Can Cats Eat Chicken?
Yes, cats can eat chicken and it's one of the best proteins for them. Chicken should be cooked thoroughly (boiled or baked) without bones, skin, seasonings, or sauces. Plain cooked chicken provides lean protein and essential amino acids cats need. It can supplement their regular diet but shouldn't replace complete cat food.
Key Takeaways
- Cats can also eat eggs as another protein source, but they are obligate carnivores, meaning they must eat meat to survive.
- Small amounts of plain chicken broth made from stock (no onion or garlic) can encourage hydration in cats who don't drink enough water.
- Cats with food allergies may react to chicken - it's one of the more common allergens in cats.
Explanation
Cats can also eat eggs as another protein source, but they are obligate carnivores, meaning they must eat meat to survive. Chicken is an excellent protein source that provides amino acids like taurine (essential for cat heart and eye health), protein for muscle maintenance, and B vitamins. Many commercial cat foods use chicken as a primary ingredient for these reasons.
Always cook chicken before feeding to cats. Raw chicken can contain Salmonella or Campylobacter bacteria harmful to both cats and humans handling the food. Boiling or baking without oil are the best methods. Never use garlic, onion, or heavy seasonings - these are toxic to cats.
Remove all bones before serving. Cooked chicken bones become brittle and can splinter, causing choking or internal injuries. Also remove the skin, which is high in fat and can cause digestive upset or contribute to obesity. If you have leftover cooked chicken, check how long cooked chicken lasts in the fridge before offering it to your cat. Plain breast meat is the leanest, healthiest option.
Introduce new foods slowly and watch for signs of intolerance: vomiting, diarrhea, loss of appetite, or lethargy. If symptoms occur, discontinue the new food and consult your veterinarian.
Portion control matters when feeding chicken to cats. An average 10-pound adult cat needs roughly 200-250 calories per day, and one ounce of cooked chicken breast contains about 46 calories. Limit chicken treats to no more than 10% of daily caloric intake, which works out to about half an ounce (roughly one tablespoon of shredded chicken) per day. Feeding more than this regularly can unbalance the diet because plain chicken lacks calcium, certain vitamins, and the precise taurine levels found in formulated cat food.
Raw chicken diets carry risks that go beyond bacterial contamination. Raw poultry bones, while softer than cooked bones, can still cause tooth fractures in cats, and raw chicken thighs or wings may harbor parasites like Toxoplasma gondii. The FDA and AVMA both advise against raw meat diets for household pets, citing documented Salmonella transmission from pet food bowls to human family members. If you choose a raw diet, work with a board-certified veterinary nutritionist to ensure the meals meet AAFCO nutritional adequacy standards.
Things to Know
- Small amounts of plain chicken broth made from stock (no onion or garlic) can encourage hydration in cats who don't drink enough water.
- Cats with food allergies may react to chicken - it's one of the more common allergens in cats.
- Rotisserie or deli chicken often contains too much sodium and seasonings for cats.
- Raw feeding (BARF diet) is controversial - consult a veterinary nutritionist if considering this approach.
- Cats often eat less than dogs, who can also eat eggs safely, so even small amounts of problematic foods can have significant effects.