Can Cats Eat Chicken Liver?

Cats can eat a little cooked chicken liver once in a while, but it should not be a regular food. Liver is very high in vitamin A. The Merck Veterinary Manual says cats that eat too much of it, especially in a diet made up mostly of liver, can grow painful extra bone. Treat it as a rare, tiny snack.

Why is too much liver a problem for cats?

Liver is a rich source of vitamin A. Your cat does need this vitamin, and the Merck Veterinary Manual says cats must get it from animal foods like liver. Cats can’t make it from plants the way dogs can.

The trouble is that cats are more sensitive than dogs to too much vitamin A, according to Merck. The problem is most often seen when growing kittens eat a diet high in liver. The extra vitamin A makes bony growths, mostly in the neck and upper back. This can make it hard for a cat to move its neck and groom itself.

Merck says feeding only liver can cause this problem in both dogs and cats. The sources we read do not say how much liver is too much for a cat, so we can’t give a safe amount. That is why a small, rare treat is the careful choice.

Is raw or cooked chicken liver better for cats?

Cooked is better. The FDA says raw pet food is more likely than other pet foods to carry harmful bacteria, including Salmonella and Listeria. The ASPCA also lists raw meat as a source of Salmonella and E. coli that can make pets and people sick.

The FDA says that thorough cooking kills these bacteria. If you cook liver for your cat, check that it is cooked all the way through. Let it cool before you serve it.

Freezing does not remove the risk. Wash your hands with soap and water for at least 20 seconds after you handle raw liver, and clean the surfaces and tools it touched.

How should I serve chicken liver to my cat?

• Cook it fully, with nothing added. The ASPCA says onions and garlic can damage red blood cells, and cats are more sensitive to them than dogs. Salt is not good for pets either. Leave out the seasoning, gravy, and pan sauce.
• Cut it into tiny pieces.
• Offer it only once in a while, not every day or every week.
• Watch your cat afterward for vomiting, diarrhea, or not wanting to eat.

What are the signs of too much vitamin A?

According to Merck, cats that have had too much vitamin A may show:

• Neck pain and a stiff neck
• Limping on the front legs
• Rough, messy fur, because they can’t groom well

Merck also says that cutting back on vitamin A stops new bone growth, but it does not clearly shrink the growths that are already there. So catching the problem early matters. Call your vet if you notice these signs.

Can cats eat other kinds of liver?

The sources we read talk about liver in general, not just chicken liver. Merck’s warning is about a diet of mostly liver, so it is careful advice to treat any kind of liver the same way: only a little, only once in a while, and cooked.

What can I give my cat instead?

A complete cat food gives your cat the vitamin A it needs, so extra liver is never required. For a protein treat, try a small piece of plain cooked meat. See our guides on cooked chicken for cats and eggs for cats. For things to keep away from your cat, see foods that are toxic to cats.