I am an Affilate!

I hope you enjoy any product or service that I recommend. :) Just so you understand, I may take a share of any sales or other compensation from the links on this page. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. Thanks if you use my links, I really appreciate your support.

Cat Ate Chicken Bone (Now What? Is it Serious?)

If your cat ate a chicken bone, especially if this was not intentional, you may be worried and wondering if it’s a serious problem.

Why Did My Cat Eat a Chicken Bone?

No matter what breed you have, all cats are carnivorous. So, if they have a chicken bone in front of them, they may not be able to resist it and thus, end up eating it. Cats usually have a sensitive stomach. So, when they eat anything that is not in their diet plan, it may get worrisome for the owner.

So, now that you know why your cat may have eaten the chicken bone. Keep reading to learn if chickens are dangerous for cats, if wild cats used to eat raw bones, if cats can eat raw chicken, and so much more…

Are Chicken Bones Dangerous for Cats?

Cat ate chicken bone.

Cat ate chicken bone.

If chicken bones are dangerous for cats or not depends on what form your cat consumed them in. Now, chicken bones may also be of two types such as cooked chicken bones and uncooked chicken bones.

Cooked chicken bones can get very dangerous for your cat and require immediate medical attention. On the other hand, uncooked chicken bones are safe to eat and won’t cause any inconvenience mostly.

Some of the dangers of your cat eating cooked chicken bones are:

Splintering of Bones

Cooked bones are quite brittle and also weak. So, they may end up splintering in your cat’s body and cause damage to the internal organs.

They may also create holes in the intestines and stomach and cause the gut bacteria to infest the body. This may result in infection, necrosis, and in severe cases, death too.

Blockage in Gastrointestinal Tract

Another problem when it comes to cooked bones is that they are not flexible like uncooked bones. So, they may block the gastrointestinal blockage and cause discomfort to your cat.

What Should You Do if Your Cat Has Eaten a Chicken Bone?

If your cat has eaten chicken bones, then there are two things you need to look out for – what type of chicken bones they have eaten and when they have eaten.

As mentioned earlier, cooked bones can cause severe harm to a cat’s body in various ways. They can cause a blockage and sometimes, in the worst conditions, end up destroying the internal organs of your cat.

So, if your cat has eaten a cooked chicken bone, you need to take them to the vet doctor as soon as possible. Make sure that you don’t delay this visit even if your cat isn’t showing any signs of discomfort.

Bones in its feces?

However, if you find the bones in cat feces, you need not worry about it.

Now, if your cat has eaten an uncooked chicken bone, then it is not at all a matter of worry. Yet, you still should regulate your cat’s diet and ensure that they don’t eat anything they like and at any time.

Did Wild Cats Eat Raw Bones?

Yes, as cats are carnivorous and have a predatory nature, they are skilled to kill and eat. This also includes preying on birds and feeding on raw bones.

You should also note that as chicken bones are smaller compared to other raw bones, there are fewer chances of blockage. Thus, chicken bones are definitely the meal of wild cats.

Can I Feed My Cat Boiled Chicken Daily?

Cats are carnivores and they need their daily intake of protein meals. So, if you’re planning to feed your cat some chicken daily, you need to keep in mind the below points.

  • Make sure you feed your cat boiled chicken, devoid of any seasonings and oil
  • Make sure you don’t add onions and garlic as they may cause harm to your cat’s stomach
  • Make sure you always boil the chicken properly
  • Make sure you don’t give your cat any extra fat trimmings

As long as you keep in mind the above points, boiled chicken can help in keeping your cat strong and healthy.

How Do You Boil Chicken for Cats?

Follow the following instructions to make the best-boiled chicken for your cat:

  1. Wash the chicken properly and thoroughly.
  2. Put the chicken in a large stew pot and cover it with water.
  3. Bring your cat’s favorite vegetables and cut them into pieces then put them in the pot with the chicken.
  4. Add rice.
  5. Leave the chicken to cook until the meat falls off the bones.
  6. Make sure the vegetables are soft and tender.
  7. Remove all the bones from the chicken. Cooked chicken bones can cause serious health hazards to your cat and intestinal damage.
  8. Blend the stew in a blender. Keep blending until the mixture is coarse enough.
  9. Put the mixture in plastic bags then freeze it.

It is better to avoid garlic and onions. Some suggest that they cause anemia for your cat, while some other experts suggest that it is actually beneficial for certain conditions. So, stay on the safe side and avoid them.

Can a Cat Pass an Obstruction?

Foreign body obstruction, unfortunately, is one of the most life-threatening conditions that happen for cats. While most of the foreign bodies pass through the body with no problem, other foreign bodies could get obstructed in the intestinal tract.

The only treatment for foreign body obstruction is surgical removal. You need to react as fast as possible because the longer you wait the more life-threatening it gets for your cat.

Swallowing a thread

Swallowing a thread is another serious condition. The thread could get tangled around the cat’s tongue and anchored in the stomach. Every time your cat swallows the thread will pull against this area.

It would be the worst nightmare if the thread was attached to a needle. The needle will cut or pierce the stomach or intestines. This is a case of an emergency that needs to be dealt with as fast as possible.

Can You Feed Cats Raw Chicken?

Yes, it is possible to feed cat chicken or any raw meat, generally. People who feed their cat’s raw diets support their behavior by the fact that wild cats only feed on raw diets and they never eat cooked food.

However, our pets have different bodies and different immune systems than wild cats. The wild cat’s body has adapted to the dangers of the wild. While tamed cats’ bodies are much more delicate and vulnerable.

If you decided to feed your cat raw chicken, here are some of the risks and concerns you need to worry about:

Bacteria and Parasites

An uncooked chicken may be full of bacteria and parasites that could make your cat sick. Fortunately, commercial raw diets are always tested to minimize the number of bacteria and parasites.

Bones

The bones in raw chicken can be very dangerous for your cat. It can cause an obstruction that has to be removed with surgical removal.

Nutritional Deficiency

Raw chicken has fewer quantities of nutritions than cooked chicken. So, if you want your cat to have a balanced diet with high nutritional value, go for cooked chicken.

What Are the Symptoms of a Blockage in a Cat?

Possible symptoms of obstruction include:

  • Repeated vomiting
  • Loss of appetite
  • Abdominal swelling or pain
  • Diarrhea
  • Lethargy
  • Fever
  • Shock
  • Dehydration

Do not hesitate to visit your vet, as foreign body obstruction can get life-threatening.

Can a Cat Digest a Chicken Bone?

No, chicken bones are very dangerous for cats. Cooked bones change their composition and become brittle, which causes them to splinter.

Bones can cause severe intestinal damage and obstruction when swallowed. It could be fatal if not treated early.

Are cooked bones more dangerous than raw bones?

Yes. Cooked bones become brittle and when eaten can break into small splinters that can tear or puncture your cat’s internal organs. Whereas a raw bone is naturally stronger.

However, even though a raw bone is better for your cat, it does not mean that there are no risks with raw bones.

Risks with raw bones include a blockage or they could even have sharp edges that can tear when swallowed.

How do I know if my cat ate a chicken bone?

To tell if your cat has eaten a chicken bone there are obvious and not so obvious signs. The obvious signs include choking, vomiting. However diarrhea and lethargy can also be linked to this.

Choking

If a cat eats a big chicken bone piece and it gets lodged they could begin to choke. This is deemed as obvious because there are visual cues and it’s an immediate and viderous reaction.

Vomiting

If your cat’s digestive system is in distress then it can try to purge itself with vomiting. Examples of this distress include the chicken bone splitting up into tiny shards in their gut.

Diarrhea

This is another way that your cat’s body may try to eliminate the distress of the chicken bone. Similar to vomiting, a chewed up chicken bone, broken into shards, could cause their digestive system to reject its contents.

Lethargy

This is deemed as not so obvious, or subtle, because it may not seem to be directly linked to your cat

eating the chicken bone.

But if your cat’s digestive system is disrupted it can cause problems with it functioning correctly. Meaning, converting the food to energy. Which can lead the cat to be lethargic.

What are the benefits of raw bones for cats?

The benefits of chewing bones are teeth health and the nutrients from the bones. These qualities are also complemented by the fact that your cat will obviously enjoy biting and chewing them.

Teeth health

SImilar to dogs, cats can benefit from chewing bones. The bone can help to keep their teeth strong and clean off any excess tartar or plaque.

Nutrients

There are a number of nutrients in bones that can benefit your cat. This includes calcium, magnesium, potassium, etc.

Can cats eat raw chicken?

Cats can eat raw chicken but there is a high level of risk with it. This is mainly from the bacteria it can have from being exposed at room temperature too long.

It’s not advised because it can easily go wrong, but it can be done. Also, many cat owners in favor of this argue this is the natural order.

Meaning, in the wild, cats do not have food cooked for them. So, they can naturally digest raw food in this way anyway.

Could my cat die from eating a chicken bone?

Yes. A cat could die from eating a chicken bone. This is because it could get lodged causing them to choke. Or it could splinter and damage its internal organs.

Lindsey Browlingdon