Can Cats Eat Pork?

Yes, cats can eat a small bite of plain, fully cooked pork. Raw pork is not safe, because raw meat can carry germs that make cats and people sick. Skip bones, heavy salt, and seasonings too. Pork is a treat, not a meal, and your cat’s regular cat food should stay the main food.

Is pork safe for cats?

Plain cooked pork is not known to be toxic to cats. The problems come from how it is prepared. Raw meat can carry germs. Bones can hurt your cat’s gut. Salty, fatty, or seasoned pork can upset your cat’s stomach.

If you share pork, make it a small, plain piece with no sauce, no seasoning, and no bones.

Is raw pork bad for cats?

Yes. The Merck Veterinary Manual says animals that eat uncooked meat can get sick from germs. They can also pass those germs in their poop, which puts people in your home at risk.

Merck gives these facts about raw meat:

• It estimates that 3.5% to 4% of beef and pork sold for people carries Salmonella, a germ that causes stomach illness.
• Raw meat can also carry E. coli and tiny parasites.
• Freezing does not kill all of the germs.

Merck also explains that cats can get toxoplasmosis, an infection caused by a parasite, by eating infected raw meat. Most infected cats show no signs. Kittens and cats with weak immune systems can get very sick, with fever, diarrhea, trouble breathing, and seizures.

How do I serve pork safely?

• Cook it all the way through.
• Keep it plain. No salt, butter, sauces, or spices.
• Take out every bone and trim off extra fat.
• Cut it into tiny pieces.
• Offer only a small amount, and watch for an upset stomach.

Wash your hands and any surfaces after you touch raw pork. Keep raw meat away from your cat’s food bowl.

Other kinds of pork

Can cats eat raw pork?

No. See above. Raw pork can carry germs that make your cat sick and can spread to your family. Cook it fully or skip it.

Can cats eat pork chops?

Only a small, plain, fully cooked piece with the bone removed. The ASPCA warns that cats and dogs can hurt or block their gut by swallowing bones, and this can need surgery. Chops are often also seasoned, breaded, or cooked in butter, so give your cat only meat that has not been seasoned.

Can cats eat pork rinds?

No, it is best to skip them. Pork rinds are fried, fatty, and usually heavily salted or flavored. The ASPCA says fatty foods can cause vomiting and diarrhea and, in some pets, pancreatitis, which is a painful swelling of the pancreas. It also says too much salt can cause great thirst and, in serious cases, vomiting, diarrhea, tremors, and seizures. Some flavored rinds may also contain onion or garlic powder. Check the label, because the ASPCA says onion and garlic can damage red blood cells and cats are more at risk than dogs.

What if my cat ate raw or salty pork?

A small taste of raw pork does not always cause trouble, but call your vet if your cat seems sick. Watch for vomiting, diarrhea, no interest in food, or unusual tiredness. Call your vet right away if your cat swallowed a bone, ate a lot of salty pork, or ate food with onion or garlic in it.

Other treats to try

Small bits of other plain cooked foods are an option, such as cooked eggs. Cheese is another common question, so see can cats eat cheese. For a full list of foods to avoid, read our guide to foods that are toxic to cats.