How to Cook Chicken for Cats: 5 Vet-Approved Recipes

Quality, store-bought cat food is formulated to give your cat everything they need to grow to be healthy and happy, but there may be occasions when you want to give your cat something homecooked. For example, on a special occasion when your kitty deserves to be extra pampered or you are celebrating something and want them to join. 

While chicken alone will not be enough to provide your cat with all the nutrients they need, it is a high-protein food that most kitties simply love. In this guide, we include five easy recipes for homemade chicken cat-friendly foods and include tips on how to cook chicken safely for your pet.

Remember, before offering homemade food to your cat, it’s best to speak to a vet to make sure it is safe.

Before You Start

Before we jump into our chicken recipes, there is some important information to keep in mind.

Cats are susceptible to food poisoning, just like humans. When selecting chicken to cook for your cat, it’s essential that you use fresh, healthy meat. If the chicken smells bad or looks discolored, it is probably spoiled, and you should not feed it to your cat.

Another factor to keep in mind is that you should only feed your cat boneless chicken. When preparing your cat’s meal, be sure to remove any bones to prevent a potential choking hazard.

Finally, remember to cook your cat’s chicken until the inside registers 170°F on a meat thermometer. If you’re not using a meat thermometer, make sure there’s no trace of pink left in the chicken and that the texture has changed from soft and flexible to firm and stringy.

Keep in mind that the correct portion for your cat will differ depending on various factors. Bigger, more active cats and pregnant or lactating cats may need to consume more calories. Old cats may require less.

If you’re still unsure, your vet will be able to help you figure out how much to feed your cat.

The 5 Vet-Approved Recipes on How to Cook Chicken for Cats

These recipes have been approved by a veterinarian because they include only cat-friendly ingredients. However, some of these recipes are not complete and balanced diets to feed your cat on a daily basis. These recipes are a great add-on to your cat’s diet. They are only meant to be fed on occasion and not as a regular staple diet. Please consult your veterinarian to help you decide what the best diet for your cat is.

1. Simple Shredded Chicken

Simple Shredded Chicken

This recipe for simple shredded chicken serves as a great base to add to other dishes, including three of the recipes below, but it can also be served up on its own. You could make a large batch and store it in the fridge to use in recipes for up to 3 or 4 days.

★★★★⯨4.5 stars from 2 votes

Print recipe

Prep time

10 min

Cook time

15 min

Total time

25 min

Equipment

• Large pot

Ingredients

• Boneless skinless chicken breast
• Water

Instructions

1. 1Place the chicken in a large pot and cover it with water.
2. 2Place the pot at medium-high temperature until it begins to boil, then turn the heat down to medium for around 15 minutes.
3. 3Check the internal temperature of the chicken and cut into it to make sure it’s no longer pink.
4. 4When the chicken is cooked, place it on a board and use two forks to shred it.
5. 5Once it’s cooled down, you can feed the correct amount to your cat.

Notes

Image Credit: mariannagraf, Pixabay

2. Homemade Chicken Pâté Cat Food

• Prep time: 15 minutes
• Cook time: 30 minutes

3. Simple Chicken & Quinoa

If you have the ingredients for this one pre-prepared, tossing it all together shouldn’t take long at all.

• Prep time: 25 minutes
• Cook time: 30 minutes

4. Chicken and Pumpkin Meatballs

This recipe calls for cottage cheese, which in large amounts could cause your furry pal to get gastrointestinal issues, so it’s best to offer this food in small amounts as a treat rather than a main meal. If your cat has a sensitive tummy, you should test a small amount first and wait for a few hours to see if it suits them before giving them more.

• Prep time: 20 minutes
• Cook time: 35 minutes

5. Chicken Soup

• Prep time: 5 minutes
• Cook time: 90 minutes
• Servings: 4 bowls

Final Thoughts

There is a whole variety of dishes you can cook up for your feline friend using chicken. The recipes we’ve listed are for tasty foods that can supplement your cat’s complete diet, not replace it. If you want to provide your cat with an entirely home-cooked diet, it’s best to speak to your vet, who will be able to help you formulate one.

Featured Image Credit: Okssi, Shutterstock