Can Cats Eat Beef?
By Pettings · Sources checked Nov 2, 2026
Cats can eat small amounts of plain cooked beef. A bite of lean steak or roast, trimmed of fat and cooked without seasoning, is a reasonable treat for most adult cats. Two cautions apply. Fatty cuts add calories fast, and beef is one of the foods most often reported as an allergen in cats, according to a review of published feline cases in BMC Veterinary Research.
What Beef Offers a Cat
The Cornell Feline Health Center explains that cats rely on nutrients found only in animal products and evolved on a diet rich in protein with very little carbohydrate. Lean beef is mostly protein and water, plus some fat. As a treat, though, plain beef is not complete nutrition. It lacks the calcium and the vitamin balance of a formulated cat food, so it should be a small extra and nothing more.
How Much Beef Can a Cat Have?
WSAVA recommends keeping treats under 10% of a cat's daily calories, about 22 to 25 calories a day for a 9 to 11 pound adult. WSAVA lists lean cooked beef at about 64 calories per ounce, more than chicken or turkey. For a 10-pound adult cat with no food allergy and no medical condition, 1/4 ounce of lean cooked beef, about 1 level tablespoon diced, comes to roughly 16 calories. Cut the regular food back by about that much. Marbled steak and fatty roast run higher, so stick with lean cuts. Kittens, seniors and cats with diabetes, kidney disease, urinary stones, pancreatitis or food allergies should check with their veterinarian first.
How to Serve It
Choose a lean cut such as sirloin, round or a trimmed roast. Cook it plain with no salt, butter, oil, garlic, onion or steak rub. The Merck Veterinary Manual advises against feeding cats raw or undercooked meat and recommends cooking roasts to at least 145 degrees Fahrenheit. Trim off the visible fat, remove any bone, and cut the meat into pieces about 1/4 inch across. Tufts Petfoodology lists high fat meats like roast beef among holiday foods that can upset a pet's stomach, so skip fatty slices, drippings and gravy. Deli roast beef is usually salted and seasoned, and the ASPCA warns that salty foods can cause vomiting, diarrhea and other problems in pets.
If your cat has a medical condition or eats a special diet, ask your veterinarian before giving beef.
Common Questions
Can cats eat steak?
Cats can have a small bite of plain cooked steak if the fat is trimmed off and no seasoning, butter or sauce was used. Lean cuts work better than marbled ones because fat adds calories quickly. Cook it through, cut it into small pieces, and keep the portion to about 1/4 ounce for a 10-pound adult cat, which fits within the treat allowance WSAVA describes.
Can cats eat raw beef?
Raw beef is not recommended for cats. The Cornell Feline Health Center says raw meat is not recommended as food or treats because it can carry toxoplasmosis and other infections. A Cornell study reviewed by Tufts Petfoodology grew disease-causing bacteria from 42% of raw cat foods and from none of the cooked foods. Cook beef through before you share a small piece.
Are cats allergic to beef?
Some cats are, and beef is one of the most commonly reported food allergens in cats. A review in BMC Veterinary Research found beef in 14 of 78 cats with confirmed food allergies, slightly ahead of fish. Signs of food allergy in cats often involve the skin or digestion. If you suspect a problem, your veterinarian can set up a proper food trial.
Can cats eat roast beef?
Cats can have a small piece of plain home-cooked roast beef with the fat trimmed and no seasoning. Tufts Petfoodology lists fatty meats such as roast beef among holiday foods that can cause vomiting or diarrhea in pets with sensitive stomachs, so lean slices are the better pick. Avoid deli roast beef, which is usually salted, and never pour gravy or drippings over the cat's food.
Can kittens eat beef?
Kittens can taste a tiny piece of plain cooked lean beef, but most of their calories should come from a complete kitten food. Cut the meat very small so it is easy to chew, and leave off all fat and seasoning. Because beef is a common allergen in cats, introduce it slowly and ask your veterinarian how many treat calories your kitten can have.