Bone Broth For Cats (What Exactly Are Cat Broths?)

Investing in the best bone broth for cats could be one of the best ways to improve your cat’s health without spending a fortune. Made simply by simmering meaty bones, bone broth can provide your feline friend with a huge selection of extra amino acids, vitamins, and minerals. 

While numerous pieces of research have highlighted the benefits of bone broth for humans, experts are also beginning to indicate this substance could be the key to investing in your kitty’s longevity. 

The question is, how do you choose the right broth for cats?

What is a Bone Broth for Cats?

Bone broth is a simple substance made from boiling and simmering meaty bones from animals in the water. Usually, it takes several hours or days to fully cook a bone broth to the point where all collagens, nutrients, and compounds are extracted from the bones, tendons, or ligaments.

Bone broth for cats is simply a special kind of broth, made with a focus on feline health. This specific type of bone broth will avoid the addition of any ingredients which might be detrimental to your kitty.

The Best Bone Broth for Cats: 3 Options

Is Bone Broth Good for Cats

Bone broth has a long history of use among humans for a range of health benefits. Some of the earliest versions of this substance even date back more than 20,000 years. For human beings, bone broth is often associated with anti-aging capabilities (thanks to access to excess collagen), excellent digestion, and good immune function.

Fortunately, many of the major benefits of bone broth also apply to cats too. As obligate carnivores, our feline friends get the majority of their nutrition from animal sources like bones and meat. With bone broth, cats can benefit from:

Finding The Best Broths For Cats

The quality of the bone broth you choose will make a huge impact on how useful it is for your cat. Taking the time to explore a range of options and check the ingredients should ensure you get the right product for your furry friend. When shopping for bone broth remember to:

In most cases, the bone broth with the shortest list of ingredients will often be the safest. Fewer ingredients mean you’re less likely to have to deal with dangerous substances like garlic, chives, onions, salt, and raw potatoes or tomatoes. Avoid anything with too much seasoning, large bone fragments, or any dairy. 

On the other hand, you can prioritize bone broth with large amounts of valuable nutrients like:

Is Bone Broth Safe for Cats?

While most bone broth will be safe for cats, it’s important to check the ingredients of anything you’re giving your feline friend in advance. Human bone broth can sometimes include a range of additional ingredients and substances designed to add to the flavor, like onions, and garlic, which can be extremely dangerous when fed to cats. 

There’s also a risk that even if you double-check the ingredients of your chosen bone broth, your cats might end up eating too much of it. 

If your cat ends up over-eating and drinking, it’s important to keep an eye on their consumption to ensure they don’t become overweight.

When serving bone broth to cats, you can:

Bone Broth for Cats Recipe

It’s fine if there’s still a little extra meat on the bones you choose, as this can add to the flavor. 

To make your own bone broth you’ll need:

Fill your pot with water and make sure the bones are completely submerged. Once you’re ready, add the two tablespoons of vinegar to break down some of the components of the bones, and extract extra nutrition in the form of collagen. The vinegar shouldn’t have too much of an impact on the flavor of the broth, so don’t worry too much.

Bring the whole mixture to a boil, and cover and simmer the pot for between 6 and 10 hours, until the water has reduced by around half. The longer you cook it, the more concentrated the bone broth will become. Don’t be tempted to add any extra herbs and spices.

Strain the resulting liquid with a mesh strainer to ensure you remove all the little pieces of bone from the mixture before you give it to your cat. Finally, simply allow your bone broth to cool, then serve. You can also freeze small amounts of broth to serve later.

FAQs

Can I give bone broth to my cat?

Most forms of bone broth will be safe for your cat, but it’s important to check the ingredients just in case. Don’t give your cat any bone broth with larges amounts of additives, preservatives, sugars, or salts. It’s also important to stay away from ingredients like raw potatoes and tomatoes, as well as garlic, onion, and other substances which can harm your kitty.

Can I put the bone broth in my cat's water?

Adding bone broth to your cat’s water could be one of the best ways to serve them. If you’re concerned your kitty doesn’t get a lot of water in their daily diet, adding a small amount of bone broth, or a cube of frozen broth to the water could make it more appealing to your cat. This could be particularly useful if you’re worried about UTIs and hydration.

Can I give my cat bone broth every day?

Generally, it’s best to consult with your vet if you’re not sure how often you should be giving your cat bone broth. You should be safe to give most bone broths one or twice a day, but you may need to cut down if there are extra ingredients to think about, like salt.

What broth is safe for cats?

Bone broths with the smallest possible list of ingredients are usually the safest for cats. It’s best to look for a broth with minimal added extras like salt and preservatives. You can talk to your vet if you’re not sure what to buy.