Can I feed My Cat Chicken Every day?

Last Updated on 2 years by Jenny Sovann

Cats have always been carnivores, this essentially means that meat should be part of their diet in order to survive. They are known to have natural instincts tailored to hunting. You have probably witnessed your feline friend bringing home a mouse crashed in its mouth, or pointlessly chasing after birds. They have tailored senses to hunting, such as sharp eyesight, acute hearing, and a sensitive sense of smell. Cruelly, cats always seem to love playing with their prey before killing them.  This though serves a purpose, training the cat to become a far better hunter in this big world.

As intriguing as they are, “Can I feed my cat chicken every day?” Well, cats do love chicken. As a responsible cat owner though, it is important to ensure that your feline is healthy and well-fed. There are many natural diets for cats, and chicken happens to be among the popular choices. We will dive into and explore the nutritious needs of cats, and the benefits and potential risks of feeding your cat chicken every day. There will also be fascinating ways on how best to prepare chicken for your cat. So get ready to immerse ourselves into the world of cat cuisines.

Nutritional Requirements For Cats

For cats to be healthy and strong, they need to meet a certain set of nutritional requirements. Considering cats are carnivores, they need plenty of proteins. Proteins will serve as the building blocks for your feline friend’s muscles, organs, and skin. Your cat will also need a diet that contains fats that will maintain healthy skin and coat. The fats will also provide the energy your playful feline will use. Apart from that, the fats will also help in absorbing certain vitamins for your cat.

Other essential nutrients your cat needs also include carbohydrates. Like fats, this will provide additional energy and fiber. They can be found in vegetables, fruits, and whole grains. Cats require vitamins in their diet to improve their vision, immune system, and blood clotting. Minerals like calcium, magnesium, and phosphorus are important for the bones and other physiological functions. It is important that we don’t forget water, the commodity that covers a majority of the earth. Cats require water to maintain hydration and support some other bodily functions. All these nutrients are required by your feline friend, and a healthy diet will consist of providing all of them for your cat.

How To Prepare Chicken For A Cat

There are different ways that chicken can be prepared for cats. It is important that the chicken is thoroughly cooked through to avoid the risk of harmful bacteria. Cats vary in personality, so they may prefer one or all the styles that will be mentioned. One way to go about it is by boiling the chicken. You can choose to boil a boneless, skinless chicken breast in water until it is cooked thoroughly. Shred the chicken into small pieces and serve it to your feline companion as a treat or a meal.

Using dry heat, you can choose to bake a boneless, skinless chicken breast in the oven until it is cooked. Shred the chicken into smaller pieces making it easier for your feline companion to consume. You may also opt to grill the chicken breast using an open wire or griddle with a heat source underneath. Apart from baking and grilling, you can choose to steam the chicken. Some felines may just be old school and prefer their chicken raw. This may be unsafe due to the risk of bacterial contamination. As you can see, there are many ways to prepare chicken for your feline command. Adding spices is not recommended as they may only upset the cat’s stomach.

Benefits Of Chicken

Chicken has its benefits in the diets of cats. Among them is taurine, an essential amino acid. Taurine is important in improving the health of cats’ hearts and eyes. Chicken also happens to be a source of high protein. This is essential for the growth and maintenance of your feline friend’s muscles and tissues. They also strengthen the immune function, helping to fight off infections and diseases. Adequate amounts of protein are important to the overall health of the cat.

B6 and B12 vitamins are also contained in chicken, which makes it nutrient-rich. The other nutrients include niacin, and phosphorus which are essentially needed by the cat. Feeding chicken that is moisturized, such as boiled chicken will help with hydration. Chicken breast is low in fat, helping with the prevention of obesity and other health-related issues. The bonus with chicken to cats is that it is easily digestible, it is especially an excellent choice for cats that have sensitive stomachs or digestive issues. Giving cats chicken, you should ensure there are no bones and that it is cooked properly.

Potential Risks Of Everyday Chicken

Serving cat chicken every day is not healthy and has its potential risk. The bones for instance can splinter and cause choking or damage to the cat’s digestive system. This can eventually even lead to the feline’s life being in danger. Since chicken is also eaten by us, a lot of people will tend to serve their seasoned chicken to cats. Things like garlic, onion, or other spices can be toxic and cause upset in the cat’s stomach. Uncooked chicken on the other hand may contain harmful bacteria that may affect the health of your feline friend.

Some cats are allergic to chicken, and feeding them chicken every day may cause skin irritations, vomiting, and even diarrhea. Some parts of chicken like skin and dark meat are high in fat, which can lead to obesity. The sodium content in chicken can also be very high, which will then lead to high blood pressure and other health problems. The important thing to note is the nutritional imbalance, feeding cats only chicken will lead to a lack of essential nutrients like taurine, which is important for the health of the heart and eyes.

Alternatives To Feeding Your Cat Chicken

If you were uncertain about other things to feed cats, well, there are quite a number of them that can easily be gotten. Cats love fish, whether canned or cooked, fish will eat them happily. With fish, just ensure that the mercury levels are not high. Cats hunt birds all the time, so it’s not surprising that they will love turkey if you are looking for a poultry alternative. It is always comical when they fail to hunt tiny birds on their own, even though there are some instances of success.

Beef and lamb also make great additions to the cat gourmet. They are both good protein sources for your cat as long as you don’t add seasoning. Your feline friend will also love munching on your eggs which can be cooked or served plain. If you are feeling explorative, you can feed them some venison, a meal that will be a lean protein source that is low in fat. Ensure that you consult with a veterinarian before making drastic changes to your cat’s diet.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I feed my cat boiled chicken and rice every day?

It is possible to feed your cat chicken every day, but it is not recommended. Cats also require other nutrients that a chicken can provide. It is important that you provide a nutritional diet for your cat.

Is cooked chicken healthy for cats?

Cooked chicken is rich in protein which is good for cats in moderation. It is important to ensure that cats get a balanced diet that contains other essential nutrients that cats need to be healthy.

What are the benefits of chicken for cats?

Chicken meat is high in protein content. This is good for muscle growth and tissue maintenance. It also contains fats which can provide the cat with an alternative source of energy.

Is too much chicken bad for a cat?

Too much chicken can be bad for a cat. This can lead to an unbalanced intake of nutrients that can lead to health-related issues such as obesity. Obesity can in turn lead to other problems like heart problems. 

What part of chicken is best for cats?

Breast meat is the most preferable part for cats. It is important to remove all bones and skin as they can be difficult to digest for the cat, and can also pose the risk of your feline friend choking.

Conclusion

In conclusion, while cats will love the chicken you will give them, feeding them chicken will not be great for their health. Cats require a range of other nutrients that chickens don’t have so it is important to include other feeds. There is also a wide range of different protein sources that cats can be given as great alternatives. It is important that your cat’s chicken is cooked properly to kill bacteria and devoid of bones to prevent choking hazards. It is important to ensure that your cat gets proper nutrition, consulting a veterinarian to help you create a proper diet including chicken will help you.