Chicken skin is a delicious and crunchy surface that gives an added flavor to the food. Earlier, it was considered to be unhealthy and was taken off before baking the chicken. However, now it has been discovered that it is not unhealthy at all. The fat present in the skin of the chicken is unsaturated and is good for the heart. It can also lower the level of blood pressure and cholesterol in the body. It is being preferred by many people now since it does not add too many extra calories to the meal and adds a juicy flavor to it. The crispiness makes it wonderful to bite into.
Now coming to whether the chicken skin is as good for cats as it is for human beings. If you enjoy having chicken skin, you might be wondering if you can give it to your cat too. There might be many questions in your mind regarding whether it is safe for your cat and any health risks that could arise if they are given chicken skin.
Cats are carnivores, and they love having meat. You might notice that your cat is attracted to your food whenever you eat meat. They have a craving for it, but it is important to ensure that a food item is safe and healthy for your pets before feeding it to them. It is advised that the best food items for cats are the ones that are rich in protein. A balanced and healthy diet that a cat requires every day includes a high amount of protein, so if cats eat meat, their nutritional protein requirements can be fulfilled.
Since cats can eat meat like beef, turkey, or chicken, they can also eat the skin of the chicken. However, everything is good only in moderation. Overindulgence in any food can prove harmful for the cat. Let us learn more about whether cats can eat chicken skin in detail.
Why do cats like Chicken Skin?
Cats love meat of any kind, and since the skin of chicken tastes like meat, they love having it. It is good for cats just like the meat is, and when you feed chicken to your cat, you can leave the skin on it but remember that it should not always be done. It is okay in moderation, in small quantities, but it is not recommended to feed them a lot of the skin. If the cat has no pre-existing health problems, there is no issue with giving them chicken skin at any age. However, if your cat has an allergy to animal protein, it is best to keep it away from chicken.
How old does my cat have to be before I can give them Chicken Skin?
Your cat can eat chicken skin once it has begun eating solid food. A good time would be when the cat has reached 20 weeks of age. It is the age when the cat has become independent and has an adequately developed immune system. Smaller cats should be kept away from meat since it has a high quantity of fat which can be harmful to them. Meat also has pathogens, so the cat needs to have an immune system that can fight those.
Can cats eat raw Chicken Skin?
Cats have a shorter digestive tract as compared to human beings or other pets like dogs. They also have an increased pH of stomach acid. Usually, cats can eat and digest raw chicken skin, but there might be some bacteria in the chicken that they might not be immune to. If that happens, the cat could get digestive infections and fall ill. Another possibility is that the chicken could have diseases that could spread to the cat if eaten raw. Thus, cooking any meat by baking or boiling it before feeding it to your cat is recommended.
How should the chicken skin be cooked before giving it to a cat?
The chicken skin should be cooked by baking or boiling it. Boiling the chicken makes it safe for your cat since it kills the harmful bacteria it may contain. It should not be fried in oil or given raw to your cat. It is best if you bake it without any oil, salt, or spice. It is also recommended to stay away from onion and garlic. The main rule is that it should be given to your cat in moderate amounts not to cause any problem with digestion. Too much meat can cause obesity or heart disease and is not good for them in the long run. Many balanced and healthy pet food available in the market also has some quantity of chicken skin added in them, so giving chicken skin to your cat in moderate quantities should be completely safe for them.
While boiling or baking the chicken skin, it should be ensured that the temperature of the meat internally should reach above 70 – 74°C. It is safe to cook it at this temperature since it kills the bacteria like E. coli and Salmonella that are harmful to the cat and can cause digestive infection.
If the chicken skin is fried, the high oil content will cause the cat to fall ill and have stomach problems like vomiting or diarrhea.
Can cats eat smoked Chicken Skin?
When meat is smoked, it has a high quantity of salt and sulfites in it. Cats cannot tolerate high salt levels, so it is not advised to give them smoked chicken skin. You provide them with chicken skin that has been grilled, though it does not have oil, salt, and spices.
What are some alternatives to Chicken Skin?
There are many threats that a cat can have and enjoy other than chicken skin. To prevent your cat from falling ill, you should try giving them different kinds of treats in moderate amounts. Treats can be given to them in addition to their normal diet, but they should not be given as a whole meal since cats have lots of different nutritional requirements to be fulfilled for them to be healthy.
Dehydrated chicken strips that are available in the market are a healthier substitute for chicken skin.
Final Word
Although chicken skin is safe for cats, a cat needs to have a balanced diet. It involves a lot of other food items other than meat. Meat has a lot of protein that is good for cats, but they also need other sources of food and nutrition.