Food safety
Can Cats Eat Pork? Plain, Lean and Cooked Only
Yes, in small amounts: plain, lean pork that is cooked all the way through is safe for most cats as an occasional treat. Cats are obligate carnivores and digest meat well. The trouble is that most pork people eat is cured, smoked, salted or seasoned: bacon, ham, sausage, hot dogs and pulled pork are high in salt and fat, and often contain garlic or onion, which are especially dangerous to cats. Raw pork and pork bones are never safe.
By Matt GarnettUpdated November 13, 20264 min read2 sources
Why plain cooked pork is acceptable for cats
Cornell's Feline Health Center describes cats as obligate carnivores, animals that rely on nutrients found only in animal products and that evolved to eat prey high in protein and moderate in fat. A small piece of plain roasted pork loin or tenderloin is that kind of food, which is why it is not a problem as a treat.
Pork is fattier than chicken or turkey, though, even in lean cuts, and the fat is where cats run into trouble. Trim every visible bit of fat, and treat pork as an occasional extra rather than a regular topper. It is not a complete diet and should never replace your cat's food.
Bacon, ham, sausage and other processed pork
Processed pork is the kind cats are most often offered and the kind to avoid. Bacon, ham, salami, sausage, hot dogs and deli pork are cured with salt and nitrites, and the ASPCA warns that too much salt can cause vomiting, diarrhea, tremors and seizures in pets. A cat is small enough that a strip of bacon is a large dose of salt and fat.
Seasoning adds a second risk. Sausage, pulled pork, carnitas and pork rubs often contain garlic and 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 pork cooked 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.
Raw pork and pork bones
Never give a cat raw or undercooked pork. The ASPCA says raw meat can carry bacteria such as Salmonella and E. coli, and Cornell warns that raw meat can carry parasites including the one that causes toxoplasmosis. Cook pork until it is no longer pink in the middle and the juices run clear.
Keep pork bones away too. The ASPCA warns that bones can injure or block a pet's digestive tract, and small, brittle chop and rib bones are especially easy for a cat to crack and swallow in pieces.
How to prepare pork for a cat
Choose a lean, unseasoned cut such as tenderloin or loin. Bake, boil or pan-cook it with no oil, butter, salt, sauce or spice until it is cooked through, then let it cool. Trim off any fat and cut the meat into pieces no bigger than a pea for a small cat.
If you are cooking pork for the family, set aside a small piece before any rub, marinade or glaze goes on. Store it in the fridge and use it within a few days.
Many cats do better with small, slow portions, and a puzzle feeder or a slow feeder bowl helps with both.
How much pork 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. Pork is calorie-dense, so for an average 8 to 12 lb adult cat, two or three pea-size pieces, about a teaspoon, is enough, no more than once or twice a week. A cat under 6 lb should have half that.
If your cat is overweight, has had pancreatitis or a sensitive stomach, or eats a prescription diet, skip pork or ask your vet first. Chicken or turkey breast is a leaner choice for those cats.
Kittens and pork
Kittens are better off with leaner meats. A kitten's stomach is small and still adjusting to solid food, and pork's richer fat is more likely to cause diarrhea, which dehydrates a kitten faster than an adult cat.
If you want to give a kitten a meat treat, a tiny shred of plain cooked chicken or turkey is gentler. Never give a kitten raw pork, cured pork or anything with seasoning, and keep their main food a complete kitten diet.
Signs pork disagreed with your cat, and when to call a vet
Too much fat usually shows within a day as vomiting, a soft stool or diarrhea. If your cat is otherwise eating and acting normally, stop the pork and things usually settle within a day. Thirst and frequent urination after salty pork are a sign it was too much salt.
Call your vet if vomiting repeats, diarrhea lasts more than a day, or your cat hides, stops eating, seems painful in the belly or lethargic. Tremors, wobbliness or seizures after cured or salty pork mean go to a vet immediately.
This page is general information, not veterinary advice, and it cannot replace an examination by the vet who knows your pet.
Common questions
Can cats eat bacon?
It is best avoided. Bacon is cured with salt and is very fatty, which can cause vomiting and diarrhea in cats. A tiny accidental piece is unlikely to be serious, but do not make it a treat.
Can cats eat ham?
Ham is cured and very salty, and glazed ham adds sugar. A small lick is unlikely to cause harm, but plain cooked pork loin or chicken is a much better choice for a cat.
Can cats eat raw pork?
No. Raw pork can carry bacteria and parasites, and Cornell does not recommend raw meat for cats. Cook pork thoroughly, with nothing added, before offering a small piece.
Can cats eat pulled pork?
No. Pulled pork is usually cooked with onion, garlic, sugar and salty sauces, and the onion family is especially harmful to cats. Set aside a plain piece before seasoning instead.
Can cats eat pork rinds?
No. Pork rinds are fried pork skin, heavily salted and seasoned, and very high in fat. They offer a cat nothing useful and can upset the stomach.
Sources we checked
This guide is general information, not veterinary advice. If your pet is unwell or injured, contact your veterinarian.
