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FREEZE-DRIED RAW · CAT FEEDING GUIDE

How to feed Outdoor Cats

An outdoor cat — or an indoor cat with serious outdoor access — burns calories most house cats never touch. Roaming, climbing, stalking and patrolling a territory all day means a higher energy demand and a body that needs to rebuild muscle from real animal protein, not fill up on starch.

Cats are obligate carnivores. For an active outdoor hunter that requirement is even more visible: meat, organ, taurine and moisture are what fuels the chase and the recovery afterward. Freeze-dried raw delivers exactly that fuel, measured to the cat's ideal weight.

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    A healthy Outdoor Cats cat
    iStock / Getty Images Plus via Getty Images

    What Outdoor Cats actually needs

    Cats are obligate carnivores — they're built to run on meat, organ and moisture. Here's what matters most.

    • High daily activity

      Needs: Calorie-dense, protein-rich meals

      Freeze-dried raw is concentrated muscle meat, organ and bone — dense animal calories that match an outdoor cat's higher energy burn without bulking the bowl with filler.

    • Obligate carnivore

      Needs: Animal protein to rebuild working muscle

      A meat-first raw diet rebuilds the lean muscle a roaming, climbing cat uses every day, with no plant protein a cat can't fully use.

    • Taurine-dependent heart & vision

      Needs: Abundant taurine for stamina and sharp eyesight

      Raw meat and organ are naturally rich in taurine — essential for the heart and the keen low-light vision an active outdoor cat relies on.

    • Low thirst drive plus outdoor heat & exertion

      Needs: Moisture built into the meal

      Freeze-dried raw rehydrates into a high-moisture meal, helping an active cat that may not drink enough stay hydrated and support urinary and kidney health.

    • Variable, opportunistic feeding

      Needs: Reliable complete-and-balanced nutrition at home

      Whatever a cat scavenges outdoors, a complete-and-balanced raw meal at home guarantees the full nutrient base they actually need.

    How much to feed Outdoor Cats

    Quick answer: portion freeze-dried raw by your cat's ideal weight — about 0.13 oz per pound per day (a 10 lb cat ≈ 1.3 oz), split across two or more small meals. Kittens need more; seniors and indoor cats a little less. Feed to a lean body, not the bag.

    Ideal adult weightFreeze-dried per dayPer meal (×2)
    6 lb 0.8 oz 0.4 oz
    8 lb 1.0 oz 0.5 oz
    10 lb 1.3 oz 0.7 oz
    12 lb 1.6 oz 0.8 oz
    15 lb 2.0 oz 1.0 oz
    18 lb 2.3 oz 1.2 oz

    Starting points for a moderately active adult cat (~0.13 oz of freeze-dried per lb of ideal weight). Kittens need roughly double per pound; indoor and senior cats a little less — always adjust to body condition, not the bag.

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    What to feed Outdoor Cats

    Build the bowl around complete-and-balanced freeze-dried raw recipes so the foundation is reliable no matter what your cat finds outside. Rotate proteins to broaden the nutrient base and keep an active appetite interested, and rehydrate with a little warm water to add moisture and aroma that pulls them in at dinnertime.

    Land Animal's cat recipes are high in animal protein and taurine, low in carbohydrate, and gently freeze-dried to preserve nutrition — concentrated, real-meat fuel for a cat living a more demanding life.

    Recipes for cats

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    Feeding by life stage

    • Kitten: An outdoor-bound kitten needs roughly double the calories per pound and 3–4 meals a day to fuel rapid growth — keep them in until fully grown and vaccinated.
    • Adult: Feed to a lean, athletic weight on two-plus measured meals; nudge the portion up for a genuinely high-activity hunter and down for a part-time rambler.
    • Senior: Older outdoor cats slow down and lose muscle — prioritize digestible animal protein and moisture, and watch for weight changes that activity once hid.

    Common concerns — and the diet connection

    • Higher energy demandAn active outdoor cat burns more calories; protein-dense raw supplies concentrated animal fuel to maintain lean muscle and stamina.
    • Hydration in heat & exertionThe moisture in rehydrated raw supports healthy hydration for a cat that may not drink enough, helping maintain urinary and kidney health.
    • Coat & skin exposureReal animal protein and omega-rich fish support a resilient, weatherproof coat and healthy skin for a cat exposed to the elements.
    • Recovery & muscle upkeepHighly digestible meat and organ support the muscle repair an active, roaming cat needs day after day.

    Diet supports health but doesn't replace veterinary care — ask your vet about any specific condition.

    Feeding Outdoor Cats: what to know

    Feed an outdoor cat to their ideal body weight, then adjust for how active they truly are — a cat that genuinely ranges and hunts may need a bit more than a homebody, while one that mostly suns on the porch needs less. Offer two or more measured meals a day at consistent times so they learn to come home to eat.

    Predictable mealtimes also give you a daily wellness check: an active outdoor cat that suddenly skips a meal is telling you something. Re-check the portion against body condition every few weeks — you should feel the ribs easily under a light layer — and always leave fresh water available.

    Cat feeding questions

    How much should I feed an active outdoor cat?
    Start at about 0.13 oz of freeze-dried raw per pound of ideal weight per day — roughly 1.3 oz for a 10 lb cat — then adjust up for a genuinely high-activity hunter or down for a part-time rambler, always feeding to body condition.
    Do outdoor cats need more food than indoor cats?
    Often yes. A cat that truly ranges, climbs and hunts burns more calories than a house cat, so a protein-dense raw diet helps them hold lean muscle without overfilling the bowl. Adjust to the individual cat's real activity.
    Will feeding my cat at home keep them from hunting?
    A well-fed cat still hunts by instinct, but reliable, satisfying meals at home keep their core nutrition complete and give them a strong reason to return — useful for safety and for monitoring their health.
    Is freeze-dried raw good for a cat that's outside a lot?
    Yes. It's concentrated real-meat nutrition — high in animal protein and taurine, low in carbohydrate — and rehydrates to a high-moisture meal, which suits an active cat's energy and hydration needs.
    How do I switch my outdoor cat to raw?
    Transition gradually over 7–10 days, mixing a little more raw into the current food each day. Feed at set times indoors so they associate raw with coming home, and warm the food slightly to release the aroma.
    How often should an outdoor cat eat?
    Two or more measured meals a day at consistent times suits a cat's natural rhythm, encourages them home to eat, and lets you spot any missed meal early.

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    • Obligate-carnivore formulated
    • AAFCO complete & balanced
    • Pathogen-tested every batch

    • "My picky indoor cat actually finishes her bowl now — and she's drinking less because the food has real moisture back in it."

      — Dana & Miso

    • "Switching our senior to raw was easier than I expected. He's more playful and his coat looks incredible."

      — Theo & Pepper
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    Portions are starting points for freeze-dried raw and AAFCO complete-and-balanced recipes. Always feed to your individual cat's body condition and ask your vet about specific health needs.