Can Cats Eat Fried Chicken?

Cats should not eat fried chicken. The coating, grease, and salt can upset the stomach, and the seasoning may include onion or garlic powder, which can damage a cat’s red blood cells. A lick or one small bite is unlikely to hurt, but don’t offer it. Plain cooked chicken is a much better treat.

Why is fried chicken bad for cats?

The chicken itself is not the problem. The extras are. Fried chicken usually comes with four things your cat does not need.

Onion and garlic seasoning

The ASPCA says onions, garlic, and chives can irritate the gut and damage red blood cells, which leads to anemia. Anemia means the body does not have enough healthy red blood cells. The ASPCA adds that cats are more affected than dogs.

The Merck Veterinary Manual calls cats the most sensitive animals to onion and garlic. It says poisoning is most often linked to concentrated forms, such as dried flakes and powders. It also says cooked onion counts. Merck describes cats that got sick after eating less than a teaspoon of cooked onion.

I could not find a source that says what is in any one brand of fried chicken. Many coatings and seasoning mixes do use onion or garlic powder, so treat any store-bought or restaurant fried chicken as a risk.

Grease and fat

The ASPCA says fatty foods can cause vomiting and diarrhea, and in some pets, pancreatitis. That is a painful swelling of the pancreas, a small organ that helps with digestion.

The Merck Veterinary Manual says the cause of pancreatitis in cats is often unknown. Still, it says cats with mild cases may get a lower-fat diet and low-fat treats. That is one more reason to skip greasy food.

Salt

The ASPCA says too much salt can make a pet very thirsty and make it pee more. In bad cases it can cause vomiting, diarrhea, tremors, and seizures. A small cat has little room for salty food.

Bones

The ASPCA says bones can hurt a pet’s digestive tract or block it, and a pet may need surgery. Fried chicken often comes with bones, so keep the plate out of reach.

What should I watch for if my cat ate fried chicken?

Stomach upset is the most likely problem. Watch for vomiting, diarrhea, or not wanting to eat.

If onion or garlic was in the coating, the signs come later. Merck says they often show up a few days after eating. They include:

• Being tired or weak
• Not wanting to eat
• Fast breathing
• Pale or yellow gums or skin
• Collapse

Call your vet right away if you see any of these. Merck says treatment may include getting the food out of the body early, oxygen, a blood transfusion, and fluids through a vein.

What should I do if my cat ate fried chicken?

1. Take away what is left, and check for bones.
2. Note how much your cat ate, and look at the ingredients if you know them.
3. Call your vet or a poison hotline if your cat ate more than a lick, swallowed bones, or the food had onion or garlic.
4. Watch your cat closely for several days.

Other kinds of fried chicken

Can cats eat chicken nuggets?

Chicken nuggets are also fried and breaded, so the same worries apply. The sources I read do not say what is in nuggets. Check the label for onion powder, garlic powder, and salt. A plain piece of cooked chicken is safer.

Can cats eat fried chicken skin?

Skip it. Skin is fatty, and fried skin also holds the coating and seasoning.

What can I give my cat instead?

A small piece of plain, fully cooked chicken is a better choice. Take off the skin and bones, and leave out salt and seasoning. Our guide to chicken for cats explains how to serve it. Treats made for cats are fine too.

The Merck Veterinary Manual says to avoid giving table scraps. A complete cat food should be the main meal. For more, see our list of foods that are toxic to cats.