Pets go raw

Because both of my current cats are strictly indoor felines and therefore don't hunt, I've often wondered whether they're missing out on a crucial kitty experience. For a while I toyed with the idea of buying a mouse and locking them in the bathroom with it, but the idea of mopping up after such a death orgy made me opt against it. So I was fascinated when my mom told me about the BARF diet for pets.

While not quite as thrilling as the hunt, BARF (Biologically Appropriate Raw Food and/or Bones And Raw Food) is a movement/company aimed at providing animals with the food they evolved eating. That means nothing cooked, no grains, but plenty of bones and raw, raw meat. According to the Web site, "BARF World Genuine BARF MINCES are available in the following varieties: Chicken, Beef, Lamb, Beef Offal, Unbleached Tripe and Veggies and Fruit." (Hmmm, did cats evolve to eat beef offal?) The food comes in frozen patties, separated by wax paper (like the frozen patties one finds in the freezer section of your local supermarket), which you can then defrost and divvy up as needed. Or you could just move to a farm...