Adopting a little fur buddy for yourself can be fun, but you also have to be very cautious about your little one’s diet.
If you are a new cat parent, you must also have a lot of questions.
One of the most critical questions is can cats eat chicken bones?
The answer to this question is strangely a “Yes” and “No” at the same time.
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Can I Feed my Cat Chicken Bones?
While most cats find it to be a super tasty treat and there is a lot of nutritional benefits in raw bones there are also some serious health hazards associated with eating them. The biggest one being, that once a chicken has been cooked, they become soft and brittle. This makes them dangerous for your cats to eat.
Can Cats Have Chicken Bones? Benefits?
Cats are obligate carnivores and this means that they need a source of animal protein to survive and maintain good health.
Raw meat and chicken bones are a great source of various nutrients, and minerals, especially calcium, for your cat.
Calcium is an essential mineral to introduce into your cat’s diet, making your little buddy’s bones stronger and their fur healthier.
But chicken bones can or cannot be beneficial for your feline at the same time.
I can relate to my own experience here. When I adopted my first cat, I had no idea what to feed her. I thought that milk, meat, and bones were the best substitutes for cat foods.
But unfortunately, I was wrong to some extent.
After simple research, I found out that cats are usually lactose intolerant, so I should never give my buddy cow’s milk.
Also with it, I found out that chicken bones are beneficial for cats only if they are given raw.
Cooked Chicken Bones vs. Raw Chicken Bones
There is a considerable difference between cooked and raw chicken bones when it comes to cat food. You cannot give any type of bone to your little friend. After all, it is your cat baby so you need to be extra careful.
Cats evolved from an ancient line of obligate carnivores, which means that they need meat or other meat products in their diet.
As cats got domesticated, their natural hunting instinct got affected much. But surely your little fur buddy needs meat in their diet even if it’s not obtained by hunting!
Cooked chicken bones can prove to be a super tasty treat for your cat, but it is hazardous for your little tiger at the same time.
This is the reason that to jump into the details, we have listed the advantages and disadvantages of both cooked and raw bones below.
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Raw Chicken Bones
Raw chicken bones are very beneficial for your pet cat’s health when given in the right amount.
However, excessive use of anything is bad, and even drinking water can cause water intoxication!
This means that including a large number of chicken bones in your little buddy’s diet can cause obesity and other health problems.
Can Cats Eat Cooked Chicken Bones?
Feeding your little buddy cooked chicken bones can be the worse decision. I can tell from my personal experience. When I adopted little Leslie, I accidentally gave her some cooked bones without having the proper knowledge.
This resulted in severe vomiting and diarrhea, which led me to run down to emergency for my little angels’ checkup. Luckily the vet prescribed some medicines, and my kitty was back to normal.
Here are some symptoms that you should watch for.
If you notice any of these signs, contact your veterinarian ASAP.
The biggest risk to your cat from eating a splinteres chicken bone is that they gets a blockage or a tear in his gastrointestinal tract (gut).
This would potentially require your cat to have major surgery! Not nice.
How to Incorporate Raw Bones in the Diet?
Not every raw chicken bone can be the right fit for your cat’s diet. Smaller bones are always better for your cats as they can chew on them easily.
Moreover, you need to ensure that the bones are fresh and the meat bits on it have not gone rancid.
Therefore, the best option for you is to feed your little buddy with chicken wing bones or a homemade bone broth, which are perfect in proportion.
With this, you must not give chicken bones to your cat every day.
A bone once in a while can prove beneficial, while incorporating bones in everyday meals can also cause unwanted side effects.
If you are feeding your cat a raw food diet including raw chicken bones, you must observe your friend for some days afterward to ensure proper digestion.
Can Cats Eat Chicken Bones: Summary
So, the answer to whether you can feed your cat chicken bones or not is a big fat YES! But you have to keep in mind all of the information stated above to avoid any unsolicited situation that can cause harm to your little fur buddy.
Never feed your cat cooked chicken bones, and even if they eat some accidentally, make sure to observe for any side effects for a few days.
The biggest risk to your cat from eating a chicken bone is that he gets a blockage or a tear in his gastrointestinal tract (gut).
Either of these would require your cat to have major surgery and this can be very risky