What Kinds of Meats Can Cats Eat?

Cats benefit from eating a variety of meat products. Their bodies must obtain the amino acid taurine directly from their food because they cannot produce it from the breakdown of other amino acids as dogs and humans can. Meat contains significant amounts of taurine, which regulates Kitty's heart rhythm, digestion and eyesight.

  1. Poultry

    • Chicken, turkey, duck and game hens are excellent sources of protein. Chicken and turkey breast meat are considered lean meats, which means they are lower in calories and fat content, but still high in protein. Cats also enjoy the taste of duck and game hen. Yet both are higher in calories and fat content and should be fed less frequently. Any raw poultry prepared at home should be cooked to 165 degrees F to destroy foodborne pathogens such as Salmonella enteritidis and Campylobacter jejuni.

    Fish

    • Cats love to chow down on just about any kind of fish. When serving fresh fish, limit Kitty's intake of salmon and tuna. These fish, which are carnivores, tend to have higher mercury levels. Halibut, cod and flounder typically contain lower levels of mercury. While fresh fish is relatively expensive, canned fish is more affordable. The caveat is that canned tuna and salmon tend to contain high levels of sodium. For this reason, these kinds of meat make excellent treats, but shouldn't be daily meals.

    Beef

    • Beef -- especially ground beef -- can be an inexpensive way not only to satisfy Kitty's hunger, but also ensure adequate protein intake. It is used frequently in both dry and wet commercial cat foods because it is easy on a cat's digestive system. Ground beef should be cooked to 165 degrees F; other beef products should be cooked to 145 degrees F to mitigate any pathogen danger.

    Pork

    • Cats can eat pork, but it simply isn't the best choice. It is safe, but it often contains much higher fat content than Kitty's veterinarian might like. This is especially true for bacon and ham. Pork products are often smoked. While humans consider this tasty, the additional sodium content that accompanies this flavor is too much for a cat's delicate digestive system. If you do feed pork, be sure it is cooked to 140 degrees F.

    Lamb and Veal

    • The rich taste of lamb and veal -- due to high fat content -- quickly satisfies the palate of a kitty dining on these meat choices. These are both safe to feed to cats only in moderation, as their rich texture can upset Kitty's stomach. These meats also are significantly more expensive than other meats.

    How Much To Feed

    • To some extent the amount of food to feed your cat each day depends on her nutritional needs and appetite. As a general guideline, 15 to 20 percent of your cat's daily calories can come from plain meat. So if you normally feed Kitty 6 ounces of wet food, you can give her 5 ounces and then 1 ounce of meat.