Is raw food better than kibble?
Dogs are facultative carnivores and cats are obligate carnivores. Both evolved eating prey — muscle, organ, bone and connective tissue — with very little plant matter. Their guts are short and acidic, built to handle fresh animal protein and fat, not the grain- and starch-heavy mixes that make up most commercial kibble. A raw food diet returns the bowl to something close to that ancestral menu. Kibble keeps for months in a cupboard and is genuinely convenient, but every advantage it has is a processing advantage, not a nutritional one.
Why it matters more for cats
Cats can't efficiently convert plant nutrients — they need preformed taurine, vitamin A and arachidonic acid from animal tissue. They also have a famously weak thirst drive: in the wild, most of their water comes from prey (~70% moisture). Dry kibble is around 10% moisture, which is one reason chronic kidney and urinary issues are so common in cats raised on it. Raw food puts the water back in the meal.
Side-by-side
| Raw (prey-model) | Kibble | |
|---|---|---|
| Main ingredients | Muscle meat, organ, bone | Grains, starches, meat meal |
| Processing | Minced fresh, kept frozen | Cooked at high heat, extruded, dried |
| Moisture | ~70% (like prey) | ~10% |
| Carbohydrate load | Very low | Often 30–50% |
| Synthetic additives | None | Vitamin & preservative blends |
| Convenience | Freezer, defrost, serve | Scoop and pour |
| Shelf life | Months frozen | Months ambient |
What raw feeders notice
- • Smaller, firmer, less smelly stools — less filler in, less waste out.
- • Shinier coats and softer skin within a few weeks, in both dogs and cats.
- • Steadier energy without the post-meal carb slump.
- • Cleaner teeth and gums from chewing real food.
- • Leaner body condition; food-driven dogs settle, and overweight cats slim down.
- • Cats drink less from the bowl — because the meal itself carries the water.
What about cost?
Per kilogram, raw costs more than supermarket kibble and roughly the same as premium kibble. Most owners offset some of that with smaller portions (raw is nutrient-dense, not bulked out with starch) and fewer vet visits over time. Cats eat small amounts, so per-month raw feeding for a cat is surprisingly affordable. Our monthly subscription smooths the cost and the admin for both Bundu (dogs) and Buzz (cats).
If you want to switch
Dogs: start with one protein for a week before introducing a second. Feed roughly 2–3% of bodyweight per day, split into one or two meals. Older dogs and sensitive stomachs do well with a 7–10 day transition that mixes raw into the current food.
Cats: cats are creatures of habit, so go slow. Mix a teaspoon of raw into their usual food and grow the ratio over 2–4 weeks. Feed about 3–5% of bodyweight per day, split into two or three small meals. Warming the raw slightly to body temperature helps fussy cats accept it.
Bundu & Buzz is not a complete formulated pet food. Information here is shared for owners who follow raw-feeding practices and is not veterinary advice.