Can cats have chicken broth
Can Cats Eat Chicken Broth? Is Chicken Broth Safe For Cats?
Can cats eat chicken broth? Maybe youve found yourself wondering this if your cat tries to sneak a taste while youre using some chicken broth as the basis for a gravy or soup. If humans can eat chicken broth, can cats safely eat it too?
The short answer is yes, cats can eat chicken broth. There are positive benefits that can come from a cat eating chicken broth, and simply adding a little to your cats food can help ensure your cat takes on more water and stays hydrated. But you do have to be wary of serving up chicken broth that might have other ingredients, spices, or salt added to it.
As always, you must ask your regular vet before sharing any human food with your favorite feline, including chicken broth. Heres what you need to know about chicken broth and cats.
How Is Chicken Broth Good For Cats?
Chicken broth can provide a wide number of health benefits to your cat. First of all, you can add it to your kittys existing meals as a way to ensure that theyre drinking enough water.
In some cases, the extra flavor bump provided by chicken broth can also persuade a finicky feline eater to finish their meals.
Chicken broth can help to strengthen your cats immune system and aid digestion. It can also improve bone and joint condition, and in some cases vets have recommended it as part of a weight loss program.
How Can I Safely Give Chicken Broth To My Cat?
While chicken broth can be a great addition to your cats regular diet, youre likely going to have to make chicken broth yourself to ensure that its safe for your cat.
This is because the chicken broth you purchase in stores will almost certainly contain added spices, salt, and other ingredients, meaning its not suitable for feeding to your cat.
When making chicken broth for your cat, its best to simmer only the chicken and its bones without adding any extra seasonings or flavor enhancers that you might if you were preparing it for your own uses.
Also, always let chicken broth completely cool before serving it to your cat. As a further precaution, ask your veterinarian for a recommendation about exactly how much chicken broth you can safely feed to your cat on a regular basis.
Does your cat enjoy chicken broth as part of their meals? How do you prepare it for them? Tell us all about it in the comments section below!
Can Cats Eat Chicken Broth? Vet Approved Facts & FAQ
The information is current and up-to-date in accordance with the latest veterinarian research.
Learn moreIt can be hard to tell what ordinary kitchen ingredients are safe to introduce to your cats diet because human food isnt formulated with a cats dietary needs in mind. For example, can cats eat chicken broth? Yes, cats can eat chicken broth, and they usually go crazy for it, as any cat owner thats cooked chicken soup can attest. There are some ingredients you want to avoid when doing so, though, and its best to make your own homemade broth.
However, is it healthy for them? Whats the best way to add chicken broth to your cats diet safely? Read on as we answer both of those questions as well as some other valuable info about feeding cats chicken broth.
Is Chicken Broth Healthy for Cats?
Yes, chicken broth is healthy for cats as long as it doesnt contain a lot of other ingredients. Chicken broth contains protein, glucosamine, calcium, vitamins, and other essential nutrients. Cats love the smell and taste of chicken broth, so its also an excellent way to hydrate your cat when theyre feeling sick or not drinking enough water to stay healthy.
The caveat with chicken broth is that precooked or canned chicken broth designed for human consumption isnt usually good for cats because of the other ingredients in it. For example, broth cooked with onions or garlic is automatically ruled out because Allium veggies are toxic to cats and can cause anemia.
Excessive sodium is also a concern because cats need relatively little salt in their diets, but canned broths are almost always loaded with sodium and other ingredients that arent cooked with cats in mind. Cats with a high sodium diet are more likely to develop problems with blood pressure and renal function, too.
Tips for Adding Chicken Broth to Your Cats Diet
While chicken broth can be very healthy, its important that you introduce it to your cat carefully, slowly, and in small amounts. To help you do so, weve come up with some valuable tips to help.
Tips for Adding Chicken Broth to Your Cats Diet:
- Go Homemade: Make your own chicken broth by simply boiling chicken and chicken bones in water. This gives you more control over whats in your broth.
- Avoid Extra Ingredients or Spices: Cats dont need spices, and other ingredients arent always healthy for them, so keep it as plain as possible. Theres no need to even open the spice cabinet.
- Test Your Broth: Offer a very small amount to your cat with their food at mealtime and see if their stomach tolerates it well before offering more.
- Dont Make It a Regular Thing: Unless your cat is severely dehydrated or your vet recommends regularly feeding chicken broth, theres no need to feed it to your cat every day. Once or twice per week makes a tasty treat, though.
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Knowing exactly what your feline companion can and cannot eat will help you become the best pet parent. Recognizing that not all cat bowls are equal is also key! The Hepper NomNom Cat Bowl sets itself apart from traditional options by catering to the specific needs of cats. The innovative design offers whisker relief via shallow dishes and promotes digestion with a slight bowl elevation. Find out if the Hepper NomNom is right for your cat by clicking here.
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When to Avoid Feeding Your Cat Chicken Broth
Chicken broth may be healthy, but its not for every cat in every situation. There are a few major reasons you may not want to feed chicken broth to your cat. So, bear these in mind when considering if its a good idea for your cat.
When to Not Feed Your Cat Chicken Broth:
- Sensitive Stomachs: While they might love it, some cats have a sensitive, easily upset stomach that cant handle the richness of chicken broth.
- Allergies: Surprisingly, a lot of cats out there have chicken allergies that broth can set off, so definitely avoid chicken broth for cats with chicken allergies.
Conclusion
Cats may love chicken broth, but they should only be fed homemade chicken broth with no extra ingredients that could harm them, like salt, onion, or garlic. Cooking up your own chicken broth is really easy, and a single pot can last a long time if youre only feeding your cat small amounts with the occasional meal.
Featured Image Credit: LisaRedfern, Pixabay
3 Homemade Cat Gravy Recipes: Vet Approved Healthy Options
The information is current and up-to-date in accordance with the latest veterinarian research.
Learn moreCats are obligate carnivores, so they need nutrients only found in animal products for a complete dietincluding animal protein and fat. Cats are also notoriously picky, so reliable kibble may not be enough to entice their appetite sometimes.
While its difficult to feed cats a homemade diet and achieve the perfect balance of protein, fat, vitamins, and minerals, you can give your cat some gravy topping on occasion to encourage them to eat their healthy kibble.
Here are three vet-approved cat gravy recipes you can prepare at home and make mealtime more fun for your cat.
Top 3 Homemade Cat Gravy Recipes
1. Catster Recipe: Easy Homemade Cat Gravy
Catster Recipe: Easy Homemade Cat Gravy
Prep Time 5 minutes mins
Cook Time 2 hours hrs
Total Time 2 hours hrs 5 minutes mins
- Plain meat (chicken, duck, pork, beef, lamb, turkey)
Throw whole carcass or animal parts into the stock pot or slow cooker. You can include the skin, fat, and bones, which make a rich gravy. The meat or carcass you use should not be seasoned and should be safe for human consumption once cooked.
Fill the pot with water to cover the meat you have in the pot.
Bring to a boil, then turn down to a medium or soft boil. Place the lid of the pot on and let simmer for 23 hours, stirring occasionally.
Let cool. Strain so theres nothing left but the liquid. Portion out the gravy and freeze for a great yet simple topper for your cats food.
Image Credit: Pixel Shot, Shutterstock
Notes: An additional optional ingredient for this recipe is a low-sodium chicken broth at a ratio of 1:4 with water (for example, only add 1 part broth for every 4 parts of water in your pot). It must be garlic and onion free, however.
If this gravy is frozen, it can last for up to 2 months. However, once you thaw it to serve, you shouldnt re-freeze it. If you opt to refrigerate it rather than freeze it, it will only last for a week at most.
Its best to freeze several batches to ensure you dont thaw too much at once. The night before you want to add the gravy, take one portion out and leave it in the fridge. You can bring the gravy to room temperature on the stove or microwave (make sure its not too hot!), then add it to your cats meals.
2. Chicken Gravy Recipe for Cats
| Prep Time: | 5 mins. |
| Cook Time: | 1 hr 30 mins. |
| Total Time: | 1 hr 35 mins |
Equipment
- Stock pot with lid or slow cooker
- Strainer
- Storage container
Ingredients
- 1 cup chicken meat
- 2 cups chicken broth (no onion or garlic)
- 2 cups water
Instructions
- Chop chicken into small pieces.
- Boil chicken in a pot with 2 cups of water.
- Add 2 cups of chicken broth.
- Stir the gravy for about one hour.
- Cool the gravy.
- Strain or include the chicken in the gravy.
- Divide gravy into two portions.
- Add of one portion to your cats food.
- Freeze or refrigerate the second portion. Gravy will only keep in the fridge for a few days.
Notes: You can make this quick gravy with chicken meat, but you can do the same with whole chicken parts like thighs or wings. Just be sure to strain all the meat, bones, skin, and fat out of the gravy before serving.
3. Easy Chicken Carrot Gravy
| Prep Time: | 10 mins. |
| Cook Time: | 30 mins. |
| Total Time: | 40 mins |
Equipment
- Pot
- Blender
- Storage container
Ingredients
- 5-6 oz chicken breast
- 1 medium carrot
Instructions
- Chop and boil chicken breast for 20 to 30 minutes. Allow to cool once fully cooked.
- Chop and boil the carrot for 5 minutes. Allow to cool.
- Combine the carrot with chicken.
- Separate broth.
- Combine chicken breast and carrots into a blender.
- Blend into a fine paste.
- Gradually add broth while blending until you reach the desired consistency.
- Store excess gravy in portions and refrigerate for up to 3 days or freeze.
Is It Safe to Give Gravy as a Cat Food Topper?
Yes, as long as the gravy doesnt contain toxic ingredients, its generally safe to give your cat gravy as a topper. However, cats may have individual preferences and tolerances for different ingredients, so start slowly to see how your cat tolerates new foods.
Avoid overfeeding gravy or any other supplements. These foods are not nutritionally complete and adding them to your cats diet can upset their balance of nutrients. The general rule is not to exceed 10% of your cats daily caloric intake with supplements or treats.
Hepper 360 Cat Feeder, Stainless Steel, Anti-Chew...
- NO MESS - The 360 tray on this cat food and water bowl set has a raised design to catch and...
- WHISKER FRIENDLY - Shallow and wide metal containers with flat bottoms ensure your kitty can enjoy...
- CHEW-SAFE MATERIALS - Kittens and cats love chewing on silicone and soft rubber - but it's a choking...
Feeding your cat a high-quality diet is important for keeping them healthy and happy. But it goes beyond the food you choose; the dishes they use also matter. The Hepper NomNom Cat Bowl is our favorite for its unique, five-star design that protects from whisker fatigue and promotes good posture which also aids in better digestion. As an added bonus, its beautifully crafted and offers a modern take on the traditional cat bowl that fits seamlessly with all home stylings. Learn more about the NomNom by clicking here.
At Catster, weve admired Hepper for many years and decided to take a controlling ownership interest so that we could benefit from the outstanding designs of this cool cat company!
Conclusion
If you have a picky eater, these cat food gravy recipes should entice your cat to eat their kibble or wet food. Be sure not to overfeed cat gravy, as it can disrupt the balance of nutrients in your cats diet. These gravies should be frozen and reserved as occasional treats for your cat to add some taste and variety, not as a complete meal.
Featured Image Credit: Elizabett, Shutterstock
