselves with their tongues, even with all preventive measures in place, it's still impossible to completely prevent the spread of harmful bacteria to the surrounding environment.

Nutritional aspects:

1. It's challenging to ensure a well - rounded and balanced diet by solely feeding raw meat and bones.

2. Regarding homemade food, although high - temperature cooking can kill bacteria and enhance food safety, given that many pet recipes found on the Internet are inconsistent, if you insist on preparing homemade food, it's advisable to consult a licensed veterinary nutritionist. Based on your pet's physical condition and other characteristics, a suitable diet can be formulated.

3. Additionally, cats and dogs cannot obtain all the vitamins and minerals their bodies need simply by consuming an adequate amount of fruits and vegetables. Therefore, nutritional supplements that provide extra vitamins and minerals are essential in homemade food. When preparing the diet, it's crucial to follow the veterinarian's recipes precisely, as even a minor deviation can result in a nutritionally incomplete meal.

Finally, when choosing to purchase any cat or dog food, be vigilant and opt for products from reliable companies. It's recommended to have a Biophilia Guardian at home to monitor the health of your cats and dogs at all times!

Wish all your cats and dogs a healthy and happy life! May they have a good appetite every day!