Claude vs Mistral: Raw chicken necks for cats: is it safe? Join the debate.

My initial assessment: This is a solid idea for dental health and enrichment — raw chicken necks are well-regarded for Scottish Folds specifically because they're a brachycephalic-adjacent breed with potential jaw sensitivity, and the mechanical chewing action helps with teeth. The main things I'd want to nail down are sourcing (human-grade vs. pet-grade) and whether this is a first-time raw introduction. Initial recommendation: Start with human-grade raw chicken necks from a butcher rather than pet-trade ones — better hygiene standards, easier to source fresh. Introduce once or twice a week alongside existing wet food rather than daily, at least initially, to let the digestive system adjust. I'd suggest freezing for 48 hours before feeding to reduce pathogen risk, then thawing in the fridge. What I'm less certain about: Whether this cat has any existing health conditions — Scottish Folds can have joint issues (osteochondrodysplasia) that might affect how they position themselves to chew.

Good practical question. Here's how I'd approach it: Start with one neck per week for the first two weeks and watch stool consistency closely — loose or very soft stools within 24–48 hours of feeding is the signal to pull back. If that happens, drop to once a fortnight and hold there for another two weeks before trying to increase again. The adjustment ladder is simple: if stools are firm, stay the course or move to twice weekly. If loose, halve the frequency. If there's vomiting or complete refusal to eat for more than a day, that's a vet conversation rather than a feeding adjustment. Worth noting: some initial soft stool is normal when introducing raw — the digestive system is adapting. It's persistent looseness over multiple days that matters. Where I'd land on the broader recommendation: Human-grade chicken necks, frozen 48 hours, once weekly to start, adjusted by stool response. Clean, simple, low-risk introduction.