Introduction
Cats can eat grilled chicken but only in moderation. Feeding them grilled chicken daily isn’t a healthy option since the grilled chicken recipe consists of onion, pepper, garlic, salt, and lots of other spices that affect cats’ health. Vets recommend pet owners to give the grilled chicken to their feline friend once a week only or occasionally. Grilled chicken without spices is a good source of protein and contains Omega 6 fatty acids, glucosamine, and amino acids that ensure healthy bones and provides tons of energy.
Is grilled chicken suitable for cats?
Grilled chicken without any seasoning is low in calories and rich in protein source. Chicken breasts are a versatile source of protein and have high nutritional value and healthy metabolism. Grilled chicken is a great addition to cats’ diet as it contains protein that obligated carnivores like cat needs.
Grilled Chicken Bones
Feeding cats grilled chicken bones is not a good idea, especially for kittens. These bones can lead to choking hazards. Grilled chicken bones can get stuck in your pet’s throat and damage the gastrointestinal tract. Bones are regarded as toxic good for cats on the ASPCA toxic good list. It can puncture the digestive tract of your cat if it gets lodged in its throat. It can have a painful experience and may lead to death in some cases.
Grilled Chicken Breast
Cats can eat grilled chicken breast but only in moderate amounts. Add it to your cat’s diet occasionally. Grilled chicken breast is a good source of protein, fats, and other nutrients, but it shouldn’t be consumed too much. If your cats are allergic to certain meals, avoid giving them as it’s not a healthy option.
Plain Grilled Chicken
One of the best form of chickens to be given to cats is plain grilled chicken since it is devoid of pepper, spices, and salt that are toxic to cats and doesn’t affect their health or cause any disease. Feeding your cats plain grilled chicken is a healthy way to ensure a healthy living for cats. Plain grilled chicken has essential nutrients.
Benefits of plain grilled chicken for cats
High protein content
It has a rich protein supply and supports bones, tissues, blood, etc. Cats need protein as it is an important component for every cell in their body.
Weight loss
Grilled chicken forms a healthy diet plan since it contains low fat and calories as it is lean compared to other forms of chicken. Swap this meat out for fatty meats like pork and beef. It helps cats to lose weight.
Healthy bones
Grilled chicken is packed with phosphorus and calcium, which makes the bones strong and healthy. You can give your cats enough calcium and help build their bones healthy by giving them grilled chicken.
Immunity booster
Grilled chicken bolsters immune cells in a cat’s body which helps to fight sickness and infection. The protein in grilled chicken consists of amino acids that help to build antibodies and also fight infection. You can also add shredded chicken with veggies at times.
Harmful effects of Grilled chicken if fed regularly
Even if your cats plead you to give grilled chicken or other BBQ foods, you should avoid sharing such food items with your furry family member. Vets say that it is ok to share cooked and deboned grilled chicken, turkey, salmon, and certain types of cheese as well, but you should avoid giving them these food items because of the following reasons: –
Salty grilled chicken makes your cat dehydrated
Too much salt is harmful to both vats and humans. The high sodium level in grilled chicken makes your cat thirsty, which can lead to high temperatures and seizures.
Food poisoning
If your cat is allergic to certain meat and eats grilled chicken in large amounts, it can cause digestive upset, vomiting, and diarrhea. Give properly cooked chicken without any seasoning since raw meat may let bacteria enter your cat’s intestine.
Grilled bones can cause cats to choke.
Cats suffer from gastrointestinal problems if fed with grilled chicken bones. Letting them eat spicy grilled chicken and BBQ foods can cause cancer. It can also cause internal damage. Chicken bones can get stuck in the cat’s stomach or intestine and can even cause choking hazards if it gets stuck in the esophagus.
Can cats eat chicken?
Cats can eat chicken, but it should be cooked properly, i.e., free of seasonings and oil. Cats are carnivorous and cause good health. According to PetMD, you can feed chicken to cats in small amounts but it can’t be regarded as a steady meal replacement. Experts suggest pet owners cook chicken by boiling and serving plainly without giving extra far trimmings as it can cause pancreatitis. Don’t feed them chicken if cooked with salt, garlic, onion as these are toxic.
How much grilled chicken can be fed to cats daily?
Giving your cat homemade grilled chicken is an ideal way to be sure that they get essential ingredients. You should choose carefully what ingredients should be put in your cat’s meal so that they can be safe and don’t feel any sensitivity or allergy to certain ingredients. Consult your vet about a complete chicken diet for your cat. You can feed your cats ¼ to ⅓ pound of grilled chicken for every 20 pounds of their weight.
Taurine is an amino acid required by cats for the heart’s normal functionality, vision, and reproduction. This taurine is found generally in animal-based protein, so eating meat-based diets is necessary for cats to meet their required nutrition.
Final word
Apart from the grilled chicken, you can give boiling chicken, oven-baked chicken, and canned chicken. If you are offering grilled chicken, avoid herbs, spices, oil, garlic sauce, onions that are toxic for cats. Ensure that you follow your vet’s recommendation and give cats the required number of calories they need per day.
The calorie requirements depend upon various factors like your cat’s size, age, breed, etc. Avoid spicy ingredients in grilled chicken, and don’t marinate the chicken in anything. Also, it is advised to give the chicken meat to your pet instead of the skin where excess salt, spices, and garlic are contained. Chicken skin is fattier, which may cause obesity in cats. Also, avoid grilled chicken bones that can harm your kittens as they splinter and damage internal organs.