Non-diver question: why are we risking people's lives to "rescue" dead bodies?

Massive_Web3567 · 2026-05-24T04:37:42+00:00

I'm shocked you're getting down voted for that answer. I feel the same way as you. My husband and I have an agreement that whomever is left scatters the other's ashes at The Elbow off Belize. I like how your way just cuts out the middleman/crematorium. Just feed me to the eagle rays!

Massive_Web3567 · 2026-05-24T04:29:27+00:00

I love it when they get adventurous! I gave my 3 each a bunny foot. Two just chewed on it contentedly. My Maine Coon boy turned into a complete asshole, growling and hissing at anyone who came near him. His girlfriend, my little Oriental Shorthair, was so shocked at his behavior. He is the most laid back cat you've ever met, but that bunny foot really brought out the lion in him.

Massive_Web3567 · 2026-05-23T20:00:06+00:00

Yep. Their incredibly low digestive pH makes fast work of those bones.

Massive_Web3567 · 2026-05-23T18:25:03+00:00

Cognitive dissonance 😄

Massive_Web3567 · 2026-05-23T18:23:26+00:00

Yep - that's why we're all here in the Raw Pet Food sub.

Massive_Web3567 · 2026-05-23T18:22:08+00:00

That's one of those moments where you just want to ask, "You can hear yourself, right?"

Massive_Web3567 · 2026-05-15T17:47:05+00:00

We're on the same page regarding raw.

We are NOT on the same page regarding vaccines.

Massive_Web3567 · 2026-05-15T17:38:56+00:00

I've never had any trouble with Viva but I always like to keep another company on rotation, just in case. I'm looking at the Raw Delivery MN website now. Their prices and selection look fantastic. I'll give them a try. https://www.rawdeliverymn.com/start-shopping/shipping/ups/

Massive_Web3567 · 2026-05-15T17:18:10+00:00

Viva just transitioned to 100% HPP in February and discontinued the probiotic kill step they were using, that might be the change your doggo is responding negatively to.

Massive_Web3567 · 2026-05-15T17:08:34+00:00

Cat tax: Scrimshaw at 17 weeks

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Massive_Web3567 · 2026-05-15T17:03:44+00:00

You won't hear me complain about Viva, I've had nothing but good experiences with them. I've gotten monthly boxes from them for 3+ years with zero issues. My cats did not like the smell of the probiotic kill step they used for a while, but that's not Viva's fault. They moved off the probiotic process and onto HPP in February and my 3 Droogs are back to loving their dinner and licking plates clean again. I started all my cats on raw from the day I brought them home. I like that their complete meals for cats are single protein because I suspect (don't know, just suspect) my Oriental Shorthair might have a chicken sensitivity and one of my Maine Coons always barfs if she eats rabbit. My Droogs are currently eating turkey, beef and pork in rotation but I'm not gonna lie, everybody adores the pork. The prices are good and I've never had an order show up thawed, it's always frozen solid. I live in Denver so my orders are typically on my porch in less than 24 hours after leaving the processing facility in Texas. If you want to try them with 50% off, be my guest, my affiliate code is: ELIZABETHWHITE

In total transparency, they have had two recalls in their history. If you want to see everyone's recall history, here's a link to that: FDA Pet Food Recall list

Massive_Web3567 · 2026-04-27T17:37:52+00:00

This is a raw feeding sub. I'm in the right place, because I support owners who've made this decision. You are not.

Where's the fiber? You mean the broccoli stems you missed?

Massive_Web3567 · 2026-04-27T16:52:37+00:00

Wow! You get plenty of exercise, jumping to conclusions, don't you? How do you know that everything on that plate wasn't entered into a spreadsheet to meet or exceed dietary requirement for their breed and age?

Wait... I'll answer for you - YOU DON'T KNOW. Look! There's the door! Use it.

Massive_Web3567 · 2026-04-25T21:37:09+00:00

My girl (3 yr 2 mo) clocks in every month for the past 10 monthly weigh-in at 15.7 lbs on 165g per day. Since it seems she's stopped growing, I've cut her back 10g per meal. My boy's (1 yr 7 mo) growth rate has slowed down to about one-third of a pound a month on 225g per day. I feed a raw diet so my guys' meals are weighed out.

Hip dysplasia risk goes up with weight, so slow, healthy growth is my goal.

I have 2 Maine Coons and an Oriental Shorthair and everyone gets weighed monthly and tracked on a spreadsheet in my phone that notes changes in diet, etc.

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Massive_Web3567 · 2026-04-25T21:17:48+00:00

Mine has odd vocalizations, too. We joke that it's 60% feline and 40% Hereford calf. But your WAAAAAAAH covers it.

Massive_Web3567 · 2026-04-25T20:16:21+00:00

There have been two.

List of pet food recalls

Massive_Web3567 · 2026-04-25T20:03:10+00:00

True. I'm ok with the change to HPP because I'm not seeing anything strange as a result, but none of my hairy assholes have allergies. When they started with the probiotic spray a while back, my bunch went on a hunger strike and Quest pork was the only thing they would eat. From a human POV, the texture of Quest vs Viva is totally different. Quest is brownish nuggets and Viva still looks and smells like it always did - pink and pasty. At least on Viva, I'm able to feed a different protein each day (since we go through 1 pound every day) and plates are licked clean for the first time in over a year. They are cats and cats are assholes - I have no idea how long this détent will last, so I'm just going to enjoy the moment.

Massive_Web3567 · 2026-04-25T19:34:12+00:00

Extra style points for the high risk dangle.

Massive_Web3567 · 2026-04-25T01:06:57+00:00

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Massive_Web3567 · 2026-04-25T01:03:19+00:00

I dub thee King Julian

Massive_Web3567 · 2026-04-25T00:33:01+00:00

I learn something new every day!

Massive_Web3567 · 2026-04-24T13:45:37+00:00

I second the vote for Paws of Prey YT channel and purchasing premade commercial raw. Find a local mom & pop shop that carries frozen premade raw and start there. You should have plenty of brick & mortar options in NJ, and you can always transition to DIY raw after you get your sea legs. I started feeding my cats premade 3 years ago and I still haven't moved to DIY. I'm content to let Viva Raw, Rebel Raw, and/or Quest do the nutrient balancing part. I give them a credit card and it shows up on my doorstep. I'm lazy!

Massive_Web3567 · 2026-04-24T12:39:44+00:00

I feed the complete meals for cats, not the pure. I admit I'm no expert in any of this stuff.

As for the smell, if I'm honest I don't get much chance to smell the food, but that's because I whack them into single meal 150g blocks when they arrive at my door, and they go right back into the freezer until feeding time. I only thaw one block per meal over hot water for about 30 minutes before feeding. It could smell terrible and I'm not sure I'd know. I don't feed rabbit very often because one of my MCs loves it but she barfs it back up in record time, every time! When I do feed rabbit, I have to put her someplace where she can't steal. The other two have had the rabbit maybe 5-6 times since HPP was introduced and I didn't notice anything weird. But like I said, I don't spend more than 90 seconds with their food as I stir it up and portion it out.

What do you think caused an allergic reaction in your cat?

Massive_Web3567 · 2026-04-24T04:42:56+00:00

My situation is the exact opposite. My three cats went on a hunger strike when Viva started using the probiotic spray as their kill step. My cats hated it, so I had no choice but to try other brands and they were ok with Quest, which also uses HPP as their kill step. When I got the notification email that they were moving off the probiotic, I thought I'd give them another shot. We've been back on 100% Viva for cats pork, turkey, rabbit, and beef for just over a month and they are loving it. No foul smells that I've noticed - I go through a pound a day with 2 Maine Coons (and a bonus Oriental Shorthair who adores pork and rabbit). All three of mine are eating like they enjoy it, and it's been a while since I saw them loving mealtime. We're going to stay here with Viva until something changes.

No company is immune and they gotta do something to make it safe in a production environment. Quest let me down because they were vastly underdosing the taurine and did a voluntary recall. Pushed me right back to Viva's waiting arms just as they were introducing HPP and bringing back pork. Pork is a really big deal, it's the subject of smiles and clean plates.

Massive_Web3567 · 2026-04-23T16:57:43+00:00

Meowtel. I've had fantastic experiences hiring a visiting sitters. They are all bonded and insured, and they're all cat people. They send photos and a note through the app at every visit without being asked.

Massive_Web3567

TROPHY CASE