Can cats eat raw chicken?
There has always been a debate over whether raw chicken is good for cats or not. Even professionals have different positions on the question.
We’re going to tell you what you need to know so that you can make an informed decision about whether to feed your cat raw chook.
Feeding Cats Raw Chicken
Can cats have raw chicken?
For the most part, it is not advisable to give your cat raw chicken.
However, there are a couple of ways to get it into your cat’s meals that will not hurt them.
You can purchase professionally prepared raw chicken cat food that has been flash-frozen and kept that way until you are ready to use it. Raw food delivery for dogs and cats is definitely rising in popularity.
There is also freeze-dried raw chicken that you can purchase that can be used with your regular cat food that is alright to use as food for your cat.
Raw chicken has a lot of protein. It contains a lot of moisture to help keep your cat hydrated. It can be beneficial to the immune system in the long run.
Risks Of Feeding Raw Chicken
There are risks involved with feeding your feline raw chicken.
The two main risks you face when giving raw chicken to cats:
- Parasites
- Intestinal infections
There are four main parasites that are involved that can be very serious for your cat. These parasites are salmonella, E Coli, listeria, and campylobacter.
As you know salmonella can be deadly to humans and also to cats. E Coli will make your cat very sick which can lead to possible death if it gets serious enough.
It is said that due to the cat having a short digestive tract that contains a lot of acids that it is hard for the parasites to last long enough to cause problems.
Can Cats Have Chicken Bones?
Can cats eat raw chicken bones?
There has also been a lot of controversy over this subject for a long time. Some will be thinking ‘yes, it’s OK,’ while others think no.
Well, it may interest you to know that both answers are correct. How you might ask?
Cooked chicken bones are brittle and can have sharp edges and points and can damage the intestines when eaten.
If one of the pieces of bone should get stuck in the throat do not induce vomiting as it will cause even more damage to the cat.
Instead feed the cat some bread to cover any of the edges that could be sharp or pointed. This way it will pass through the intestinal track with no further problems.
Make sure to contact your veterinarian as soon as the issue arises.
As you may have figured out that leaves the question of the raw chicken bones.
They are actually safe for your feline to eat and quite safe in the process. The chicken neck bone and its meat are the best to use as the bones are smaller and easily digestible.
If you want the nutrients from the cooked bones then you can grind them up and sprinkle them over their regular food.
Raw bones will provide the same nutrients and give the cat something to chew on that helps to clean their back teeth in the process.
The bone marrow is the richest part of the bones. That is the part that you will want to make sure that the cat gets eaten.
The bones are rich in calcium, vitamins, minerals, and enzymes. Some of these vitamins and minerals are Vitamin A, Vitamin D, Vitamin E, Copper, and Zinc.
They also have amino acids that help out with digestion.
Can Cats Eat Cooked Chicken
It is okay for your cat to eat cooked chicken – that is if they do not have a sensitive stomach.
Cooked chicken is high in protein and has some of the same nutrients as raw chicken but in less substantial amounts.
You need to make sure that when you cook the chicken that you do not season it at all. It has to be plain for your cat to be able to eat it without getting sick.
It is best to only give it in small amounts. They should not be fed a lot of cooked chicken at a time as they need more nutrients than cooked chicken alone can give them.
If you are going to feed your cat cooked chicken then make it a special treat that they only get once in a while – you could even check out these cat cookbooks for ideas on how to serve it to them.
My Cat Ate Chicken
The main downside of feeding cats chicken?
In my opinion, you can’t put it in an automatic cat feeder!
That and it can be quite expensive.
But automatic cat feeders are genuinely very helpful from time to time.
For example, the Petlibro range of pet feeders can be set to dispense food at certain times of the day, making it great for those who are out at work.
Also, these machines can also record your voice which will play to call your cat when it’s time to eat – pretty cool!
At the end of the day, you know your cat and what their sensitivities, likes, and dislikes are. You can only try and test these things and see how they respond.
Most importantly, make sure you’ve always got fresh water for cats on hand!