Can cats eat chicken?

Why

Chicken provides high-quality protein that cats need, but it should never replace a complete and balanced cat food diet. Raw chicken carries a risk of harmful bacteria, and bones can cause serious internal injuries, so only fully cooked, boneless meat is appropriate.

If you do feed it

• Serve only plain, cooked chicken with no added salt, garlic, onions, or seasonings.
• Remove all bones and skin before offering to your cat.
• Limit treats to no more than 10% of their daily calorie intake.
• Cut the meat into small, bite-sized pieces to prevent choking.

Watch out for

• raw chicken or undercooked meat
• chicken bones
• seasoned or marinated chicken
• chicken skin and fat
• chicken with onions, garlic, or excessive salt

Better choices