Can Cats Eat Rotisserie Chicken? Vet-Approved Facts & FAQ
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Who can blame your kitty for wanting a piece of the freshly cooked chicken you just brought home from the supermarket? Rotisserie chicken, in particular, smells very good, especially to cats with their strong sense of smell and desire for meat. As this type of chicken is kept and bought hot, it only adds to the attractiveness, tempting all but the fussiest of cat eaters.
Chicken is, as a whole, a safe, healthy, and readily available meat to be served in a variety of forms to your cat. However, rotisserie chicken is not an ideal treat to offer them. Let’s find out why you may have to disappoint your furry friend.
What Is Rotisserie Chicken?
Rotisserie chicken is chicken cooked on a rotisserie (a rotating metal pole) using direct heat. It is also known as spit-rotisserie. It is an economical and convenient version of chicken to buy at supermarkets or stores while being extra delicious to smell and eat due to the herbs, spices, and coatings these chickens are cooked in.
Is Rotisserie Chicken Safe to Feed to Cats?
Chicken served as plain, cooked meat is a safe and healthy option to offer your cat, assuming your cat is not allergic or intolerant to chicken. Rotisserie chicken is not the best type of prepared chicken to offer, though. While it is an easy, readily prepared, warm, and convenient type of food, the coatings, spices, and herbs on the skin of the chicken make it more problematic than it might appear. The seasoning and ingredients used on a rotisserie chicken can cause toxicity, digestive problems, and in extreme circumstances, medical conditions requiring treatment by your veterinarian.
Any chicken bones are also a hazard and dangerous to cats and must not be fed, as chicken bones splinter and can easily puncture or damage the gastrointestinal tract.
Why Is Rotisserie Chicken Bad for My Cat?
While the chicken meat itself is not bad for your cat, the seasoning, spices, and herbs used in these types of chicken are. They can cause digestive upsets, toxicity, and other health concerns.
If your cat eats a lot of rotisserie chicken, the high salt content can affect their kidneys while the fat, grease, and caloric amounts do nothing to help their waistlines. The richness of the meat may also make your cat uncomfortable or cause gastrointestinal upset while they’re digesting it.
This isn’t to say that your cat won’t be fine if they take a nibble of the meat. However, you must keep an extremely close eye on them. With that said, if you know that the meat includes any types of onions or garlic, you should contact the vet right away.
What Can I Feed Them Instead of Rotisserie Chicken?
There are many store-bought products on the market to give your cat as a treat, and there are also human foods you can safely offer. Try a selection from the list below, although not all at once, and especially not if your cat is allergic or intolerant to any of them! Remember that treats for your cat, such as chicken or chicken-flavored treats, should only make up around 10% of their daily calorie intake.
Always check with your veterinarian first if the human food you wish to feed is safe for your cat and their health status.
- Treats bought from stores marketed for cats
- Plain grilled or cooked chicken
- Plain cooked turkey
- Cooked fish, especially salmon or white fish, without bones
- Canned sardines, tuna, or pilchards
Conclusion
There isn’t a definite answer as to whether your cat can eat rotisserie chicken. There are far better choices to offer your cat as a treat, and you have to be extremely careful about checking which seasonings were used. While your cat may love the smell and taste of rotisserie chicken, their bodies might not agree, and you’re better off offering a safer alternative.
See Also:
- Can Cats Eat Chicken Wings? Vet Reviewed Facts & FAQ
- Can Cats Eat Chicken Feet? Vet Approved Facts & FAQ
Featured Image Credit By: taspho, Shutterstock
