Should you feed your cat raw chicken?

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Cats are usually notorious for being finicky eaters, but that doesn’t mean they don’t have their own preferences. In fact, there are a few foods and ingredients that cats prefer over others and raw chicken is one of them! If your cat is one who prefers to eat raw chicken over other types of meat—and it may be worth giving it a try. Keep reading as we take a look at what the benefits are of feeding raw chicken to cats, as well as the risks involved with feeding this type of food (or not feeding) your feline friend.

Is Raw Chicken Good For Cats?

At first glance, raw chicken is an appealing food for cats. It’s tasty, and it smells good. However, cats are designed to eat meat that has been cooked at a high temperature; their digestive system can’t handle raw poultry. While most people think of this as an issue with dogs—who can get ill from eating undercooked meat—it’s also true for cats.

 

If your cat does eat some raw chicken or other uncooked meat on occasion, it’s important to watch him closely afterward to make sure he doesn’t start exhibiting signs of illness such as diarrhea or vomiting (which could indicate salmonella poisoning). If you notice any such symptoms in your pet after he’s eaten raw chicken or another uncooked meal, contact your vet right away so they can examine your cat and prescribe the appropriate treatment

The Benefits of Feeding Raw Chicken to Cats

Feeding your cat raw chicken has several benefits. Raw chicken is a good source of protein, and it also contains vitamins and minerals that are necessary to keep your cat healthy. Taurine, which helps with muscle function and heart health, is found in raw chicken meat. Raw chicken is especially beneficial for cats that are overweight or underweight because it can help them achieve an appropriate weight range. Senior cats may also benefit from feeding them raw chicken due to its high protein content. And active cats will benefit from the extra energy they get from eating raw meat

What are the Risks of Feeding Raw Chicken to Cats?

If you’re considering feeding your cat raw chicken, it’s important to understand the risks.

Many pet food manufacturers will tell you that their products are “complete and balanced,” but that doesn’t mean they’re necessarily safe for your cat. Feeding raw chicken—or any other type of protein—is risky because it can contain bacteria like Salmonella, Campylobacter, and Listeria. In fact, a study from the University of Minnesota showed that 39% of raw meat samples tested positive for Campylobacter and 20% tested positive for Salmonella.

The risk extends beyond these two foods: another study found that Toxoplasmosis was present in over 88% of retail chickens. Toxoplasmosis is a parasite that exists within most mammals and can cause serious illness in humans—especially pregnant women who contract toxoplasmosis through handling infected cat feces or eating undercooked meats containing cysts containing Toxoplasma gondii.

What to Do If Your Cat Accidentally Ate Raw Chicken?

If your cat has eaten raw chicken, it’s important to monitor your cat for signs of illness. When you notice any symptoms such as vomiting or diarrhea, contact your veterinarian immediately.

“If a cat is healthy and the chicken was cooked, I wouldn’t worry about it,” said Dr. Bonnie Beaver, a professor emeritus at Texas A&M University College of Veterinary Medicine & Biomedical Sciences who served as president of the American College of Veterinary Internal Medicine from 2013-14. “But if he got into something raw like meat without being cooked, then we have a lot more trouble.”

How To Safely Prepare Raw Chicken for Cats

If you want to feed your cat raw chicken, here are some tips for safely preparing it:

  • Wash your hands before and after handling the raw chicken. This is especially important if you’ve been handling any other meats or raw vegetables. The most common way for cats to get salmonella is by ingesting contaminated foods that they have licked or touched while eating. A simple way to prevent this is by always washing your hands thoroughly after handling the food.
  • Wash chicken thoroughly with soap and water before serving it to your cat, because even though the meat may appear clean on the outside, there could still be bacteria present on its surface that can make your pet sick if ingested without proper preparation.
  • Rinse chicken under running cold tap water for at least three minutes before cutting it into smaller pieces fit for serving. If possible, use a separate cutting board from those used in preparing other foods since cross-contamination of harmful bacteria between meats can occur fairly easily. You should also wash any utensils used in cutting up the meat with warm soapy water when done using them so as not to risk cross-contamination during storage time later down line either!

How Much Raw Chicken Can A Cat Eat?

Cats are carnivores, so they need to eat meat to thrive. Cats can eat raw chicken, but not raw bones. Be careful serving your cat raw chicken that has bones in it, as they can easily choke on small pieces or swallow them whole. A dog’s digestive system is better equipped to handle larger chunks of bone, while cats’ systems aren’t able to break down the large amounts of calcium found in bones.

Chicken is one of the most popular meats fed to cats and can be fed daily as part of their diet; however, make sure that you pair it with other foods such as fruits and vegetables for a complete meal plan for your pet. Also, remember that your cat should still get important vitamins and minerals from commercial pet food brands (or at least once per week).

How Often Can You Feed Cat Raw Chicken?

The answer to the question “how often can a cat eat raw chicken?” is that it needs to be done in moderation. There are a few reasons for this.

  • The first reason is that cats can’t process large amounts of raw meat easily, so giving them too much will only lead to problems like vomiting or diarrhea.
  • The second reason is that not all cats enjoy eating raw chicken, even if they like other types of meat (like canned tuna). If you notice your cat starting to have digestive issues after eating raw chicken over time, consider switching brands and/or types of food until you find one that works better with their stomachs—and don’t be afraid to ask your vet for the advice! For example, some people may recommend feeding their felines canned salmon instead since it contains fewer bones than other kinds of seafood such as tuna (which could cause injury). The important thing is making sure that both humans and pets alike are getting proper nutrition from whatever type of diet they choose so we can all live longer lives together!

Can Pregnant Cats Eat Raw Chicken?

While chicken isn’t necessarily bad for cats, it can be dangerous during pregnancy. Some raw chicken products are contaminated with salmonella, which can lead to serious illness in both you and your cat. So what can you feed your pregnant cat if not raw chicken? Treats like freeze-dried liver or meat-based treats are a great alternative. If you don’t have any on hand, there are some recipes available online that will help meet your pet’s nutritional needs while keeping him safe.

If he does eat raw chicken: If your cat has eaten raw chicken, call the vet right away as soon as possible! You should also monitor his behavior and keep an eye out for any illness symptoms such as diarrhea and vomiting over the next few days or weeks after eating the uncooked meat product from a store or restaurant meal prepared with no regard for health regulations required by law enforcement agencies before being served at public establishments (or home-cooked meals).

Not All Raw Chicken Parts Are Good For Cats

You should never give your cat raw chicken bones. The animal can choke on the bone or develop an obstruction in the digestive tract if it eats one.

The skin of the raw chicken is not good for cats, either. Cats are carnivores and do not have the necessary enzymes to break down proteins in raw meat; this is why they need to eat a diet that includes both meat and vegetables. Chicken skin contains lots of fat, which could upset your cat’s stomach if consumed.

You may want to consider cooking or freezing all raw chicken before feeding it to your cat—especially if you’re feeding him some kind of ground-up recipe that might contain other ingredients he shouldn’t eat (like onions or garlic).

Conclusion

While it’s great that you are thinking about feeding your cat raw chicken, you should be careful with this type of food. While some parts of the chicken are safe for cats to eat, others may not. It’s important to make sure that your pet doesn’t swallow any bones or other pieces of meat that could cause an obstruction in their digestive tract.

 

This article originally appeared on CatBandit.com and was syndicated by MediaFeed.org.

 

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