Can cats eat chicken?
Cooked chicken without skin, bones or seasoning can be an occasional treat, but it doesn’t replace complete cat food (iCatCare, Cornell). Raw chicken is not recommended because of germs (Cornell, ASPCA).
How to serve it: fully cooked, no skin, bones or seasoning
Good to know: iCatCare mentions chicken as a treat mainly for cats that won’t eat, with the vet’s OK.
How much is okay
All treats together: at most 10% of daily calories. Enter your cat’s weight:
Chicken
up to 0.52 oz a day
15 g
10% of 241 kcal a day, for a spayed or neutered cat with normal activity. If your cat gets other treats too, give less.
Questions
What amount of chicken is okay for my cat?
All treats together: at most 10% of daily calories. For a spayed or neutered cat with normal activity weighing 9 lb, that’s up to 0.52 oz (15 g) a day. Work out the amount for your cat above.
Can dogs eat chicken?
Yes, but only a little. AKC says plain cooked chicken is fine for dogs. Most sources advise against raw chicken because of Salmonella, and cooked chicken bones splinter easily (AKC, ASPCA).
Sources
- International Cat Care – How to encourage your cat to eat
- International Cat Care – Toxoplasmosis and cats
- Cornell Feline Health Center – Feeding Your Cat
- ASPCA Animal Poison Control – People Foods to Avoid Feeding Your Pets
- Nutrition data: USDA FoodData Central (165 kcal per 100 g)
Last checked: October 2026