By Dial A Vet Veterinary Team
Cats are obligate carnivores, so beef seems like an obvious treat. Plain, cooked, lean beef can be shared in small amounts with most healthy cats. How it is prepared matters a great deal. Raw beef, cooked bones, fatty offcuts and mince cooked with onion are where problems start. And even the best steak is not a complete diet for a cat.
Key takeaways
- Small pieces of plain, cooked, lean beef can be an occasional treat.
- Remove all bones, fat trimmings and seasoning.
- Never feed cooked bones. They can splinter and cause internal damage or blockages.
- Cornell and RSPCA Australia do not recommend feeding raw meat to cats because of infection risks.
- A diet of meat alone is not balanced for cats.
- Related reading: can cats eat bone broth, can cats eat bone marrow.
Plain cooked beef as a treat
RSPCA Australia suggests that cooked meat may be offered occasionally as a treat, provided no cooked bones, onions or onion sauces, or other toxic substances are included. Lean beef that has been boiled, steamed or grilled without seasoning fits that description.
Keep portions small. Cornell's Feline Health Center suggests treats should not exceed 10 to 15 percent of a cat's daily calories. For most cats, a few small pieces is plenty. Cut beef into small, soft pieces to reduce choking risk, and let it cool before offering.
Why beef alone is not enough
It is a common belief that because cats are carnivores, a diet of meat is ideal. RSPCA Australia explains that cats in the wild eat whole prey, including organs and bone, and that a diet of meat only would be deficient in certain important nutrients. Cats need specific amino acids, the fatty acid arachidonic acid and preformed vitamin A.
Feeding mostly beef, or home-cooking without a vet-formulated recipe, can lead to serious deficiencies. Cornell recommends that home-made diets only be used with a recipe from a veterinarian, ideally one certified in animal nutrition.
Raw beef
Some owners feed raw meat. Cornell's Feline Health Center does not recommend raw meat for cats because it can carry infectious organisms, including toxoplasmosis, and it does not recommend raw diets because of bacteria, viruses and parasites that can infect cats and their owners. RSPCA Australia advises against feeding cats raw or non-sterilised animal-origin foods, including treats.
RSPCA Australia also warns against raw pet meat, pet mince and sausage products, which may contain sulphite preservatives linked to fatal thiamine deficiency.
Bones, fat and seasoning
- Cooked bones can splinter. RSPCA Australia warns they can cause potentially fatal internal damage or blockage.
- Fat trimmings are listed by RSPCA Australia among foods to avoid. They often cause vomiting and diarrhoea.
- Mince, rissoles, stews and gravies commonly contain onion and garlic. The Merck Veterinary Manual describes cats as the most susceptible species to Allium poisoning, and concentrated forms such as onion powder are a particular concern.
- Salt, stock cubes and marinades add sodium and sometimes garlic.
- String and absorbent meat pads from roasts and trays are a choking and obstruction hazard.
Signs to watch for
After plain cooked beef: usually nothing, though a cat not used to it may have a soft stool.
After bones, fat or seasoned beef:
- Vomiting, retching or gagging
- Diarrhoea, or straining in the litter tray
- Drooling or pawing at the mouth
- A painful belly, lethargy or loss of appetite
- Pale or yellow gums, fast breathing or dark urine a few days later (onion or garlic)
When to call a vet or the Animal Poisons Helpline
Call your vet promptly if your cat swallowed a cooked bone, roast string or a meat tray pad, or is gagging, drooling or vomiting repeatedly.
Call your vet or the Animal Poisons Helpline (1300 869 738) if your cat ate beef cooked with onion, garlic or a seasoning mix.
Seek emergency care for choking, breathing difficulty, collapse or a painful, swollen belly.
Do not make your cat vomit after eating bones. Sharp fragments can cause more damage on the way up.
How vets help
Your vet may check the mouth and throat, feel the belly and take X-rays to look for bone fragments. Onion or garlic exposures may need decontamination and blood checks over the following days.
FAQ
Can I feed my cat beef mince?
Plain, cooked, drained mince in small amounts is fine as a treat. Mince cooked for family meals often contains onion and garlic, so do not share that.
Is beef liver good for cats?
Organ meats are rich and nutritionally very different from muscle meat. Ask your vet before feeding them regularly.
Can kittens eat beef?
Kittens need a complete kitten food. A tiny piece of plain cooked beef is fine as an occasional treat.
Is beef jerky for people OK?
No. Human jerky is often salty and seasoned with garlic or onion.
Talk with a vet
If you are thinking about changing your cat's diet, or your cat has eaten something risky, a Dial A Vet veterinarian can help. Book a Dial A Vet consult.
References
- RSPCA Knowledgebase. What should I feed my cat?.
- RSPCA Knowledgebase. Do cats have special nutritional requirements?.
- Cornell Feline Health Center. Feeding Your Cat.
- Merck Veterinary Manual. Garlic and Onion (Allium spp) Toxicosis in Animals.
- ASPCA Animal Poison Control. People Foods to Avoid Feeding Your Pets.
- Animal Poisons Helpline (Australia, 1300 869 738). Animal Poisons Helpline | 24/7 Pet Poisoning Advice.
Disclaimer: Educational only. This page does not replace an examination or advice from your own veterinarian. If you are worried about your pet right now, contact your local vet or nearest emergency animal hospital.