Can Cats Eat Chicken?
By Pettings · Sources checked Nov 2, 2026
Cats can eat small amounts of plain cooked chicken. A few bites of skinless breast or thigh make a simple treat for most adult cats. The trouble usually lies in how people cook it. The ASPCA lists onions and garlic among foods to keep from pets and says cats are more susceptible to them than dogs, and both show up in many chicken recipes, rubs and broths.
What Chicken Offers a Cat
Cats are obligate carnivores. The Cornell Feline Health Center explains that cats rely on nutrients found only in animal products and evolved on prey that is high in protein and very low in carbohydrate. Plain chicken fits that pattern. It is mostly protein and water with some fat, and it has no fiber or sugar. Still, chicken is not a balanced meal. On its own it lacks the calcium and many of the vitamins a complete cat food supplies, so it should stay a treat.
How Much Chicken Can a Cat Have?
WSAVA advises keeping treats under 10% of a cat's daily calories, which is roughly 22 to 25 calories a day for a 9 to 11 pound adult. WSAVA lists lean cooked chicken breast at about 47 calories per ounce. For a 10-pound adult cat with no food allergy and no medical condition, 1/4 to 1/2 ounce of diced breast, about 1 to 2 level tablespoons, comes to roughly 12 to 24 calories. Take that amount out of the day's regular food instead of adding it on top. Kittens, seniors and cats with diabetes, kidney disease, urinary stones, pancreatitis or food allergies need their veterinarian's advice before any new treat.
How to Serve It
Bake or boil the chicken with no salt, butter, oil or seasoning, and cook it all the way through. The Cornell Feline Health Center does not recommend raw meat for cats as food or as a treat. Use skinless, boneless breast or thigh. Cut it into pieces about 1/4 inch across and let them cool. Pick out every bone, since the ASPCA warns that bones can injure or block the digestive tract. Leave out rotisserie chicken, breaded or fried chicken, chicken in sauce and store-bought broth, which often contains onion or garlic. The Merck Veterinary Manual links concentrated forms such as onion and garlic powder to poisoning in cats and dogs.
If your cat has a medical condition or eats a prescription or special diet, ask your veterinarian before sharing chicken.
Common Questions
Can kittens eat cooked chicken?
Kittens can have a tiny piece of plain cooked chicken, but their growth food matters far more than any treat. A kitten that fills up on chicken eats less of the complete diet it needs to grow. Cut the meat into very small pieces, leave off skin and bones, and ask your veterinarian how many treat calories suit your kitten's age and weight.
Is boiled chicken good for cats with diarrhea?
Plain boiled chicken is not a treatment for diarrhea, so talk to your veterinarian before changing your cat's food. Diarrhea in cats can come from parasites, infections, a sudden diet change or an underlying illness, and some of these need testing. Call the clinic if it lasts more than a day or two, if you see blood, or if your cat is also vomiting or refusing food.
Can cats eat raw chicken?
Raw chicken is not recommended for cats. The Cornell Feline Health Center advises against raw meat as food or as a treat, and a Cornell study reviewed by Tufts Petfoodology grew disease-causing bacteria such as Salmonella from 42% of raw cat foods and from none of the cooked foods. Cornell has also reported cats that died of H5N1 bird flu after eating commercial raw food. Cook chicken all the way through before sharing it.
Can cats eat chicken every day?
A cat can have a small piece of plain cooked chicken each day as long as it fits the treat allowance. WSAVA says treats should stay under 10% of daily calories, which is about 22 to 25 calories for a 10-pound cat, or roughly 1/4 to 1/2 ounce of cooked breast. Cut back the regular meal by the same amount. Chicken alone is not complete nutrition, so it should never replace the main food.
Can cats eat rotisserie chicken?
Store-bought rotisserie chicken is a poor choice for cats because it is usually salted and coated in spice rubs that may contain onion or garlic powder. The ASPCA lists onions and garlic as foods to avoid and says cats are more susceptible than dogs. The Merck Veterinary Manual links concentrated forms such as onion and garlic powder to poisoning in cats. If you want to share chicken, cook a plain piece at home without any seasoning.
Sources
- Cornell Feline Health Center: Feeding your cat
- WSAVA: Feeding treats to your cat
- ASPCA: People foods avoid feeding your pets
- Merck Veterinary Manual: Garlic and onion allium spp toxicosis in animals
- Tufts Petfoodology: Raw pet food research update
- Cornell Feline Health Center: H5n1 avian influenza and its impact on feline health
