Boiled chicken is a pretty common dish in the average household. It might not be ragingly popular, and those seated at the table may be tempted to make their portions disappear by feeding them to the pets.
Cats would never think of calling the delicacy of boiled chicken bland, as the finicky food snobs they are, they might even refer to it as ‘having a subtle taste, not dissimilar to that of a fresh kill’.
However, not all food that is prepared for a family dinner is equally suitable for cats.
As long as the boiled chicken is not seasoned with salt, garlic, onions or chives and the bones are removed a cat can safely enjoy the occasional treat of boiled chicken.
Can I Give My Cat Boiled Chicken? Answer: Occasionally
After all, chickens are natural prey for cats so the meat itself is very much to their liking and fits in quite closely with their usual diet. However, cats need taurine in their diet to remain healthy. Boiled chicken lacks the taurine needed for a nutritionally complete diet. Feed your feline friend on boiled chicken occasionally, but ensure their diet contains enough. Commercially available cat food takes cats’ need for taurine into account.
Not Enough Taurine
Cats cannot produce their own taurine, like dogs and humans can so the only way they can get it is through direct consumption. A taurine deficiency can lead to all kinds of problems in cats. They may experience hair loss and tooth decay. Additionally, they may encounter serious problems with their reproductive and cardiovascular systems. Boiled chicken does not contain the required levels of taurine to be the main ingredient of a feline diet.
On the other hand, as long as the diet is supplemented by foods that contain enough taurine it should have no effect on a cat’s health. Taurine deficiency is a condition that occurs over time, so the occasional boiled chicken snack will do no harm.
Boneless Chicken
Even though they look very cute curled up in a ball on the couch, their furry faces hidden under their little paws, a cat is still basically a shrunken wild animal. It is equipped to consume and digest the carcasses of fresh kills, including the internal organs and the bones. Raw meat and bones are therefore preferable to cats. They can digest boiled chicken easily too, but the problem arises with the cooked bones.
Once the bones are cooked they become brittle and the chance that they splinter and injure your cat is increased. Therefore, ensure that there are no bones in the portion of boiled chicken that your feed your feline friend.
Watch Out for the Condiments
Boiled chicken prepared for a human dinner is probably seasoned, but keep in mind that the spices could cause problems for your cat. If you feed the chicken make sure it is completely plain. Even if you rinse off the seasoning, it can still pose a threat to your cat. Common condiments such as garlic, onion, and chives can lead to a dangerous form of anemia in cats as it destroys their red blood cells.
Most cats are also lactose intolerant so chicken dishes containing milk, cheese or cream can cause indigestion. There are other human foods that are not often mixed with chicken, but could be hazardous to cats such as avocados, raisins, grapes, macadamia nuts, chocolate, coffee, and caffeine.
Easy to Digest
Boiled chicken is actually very easy for cats to digest and can be given to them in case they have some sort of gastrointestinal discomfort. It can be used as a gentle diet to give your furry friends irritated stomach some time to settle and recover. Although lacking in taurine it can easily provide sufficient nourishment for a few days. A lack of taurine only becomes a concern when a cat is fed on only boiled chicken for a long time.
Boiled, Bland and Boneless is Best
Cats can eat boiled chicken without any problems and it is actually gentle on their digestive system. It only becomes a concern when the chicken includes bones or condiments that may be dangerous to cats. As long as it is bland and boneless the occasional boiled chicken treat is completely acceptable to your cat and its stomach.
How many times a day do I feed boiled chicken to my 3 month old kitten, and can I feed him the chicken daily?
I’d like to know why boiled chicken can’t be given regularly. I give commercial cat foods (4% meat) to the 5 cats here but I know it is not good and indeed the cats don’t really like it but what else can I do? It is a frustrating situation.
My cat has lost weight. She was diagnosed by her vet as having a thyroid disorder. I give her half a pill (methimazole) in the morning and half in the evening. She is so picky and won’t eat dry food. She’ll try wet food but usually after a can has been opened she refuses to eat most of it.
I cooked chicken and she is crazy about it, but I don’t want her to overeat. How much should I give her? And should I give her a vitamin to get her taurine?