Can Cats Eat Chicken? Yes, Cooked, Plain and Boneless

Why plain chicken suits cats

Cornell's Feline Health Center explains that cats are obligate carnivores, which means they rely on nutrients found only in animal products, and that they evolved to eat prey high in protein and moderate in fat. Plain cooked chicken breast is lean animal protein, so it fits a cat's biology far better than fruit, bread or dairy.

That is why chicken is the base of so many cat foods. On its own, though, plain chicken is not a complete diet: it lacks the balance of vitamins, minerals and other nutrients that a complete cat food adds. Chicken is a treat or a topper, not a replacement for your cat's regular food.

Bones, skin and seasoning: the parts to remove

Never give a cat cooked chicken bones. The ASPCA warns that bones can cause injury or obstruction in a pet's digestive tract, and cooked bones are brittle enough to splinter. Strip the meat completely, and check for the thin wishbone and rib pieces that hide in breast meat.

Remove the skin, which is mostly fat and often carries salt and spice. Rotisserie, fried, barbecued or seasoned chicken usually contains garlic or onion, and the ASPCA notes that cats are more susceptible than dogs to the onion family, which can damage red blood cells. If your cat ate heavily seasoned chicken with garlic or onion, call your vet, the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center at (888) 426-4435 or Pet Poison Helpline at (855) 764-7661; a fee may apply.

Canned chicken, deli meat and raw chicken

Canned chicken for people is cooked and boneless, but it is often packed with added salt. If you use it, choose one labeled no salt added, packed in water, and rinse it. Deli chicken and lunch meat are processed with salt and preservatives and are a poor choice even in small amounts.

Raw chicken is not recommended. The ASPCA says raw meat can carry bacteria such as Salmonella and E. coli, and Cornell does not recommend raw diets for cats because of the risk of bacteria and parasites, with no clear health benefit. Cook chicken through until the juices run clear and there is no pink.

How to cook chicken for a cat

Boil, poach or bake a boneless, skinless chicken breast or thigh in plain water or with nothing added, until it is cooked through. Let it cool, then shred it or cut it into pieces about the size of a pea for a small cat, or a fingernail for a larger one.

Store cooked chicken in the fridge for no more than a few days, and do not serve it warm from the pan, which can burn a mouth. The plain cooking water, cooled, can be drizzled over food to encourage a cat to eat, as long as nothing was added to it.

How much chicken to give a cat

Cornell's rule of thumb is that treats should not exceed 10 to 15 percent of a cat's daily calories. For an average 8 to 12 lb adult cat, a tablespoon of shredded plain chicken, about the size of your thumb, is a reasonable treat. Give less to a small cat under 6 lb, and cut back the regular food if you give chicken often.

If your cat is overweight, has kidney disease or another medical condition, or eats a prescription diet, ask your vet before adding chicken, because extra protein and calories can matter for those cats.

Many cats do better with small, slow portions, and a puzzle feeder or a slow feeder bowl helps with both.

Kittens and chicken

Weaned kittens can have tiny pieces of plain cooked chicken, which is often a kitten's first people food. Shred it very finely, since a kitten's throat is narrow and a stringy strip can cause gagging. A teaspoon, offered now and then, is plenty.

Most of a kitten's calories need to come from a complete kitten food that supports growth, so keep chicken as a reward rather than a meal. Never give a kitten raw chicken or any bone, and skip chicken that has been seasoned in any way.

Signs chicken disagreed with your cat, and when to call a vet

Most cats handle plain chicken well. A sudden change or a large amount can cause a soft stool or one vomit; stop the chicken and things usually settle within a day. Some cats are allergic to chicken protein, which tends to show as itching, overgrooming, ear trouble or recurring stomach upset rather than one bad day, and is worth raising with your vet.

Call your vet if vomiting repeats, diarrhea lasts more than a day, or your cat stops eating, hides or is lethargic. Gagging, drooling or pawing at the mouth after eating chicken with bones means call straight away.

This page is general information, not veterinary advice, and it cannot replace an examination by the vet who knows your pet.