Dog Food Allergy Tests: What You Need to Know | Optimeal®
29-08-2024 By Optimeal Team
If you have a cat, chances are you already know that cats love meat. Cats are carnivores, so they’ll always try to sneak a bite of bacon off your plate or a little bit of chicken from your salad. But what about raw chicken?
When it comes to feeding raw chicken to your cat, there’s a lot you need to know. In this article, we’ll closely examine everything you need to know about the benefits, downsides, and potential dangers of feeding your furry friend raw chicken.
Can Cats Eat Raw Chicken?
Unfortunately, the answer to the question of whether cats can or can not eat raw chicken is not a simple one. The technical answer is that yes, cats can eat raw chicken.
As obligate carnivores, cats need to eat a diet primarily comprised of animal products to survive. However, some risks are associated with eating raw chicken, so it is not always advised.
Specifically, cats need all the nutrients in meat, such as fatty acids, taurine, and vitamins. Some people believe feeding your cat a diet made up of mostly raw meat is healthiest because it closely mimics their diet in the wild.
Cats are biologically made to digest raw meat and organs, so in theory, feeding them raw chicken would be similar to the diet they would eat if they were hunting for breakfast and dinner.
However, although cats technically can eat and digest raw chicken, the question remains: should they eat raw chicken?
Are There Downsides to Feeding My Cat Raw Chicken?
It is important to look at the downsides of a raw cat diet to decide whether you should be feeding your cat raw chicken. This section will consider three main downsides and risks associated with feeding your feline friend raw chicken.
Salmonella
If you’ve ever had food poisoning from chicken, you already know a little about salmonella. What you may not know is that your cat can get salmonella too. Although cats have a shorter digestive tract and stronger acids in their digestive system, they are not immune from salmonella and pathogens like it.
If your cat develops salmonella from chicken, also known as salmonellosis, you may notice that they have diarrhea, fever, and vomiting. They may also be lethargic and tired and begin to lose weight.
Although it can be difficult to diagnose at home, if you have any reason to suspect your cat has salmonella, it is a good idea to take them to a vet immediately to get treatment.
Bones
Another reason that feeding your cat raw chicken may be dangerous to their health is because of chicken bones. If your cat consumes chicken with small pieces of bone, those pieces may become lodged in their esophagus, stomach, or digestive tract, which can cause serious damage.
Sharp pieces of bone can also pierce your cat’s intestinal tract, which may lead to sepsis. Sepsis can be fatal. For all these reasons, if you feed your cat raw chicken, it is advisable to make sure it is completely bone-free before giving it to your furry friend.
It is also important to remember that cooked chicken bones can also pose a threat to cats. Cooked chicken bones are prone to splintering. If bone splinters in your cat once they have consumed it, the splintered bone can cause serious damage.
Nutrient Deficiency
Finally, raw chicken is less likely to provide your cat with a completely balanced diet regarding nutrients. This can lead to nutrient deficiencies for your cat, harming their overall well-being. Generally speaking, high-quality commercially-available cat food offers a more balanced diet for your feline.
Specifically, pure raw chicken does not have enough taurine to keep your cat healthy. Taurine is essential for your cat’s heart health and is usually added to commercial cat food.
Are There Benefits to Feeding My Cat Raw Chicken?
Although there are risks associated with feeding raw chicken to your cat, there are some benefits to consider. Where some inexpensive and poorly made commercial cat food can be full of filler ingredients, preservatives, and chemicals, raw food does not contain any added ingredients.
Another way to get around all of the unhealthy ingredients in commercial cat food is to find a healthy, nutritious cat food that is primarily protein-based.
Another reason to consider feeding raw chicken is that chicken contains many of the amino acids that cats need to stay healthy and strong. Additionally, raw chicken contains more fluid than dry cat food, so feeding raw chicken may help them if they struggle with hydration issues. Wet cat food also contains more liquid and may be beneficial if your furry friend is dehydrated.
Raw chicken is also naturally low in carbs. Raw chicken may be helpful if you find that your cat is gaining weight quickly or experiencing digestive issues. You may also find that raw chicken improves your cat’s immune functioning.
How Can I Safely Feed My Cat Raw Chicken?
If you are really interested in feeding your cat raw food, there are a few things to keep in mind so that you do so safely. Although wild felines are used to raw meat, your cat may be used to processed, cooked food, so it is important that you carefully prepare their raw chicken.
It may also be a good idea to check with your vet before introducing raw food into your furry friend’s diet. This section will cover three important tips for safely feeding your cat raw chicken.
Do a Fresh Check
One of the best ways to keep your cat safe when feeding them raw chicken is to ensure that the chicken is fresh and comes from a trustworthy source. The longer you allow the chicken to age, the more opportunity there is for bacteria to grow.
That said, make sure you purchase fresh raw chicken and serve it as soon as possible to your cat. And avoid buying raw chicken meant to be cooked, as the standards for safety are much lower.
Some grocery stores offer raw chicken that is specifically marketed toward pets. You may want to consider purchasing this chicken for your cat because it is likely processed to add nutrients and reduce the risk of harmful bacteria growing in the meat.
Prepare the Chicken
There are also a few tips you should keep in mind when preparing raw chicken for your cat. First, cut the chicken on a completely clean surface with a sanitized knife. If you are making chicken for dinner and want to give your cat a scrap, using a new knife and a new surface may be beneficial to ensure that the raw meat they’re eating is as clean as possible.
You also want to remove all of the bones from the chicken before giving it to your cat. You must only serve your cat as much raw chicken as they can in one meal.
If they leave any raw chicken in their bowl, throw it away immediately. Also, if you notice that it takes them a long time to eat the chicken and it reaches room temperature, throw it away.
Clean All Surfaces After
After you feed your cat raw chicken, it is vital to clean their bowl with soap and hot water. Bacteria can grow even after the chicken is discarded, which can be harmful to your cat. You also need to be diligent about cleaning the surface on which you prepared the chicken and the utensils you used to prepare it to avoid any contamination.
What Parts of the Chicken Can My Cat Eat Raw?
Along with raw chicken meat, you might also be wondering if your cat can eat raw chicken liver and necks. The answer is yes, in small quantities.
Chicken liver contains several nutrients that your cat needs to stay healthy. However, if eaten in large quantities, chicken liver may give your cat diarrhea.
Although chicken necks are technically safe for cats and contain many beneficial nutrients, you must be careful when giving your cat a raw chicken neck. They contain several small bones that may be difficult for your cat to chew on.
If you give your cat a raw chicken neck, watch them carefully as they snack on it.
Can Kittens Eat Raw Chicken?
Like human babies, kittens do not yet have a fully developed immune system. This means that they are at a higher risk of dying from infection and other illnesses.
Since they have a relatively underdeveloped immune system, salmonella can cause more harm to kittens than to a full-grown adult cat. The same is true for older cats. For this reason, staying away from a raw diet may be a good idea if you have a kitten or senior cat.
What Should I Do if My Cat Accidentally Ate Raw Chicken?
Leaving raw chicken out can harm your cat, so try your best to be aware and attentive when cooking with raw chicken. It may be dangerous if your cat accidentally eats raw chicken that has not been specifically prepared for them.
If this occurs, you should keep an eye on your furry friend to ensure they are okay. Look out for the following symptoms:
- Lethargy
- Vomiting
- Diarrhea
- Lack of appetite
- Fever
If your cat exhibits any of those symptoms, it may be beneficial to bring them to the vet as soon as possible to receive medical attention.
Conclusion
Cats can eat raw chicken, but there are several risks associated with raw chicken that you need to be aware of. Although your furry friend may enjoy this raw snack, it is vital that you properly prepare raw chicken for your cat, so they do not consume harmful bacteria or bones.
It is also important to remember that cats need a wide variety of nutrients to stay healthy, some of which are not found in raw chicken.
That said, if you’re set on giving your cat raw chicken, make sure to incorporate it into their diet with high-quality cat food.
Sources:
Cats as a Risk for Transmission of Antimicrobial Drug-resistant Salmonella | NIH
