Yes, cats can eat chicken!
Plain, cooked, boneless chicken is safe and healthy for cats. It is a high-quality protein and a common ingredient in cat food.
| Can cats eat it? | Safe |
| Calories | About 12 kcal per tablespoon of shredded cooked chicken |
| Main benefit | Lean animal protein |
| Main risk | Cooked bones can splinter |
| Kittens? | In tiny amounts once on solid food; kittens have sensitive stomachs |
Free · instant · based on veterinary formulas
Vets recommend keeping all treats under 10% of daily calories. One tablespoon of shredded cooked chicken has about 12 kcal. The chart shows the most a typical spayed or neutered adult cat could have in a day if chicken were the only treat.
| Cat weight | Daily treat budget | Max chicken per day |
|---|---|---|
| 6 lb (2.7 kg) | 18 kcal | 1 × tablespoon of shredded cooked chicken |
| 8 lb (3.6 kg) | 22 kcal | 1.5 × tablespoon of shredded cooked chicken |
| 10 lb (4.5 kg) | 26 kcal | 2 × tablespoon of shredded cooked chicken |
| 12 lb (5.4 kg) | 30 kcal | 2 × tablespoon of shredded cooked chicken |
| 14 lb (6.4 kg) | 34 kcal | 2.5 × tablespoon of shredded cooked chicken |
Eating more than the recommended amount usually causes nothing worse than an upset stomach: soft stool, gas or vomiting. Skip treats for the rest of the day, keep fresh water available and call your vet if vomiting or diarrhea lasts more than 24 hours or your cat seems unwell.
Related: My cat ate a chicken bone
Check your cat's full daily needs with the cat food calculator.
Yes. Plain, cooked, boneless chicken is safe and healthy for cats. It is a high-quality protein and a common ingredient in cat food.
Small amounts as a treat are fine, but plain chicken alone lacks nutrients cats need, such as taurine in adequate amounts and calcium.
Only plain meat without skin or bones, and only if it is not seasoned with onion or garlic.
No. Cooked bones splinter and can cause choking or gut injury.
Yes, in very small amounts once they are eating solid food. Kittens have sensitive stomachs, so offer a tiny piece and stop if you see loose stool. Most of their calories should come from a complete kitten food.
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This guide is general information for healthy adult cats. Cats with medical conditions (such as diabetes, pancreatitis, kidney disease or food allergies) may need different advice from their vet.
Safe
Yes. Plain, cooked, boneless chicken is safe and healthy for cats.