Updated: August 11, 2022 by Kristen Chapple
The most widely consumed meat in the world is chicken since it is delicious and can ensure some of the proteins needed for our body. A carnivore animal such as the cat requires meat as the primary element of their diet so you might think that chicken is a good choice. Asking the question “can cats eat chicken?” might seem pointless since it is obvious that they can but there are still several precautions you should take and some things you should know about this choice.
Nutritional Value
As we mentioned before, chicken is a great source of proteins and it is generally considered a healthier option for your cat since it doesn’t contain so much fat, thus reducing the risk of gaining weight. The problem with chicken is that since it is so widely consumed the farms started using hormones that ensure a chicken’s faster growth but these can cause some issues for us or our pets.
As you should ensure that the meat you buy for yourself is of the highest quality you should treat your cat the same and only offer them meat that is hormone free. Something that could seem harmless to us can do a lot of damage to the smaller organism of a cat.
Raw vs. Cooked
Raw food has a much higher risk of containing bacteria and salmonella is a serious threat. To ensure that the meat is safe when eaten raw it has to be frozen for a few days before serving it and then it should be fine. The nutritional value of raw meat is higher that that of the cooked meat as the boiling removes some of the nutrients as well as the natural enzymes but you have to ensure the bacteria is taken care of.
When you cook the chicken for your pet you should simply boil the chicken for around 20 minutes without adding any other ingredients to it and then leave if to cool before feeding it. Once or twice a week is enough if you give your cat some chicken meat though because there are things they require that cannot be taken from this meat so ensure a varied diet.
Chicken Bones
You have to pay a lot of attention to chicken bones because when you cook them they have a higher chance of splintering. The sharp edges can give your cat internal injuries, perforate their throat or stomach and you don’t want any of those extremely painful events in your life.
The raw chicken bones on the other hand are really good for them and their stomach can easily handle them. When the bones are raw they don’t have the same risk of splintering. They will also help the cat’s teeth and they contain calcium, magnesium, phosphorus, silicon, sulphur and trace minerals. The marrow has a lot of iron and all these are improving your cat’s health.
Short Answer:
Yes, chicken is a good choice if it comes from reliable sources.
