Why cats can have it
Cats are carnivores, and chicken is a lean, easily digested meat rich in protein. Cooked without salt or seasoning, it makes a good treat that even fussy cats enjoy.
Chicken alone is still not a complete food for a cat: meat lacks calcium and some other nutrients a cat needs, so it should not replace a balanced cat food. How it is prepared matters too: cooked bones splinter into sharp shards, the skin is very fatty, and onion and garlic in cooked dishes are dangerous for cats.
How to give it
- Boil the chicken with no salt or seasoning.
- Remove the skin and take out every bone.
- Cut it into small pieces.
- Do not give chicken from dishes with sauce, onion or garlic.
What to watch out for
- Cooked chicken bones splinter into sharp shards and can injure the mouth, throat or gut.
- Raw chicken can carry salmonella and other bacteria.
- Skin and fat can cause vomiting or diarrhoea.
- Onion and garlic in cooked dishes are dangerous for cats.
- If chicken becomes the main food, the cat's diet becomes unbalanced.
Different parts
Not every part of this food is equally safe.
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Cooked meat
SafePlain cooked chicken without bones is fine in small pieces.
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Skin
Not safeThe skin is very fatty, so it is better to remove it.
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Bones
Not safeCooked bones splinter into sharp shards, so never give them to a cat.
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Raw chicken
Not safeRaw chicken can carry bacteria, so cook it through.
What to give instead
- Beef Yes, well-cooked lean beef without seasoning is a good treat for a cat; just trim off the fat and take out any bones. Safe
- Eggs Yes, a well-cooked egg, boiled or cooked without fat, is fine for a cat, but it is better not to give a raw egg. Safe
- Fish Yes, in moderation: plain cooked fish with the bones removed makes a good treat, but it should not replace a complete cat food. In moderation
Looking for a treat?
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