But it's best to keep it small and infrequent. Each time you make a purchase through one of our independently-chosen links, we’ll receive a percentage of the proceeds. Please reload CAPTCHA. Chicken makes an excellent treat for cats because it is well suited to their digestive systems. Time limit is exhausted. This educational content is not veterinary advice and does not replace consultation with a qualified veterinarian. We all know that humans can’t eat raw chicken. Left to their own devices, our cats would subsist entirely on the raw flesh of the prey animals they managed to catch. Yes, cats can eat raw chicken. Most cats love eating natural cat food such as raw chicken and other raw meats. Top tips include: If you choose to feed your cat a raw diet, it should be completely balanced by a veterinary nutritionist; as should the diet become imbalanced, then your cat could be at risk of a variety of health issues. Please reload CAPTCHA. Raw chicken can carry salmonella and some other nasty germs. So, our intuition tells us that we, as our pets’ guardians, should try to give them a diet that is as close to ‘natural’ as possible. Chicken flesh on its own is unlikely to cause your cat any harm—after all, they are carnivores whose bodies are designed to process uncooked meat—but the chicken we buy at supermarkets is often so contaminated that it poses a serious poisoning risk for our cats. Chicken, meat and fish is a Cats' favorite and healthy food. We use cookies on our website to give you the most relevant experience by remembering your preferences and repeat visits. Ear Discharge in Cats: Causes, Symptoms, & Treatment, Feline Hypoglycemia: Causes, Symptoms, & Treatment, Lung Cancer in Cats: Causes, Symptoms & Treatment, The Complete Feeding Guide from Kittens to Seniors, How To Stop Your Cat Scratching Furniture. An occasional taste of cooked boneless beef or brown rice can be an OK treat. It is mandatory to procure user consent prior to running these cookies on your website. Furthermore, small bones can also splinter and cause serious damage to the mouth and digestive tract of cats. Chicken, fish, beef, and turkey are common flavors for processed cat food. Can Cats Eat Raw Chicken? If we do, there’s a high likelihood we’ll become very ill. We also use third-party cookies that help us analyze and understand how you use this website. It can also be spread to humans. However, this is a matter you should absolutely discuss with your veterinarian before you attempt to feed your cat raw chicken. Although, it’s a better choice to feed your cat safely prepared raw meat, like chicken or rabbit. It is dependent on what your cat eats and can handle. Cats can eat chicken breast, thighs and necks. A quick Google search is enough to reveal that our cats share a common ancestor with lions, leopards, and tigers. Although we have established that Bengal cats can definitely eat raw chicken, there are some safety considerations to make it less likely that any harm will come to your cat. In nature, cats would hunt birds and eat them up – uncooked… When compared with cooked bones, raw bones are better which splinter inside the intestinal system of your cat. Should you wish to feed your cat raw chicken, remember the following when feeding any raw food to your cat. If they don’t eat enough taurine, cats can suffer from a wide range of health problems, from hair loss and oral infections to cardiovascular and reproductive problems. Do cats eat raw chicken? You also have the option to opt-out of these cookies. Commercially raised chickens are often kept in crowded, unsanitary conditions that provide an excellent breeding ground for bacteria like salmonella and Listeria, which can be dangerous for your cat. If you think your cat has eaten raw chicken, look out for symptoms like vomiting and diarrhoea (often bloody), being lethargic, and loss of appetite. Your email address will not be published. Yes, it's true that not all chicken bones are safe for your feline friend to eat. They are, in fact, obligate carnivores who thrive on high-meat diets. Commercial cat foods that feature raw chicken as an ingredient has been pasteurized or flash frozen to eliminate bacteria. It is worth seeing if you can find a source of chicken giblets for cats, because they are a great way of providing the vital “organ” part of a raw food diet for your cat.And of course they come in a really convenient size that is easy for your cat to eat, so there is … The answer: no, cats should not eat any quantity of raw chicken. This in turn may help your cat lose weight if they are overweight. Raw meat is a breeding ground for bacteria. For an accurate amount to give your cat, seek veterinary advice. It is true that the cat’s “natural diet” would consist entirely of raw meat, but here’s the reality: the chicken we buy at the supermarket is far from natural. There is no doubt that, in some ways, raw meat is more nutritious for cats. This will give them the taste of chicken without the risk of nutritional imbalance. Giving your cat raw chicken can be dangerous, as it comes with at least some risk of bacterial infection. But just because you have to use caution when giving this food to your cat doesn't mean you have to avoid giving it to her altogether. Whereas humans can produce enough taurine to meet their daily requirements, cats absolutely have to get this amino acid from their diet. This is different from cutting a slab of raw chicken and feeding it direct to your cat. Cooked Chicken. Your email address will not be published. Necessary cookies are absolutely essential for the website to function properly. Can cats eat raw chicken and other meats? This website uses cookies to improve your experience while you navigate through the website. Therefore, it is safe for cats to eat fresh raw chicken. Cats are hardwired to sustain themselves on meat. But would she like it? Poultry is low in carbohydrates, which means it will be less likely to cause digestive problems, insulin resistance, or weight gain. Raw meat - especially organ meat - *does* in fact contain taurine, it's the cooking process that destroys it. What about as a supplement? Cats can eat small whole raw chicken parts or other small birds. Chicken cannot, however, serve as your cat’s main source of nutrients—a cat who lives mostly on chicken (raw or cooked) will wind up with potentially dangerous nutritional deficiencies. There are guidelines you can follow and use to give you a good idea as to what is considered a good amount of raw chicken to feed your cat. Well, yes and no. How can I get a very picky cat to eat chicken? It is always recommended you speak to your cat’s veterinarian before feeding raw chicken. Many people feed at least a couple raw meals a week. The marrow has a lot of iron and all these are improving your cat’s health. Some feed necks occasionally, others offer them everyday. It is also quite high in animal proteins, which contain many of the amino acids necessary for feline health. Many owners who feed raw diets use necks as a primary source of protein and bone. Your email address will not be published. Certain nutrients are destroyed by cooking, and feline bodies are more than capable of digesting uncooked meat. ©2020 Cliverse Media Ltd. In this sense, chicken appears as one of the best meats we can offer our cats, as it contains easy to digest proteins and few fats. Out of these, the cookies that are categorized as necessary are stored on your browser as they are essential for the working of basic functionalities of the website. Any cookies that may not be particularly necessary for the website to function and is used specifically to collect user personal data via analytics, ads, other embedded contents are termed as non-necessary cookies. Clean bowls after feeding so no bacteria can spread. But isn’t chicken a great source of nutrition for cats? The main concern of your cat eating raw chicken that was not prepared correctly for them is the risk of bacterial contamination such as salmonella, which can be passed onto humans. How often can I feed raw chicken to my cat? *(function(timeout){setTimeout(function(){var notice=document.getElementById("cptch_time_limit_notice_54");if(notice) This is a hard no. She picks it up in her mouth, and runs off to a favorite spot in the kitchen and chomps away. First of all, let’s talk about prep. She will go nuts when I take any baggie out of the fridge, thinking she's going to get a wing. Naturally, raw bone contains nutritional value, like calcium. They will also help the cat’s teeth and they contain calcium, magnesium, phosphorus, silicon, sulphur and trace minerals. It is possible to feed cats on a raw diet which may be based on chicken or another meat. These include: Cats are carnivores, so they must eat meat. https://www.petconsider.com/can-cats-eat-raw-chicken-safely  =  After all, no one is cooking the rodent a wild cat … Getting them to do it is sometimes the problem. Cats can utilize proteins, turning them into energy in their liver. .hide-if-no-js{display:none !important}. Yes, if it's chicken that you yourself would eat (cooked of course). Any bones not completely ground up could cause intestinal blockages or even lacerations. However, feeding raw chicken and a raw diet do have benefits. This also means that it would be wise to refrain from tossing your feline friend any of the raw chicken scraps you have left over. 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