Can Cats Eat Fried Chicken?

Does your cat give you that pitiful look whenever you're eating fried chicken? And when you finally give in and give her a chunk of it, she won't leave your side until you give her some more? We find it cute and irresistible when our pets do that. But before you give her another piece of fried chicken, have you ever wondered if it's good for your cat? Well, we asked pet nutritionists, and here's what they say.

Cats can eat fried chicken but only occasionally. It's best to remove the skin and bones once you give it to your pet so that it's healthier and safer to eat. But don't always give fried chicken to your cat as it can give her an upset stomach. Too much of this food can also cause obesity and lead to other illnesses such as diabetes and heart disease.

Continue reading because we'll tell you more about why cats cannot eat fried chicken and what we can do to chicken to make them better suited to our pets' diet and nutrition. We'll also answer your questions regarding feeding your cats with chicken nuggets, chicken bones, or if felines can achieve optimum health when their diet is mostly derived from chicken.

A beautiful young cat eating fried chicken wings, Can Cats Eat Fried Chicken?

Is fried chicken healthy for cats?

We all know that cats thrive on a meat-based diet and fried chicken is meat, right? So, does it follow that it's safe to feed our furry felines with this deep-fried goodness that is crunchy on the outside and so tender and juicy inside?

In a nutshell, this deep-fried meat isn't healthy. No matter how delicious these chicken cuts are, they aren't healthy to eat for us humans or for our pets. They usually have high caloric content, fats, sodium, and carbs. The salt that adds flavor to them and the oil that's used for frying is harmful to felines.

Cats may have an upset stomach once they consume too much of these crispies. An upset tummy may lead to vomiting and diarrhea. When consumed excessively, fried chicken will contribute to your feline becoming obese and developing other life-threatening diseases such as diabetes and heart failure. That's why it's not healthy to feed cats with deep-fried chicken.

But when you only give a piece of fried chicken to your pet occasionally, then it's okay. Just make sure you remove the skin, breading (if there's any), and bones so that it's safer and healthier for your cat. It's when pet parents give fried chicken to their cats regularly that it poses a risk to their health.

Beautiful Scottish young cat eating chicken wings

Is breading bad for cats?

Fried chicken is the ultimate comfort food, do you agree? The chicken cuts are covered with breading then deep-fried to perfection.

It is really the skin and the breading on it which are considered harmful to our pets. The breading on fried chicken or chicken tenders can contain ingredients that can be toxic to your cat. It may have salt, garlic powder, onion powder, and other seasonings to make them flavorful. These ingredients are toxic to cats when consumed excessively.

The breading needs to be deep-fried in fat and oil to make it crispy. These can also hurt your pet's tummy. Aside from giving your feline friend a stomachache, they can also lead to diarrhea or vomiting. And as mentioned earlier, too much of these crispies can make your pet overweight and cause other diseases such as heart problems and diabetes.

If your cat shows an adverse reaction after eating any food with breading, it's best to take her to your vet so she can be given the proper treatment.

Can cats eat fried chicken bones?

A cat eating chicken bones from a plate outside

This is a very important reminder for pet parents. Never give fried chicken bones to your cats. Once the chicken bones are cooked, they become brittle and can easily disintegrate into smaller pieces.

These shards of chicken bones can get stuck in their throat and cause choking. They can also damage your cat's internal organs and this can be fatal.

Remove bones from the chicken before you give it to your cat to avoid the risk they pose on your pet's health.

Can cats eat chicken nuggets?

Okay, so there are no bones here, right? Just plain white chicken meat that's been processed and cut into small bite-sized pieces. Sometimes they are molded into various shapes to make them more appealing. They are then dipped in batter and breading before they are deep-fried or baked. This is usually how fast food restaurants make chicken nuggets.

When your chicken nuggets are prepared this way, they aren't healthy for your cats. The breading and meat might contain preservatives and seasonings that are toxic to pets.

If the nuggets are deep-fried, all the more that you shouldn't give them to your pet. The fat content of the cooking oil can potentially upset her stomach. This can lead to vomiting or diarrhea, depending on how sensitive her tummy is.

Many pet parents have given their felines a piece or two of these small chicken delights. When given occasionally, that's okay. They won't necessarily hurt your cat. Just make sure you don't make it a habit to give chicken nuggets to your pet whether as a meal or treat because too much of these goodies can be bad for your cat's health.

Can cats live on chicken alone?

Felines are obligate carnivores. They need the nutrients found in animal meat to survive and thrive. They aren't able to digest nutrients from vegetables into something that their bodies can use. Chicken is just one type of meat that cats can eat. There are other meats that we can feed them such as beef, fish, and turkey.

It is healthier to feed them with a variety of meats because each kind of animal flesh is rich in certain nutrients and they all work together to provide your cat with balanced nutrition and a healthier body.

So, cats cannot live on chicken alone. They might end up with a nutrient deficiency. Let them eat different kinds of poultry, fish, and red meat. You can also feed them with eggs, fruits, and vegetables so that they will have a well-balanced diet.

If you're unsure if your pet is getting the best nutrition that her body needs, you can consult your vet so that you'll be guided regarding a properly balanced diet.

Can you feed a cat raw chicken?

Bengal kitten eats raw chicken breast

Since we've been saying that fried chicken, especially when it comes to breading, is bad for our pets' health, can we feed them raw chicken instead?

Some parents feed their felines with raw food diet. Pet experts say that cats are physiologically ready to digest and convert the nutrients in raw chicken into something that is useful to their bodies.

Chicken is an excellent protein source. In its raw form, you can be sure that there aren't any harmful ingredients in them.

But feeding your cat with raw chicken should only be done after a consultation with your vet or pet nutritionist so that you'll be able to give your cat the right amount of food that would meet her nutritional needs.

There are also risks when you feed your felines with raw chicken. They're susceptible to parasites and bacteria. You should also remove the bones so that your pet won't choke on them. To resolve this concern, some pet parents boil the chicken without any seasoning, then cut them into chunks before serving them to their furry pets.

Final Thoughts

You can give your cats fried chicken once in a while but make sure that you don't give it to them regularly to avoid the health risks involved in salty and oily food consumption. We want to give our pets nutritious foods and feed them a balanced diet so that they will always be healthy and happy.

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