Can Cats Eat Raw Meat? Vets Advise Against It — Here's Why

Why being a carnivore does not make raw meat safe

Cornell describes cats as obligate carnivores: they rely on nutrients found only in animal products and evolved to eat prey high in protein and moderate in fat. That is a fact about what cats need, not about how the meat should be handled. A wild cat eats a freshly killed mouse; a pet cat offered raw ground beef is eating meat that has been processed, packaged and stored.

Every step after slaughter is a chance for bacteria to grow. Cooking kills them. A complete commercial cat food, wet or dry, already provides the animal protein a cat needs, prepared in a way that does not depend on raw meat being clean.

Bacteria and parasites in raw meat

The ASPCA says raw meat and raw eggs can contain bacteria such as Salmonella and E. coli that can be harmful to pets and humans alike. Cornell adds that raw meat can carry parasites, including the one that causes toxoplasmosis, and viruses, and that a cat can carry and shed these bacteria without looking sick.

That shedding is why raw feeding is a household question, not just a cat question. Bacteria end up in the litter box, on the cat's coat and face, and on bowls, counters and hands. Homes with young children, older adults, pregnant people or anyone with a weakened immune system face the most risk.

A feeding mat under a ceramic bowl keeps any shared food in one place and easy to clean up.

Raw food diets and homemade raw

Cornell's position on commercial raw and gently cooked diets is direct: it does not recommend feeding cats these diets, citing possible contamination and no clear health benefit. Homemade raw diets add a second problem: getting the balance of calcium, taurine, vitamins and minerals right is difficult without a veterinary nutritionist.

If you are considering a raw diet, talk to your vet before switching, and ask about cooked fresh diets or complete commercial foods that meet your goals. Never feed raw pork, wild game or raw fish to a cat.

Bones, fat and other raw meat risks

Raw meat is often fed with bones, and the ASPCA warns that bones can injure or block a pet's digestive tract. Even raw bones can break teeth or lodge in the throat of a small cat.

Fatty raw trimmings can cause vomiting and diarrhea, and meat seasoned or marinated before you set aside a piece may contain garlic or onion, which the ASPCA says cats are especially susceptible to. If your cat ate meat 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.

If your cat stole some raw meat

Do not panic. A cat that grabbed a small piece of raw chicken or beef from the counter will often have no problem at all. Wash the area, wash your hands, clean your cat's bowl and wipe your cat's face with a damp cloth if it is messy.

Watch over the next one to three days for vomiting, diarrhea, fever signs such as hiding and lethargy, or loss of appetite. Raw fish and raw pork are higher risk, so mention those specifically if you call your vet.

Kittens and raw meat

Kittens should not be fed raw meat. Their immune systems are still developing, and a bout of bacterial diarrhea can dehydrate a small kitten quickly. Kittens also need a carefully balanced diet for growth, which a complete kitten food provides.

If you want to give a kitten a meat treat, a tiny shred of plain cooked chicken or turkey with no skin or bones is a safer reward. Keep it to a small share of the day's food.

Signs to watch, when to call a vet, and safer options

Call your vet if your cat has vomiting or diarrhea that lasts more than a day, blood in the stool, a fever, lethargy or stops eating after eating raw meat. Cats that stop eating can become ill quickly, so do not wait it out. Tell your vet what the cat ate and when.

For a safer meat treat, bake or poach a small piece of chicken, turkey or white fish until cooked through, with nothing added, then cool it and cut it small. Freeze-dried single-protein cat treats are another option. Cornell suggests keeping treats within 10 to 15 percent of daily calories.

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