Why
Beef is meat, and meat is what a cat's body is built around. The Cornell Feline Health Center describes cats as obligate carnivores that rely on nutrients found only in animal products, so a few bites of beef suit a cat far better than a piece of bread or fruit. PetMD's veterinary guide to human foods for cats lists well-cooked beef as an appropriate and tasty snack for a healthy cat.
Beef as a treat is a different thing from beef as a diet. Plain muscle meat does not contain the full balance of vitamins, minerals and fatty acids that a complete cat food provides, and a cat filled up on beef may lose interest in the food that keeps it healthy. Beef also varies widely in fat: lean cuts make a light treat, while marbled steak and fatty trimmings add a lot of calories and can upset the stomach.
What to watch out for
- Raw or undercooked beef, including beef tartare and rare steak
- Bones, cooked or raw, which can break teeth or block the gut
- Fat trimmings and very fatty cuts, which can cause vomiting or diarrhea
- Seasonings such as salt, soy sauce, garlic, onion and spice blends
- Beef broth, stew and noodle soup, which are usually salty and often contain onion or garlic
- Processed beef such as jerky, sausages and deli meat
How to serve it
- Choose a lean cut and trim away visible fat.
- Cook the beef through by boiling, steaming or baking it with nothing added.
- Let the beef cool, remove any bone, and cut it into small pieces your cat can swallow easily.
- Offer a few pieces as a treat, or mix them into your cat's regular food.
- Store leftovers in the fridge and use them within a couple of days.
How much?
PetMD's veterinary guide to human foods for cats suggests about a 1-inch cube of well-cooked beef as a snack for a healthy adult cat. The Cornell Feline Health Center advises keeping all treats to about 10 to 15 percent of daily calories.
Why cooked beef is safer than raw beef
Raw beef can carry germs that cooking kills. The ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center notes that raw meat can contain bacteria such as Salmonella and E. coli that are harmful to pets and to the people who handle their food, and the Cornell Feline Health Center does not recommend raw meat as a food or treat for cats, citing toxoplasmosis and other infections.
Beef that is cooked through takes those risks off the table. A cat has no use for a pink center, so there is no reason to share rare steak. Cook the cat's piece a little longer and keep it plain.
Beef soup, stews and noodle dishes
Beef soup is one of the most tempting leftovers to share, and one of the least suitable. Braised beef noodle soup, beef stew and hot pot broth are usually built on soy sauce, salt, garlic, onions or scallions and spices. Onions, garlic and scallions all belong to the allium family, which the Merck Veterinary Manual identifies as a cause of red blood cell damage in cats, and too much salt can cause thirst, vomiting and, in severe cases, more serious problems, according to the ASPCA.
Beef from a soup pot has soaked up everything in the broth. Rinsing a piece does not remove what has gone into it. If you want to share beef, set aside a plain piece before you add any seasoning.
Bones and fatty trimmings
Beef bones are not a safe chew for a cat. The ASPCA warns that bones can injure or block a pet's digestive tract, and cooked bones are brittle enough to splinter.
Beef fat is another thing to keep in the bin rather than the bowl. Fat trimmings are dense in calories and can cause vomiting or diarrhea, especially in a cat that is not used to rich food. Lean meat gives your cat the taste it wants without the extra fat.
Common questions
Is beef good for cats?
Yes, as an occasional treat. Beef is meat, and meat is what a cat's body is built around. The Cornell Feline Health Center describes cats as obligate carnivores that rely on nutrients found only in animal products, so a few bites of beef suit a cat far better than a piece of bread or fruit.
Is beef bad for cats?
Not in sensible amounts. The main thing to watch: raw or undercooked beef, including beef tartare and rare steak.
Are cats allowed to have beef?
Yes. Choose a lean cut and trim away visible fat.
Can cats eat raw beef?
Raw beef is not recommended. The Cornell Feline Health Center advises against raw meat as a food or treat for cats because it can carry toxoplasmosis and other infections, and the ASPCA notes that raw meat can carry Salmonella and E. coli. Cook beef through before sharing it.
Can kittens eat beef?
A tiny piece of plain, cooked beef is unlikely to hurt a healthy kitten, but kittens need nearly all of their food to come from a complete kitten diet while they grow. Keep beef very small and occasional, and ask your vet if you are unsure.
Sources
- PetMD. What Human Food Can Cats Eat? (Sandra C. Mitchell, DVM, DABVP)
- Cornell Feline Health Center. Feeding Your Cat.
- ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center. People Foods to Avoid Feeding Your Pets.
- Merck Veterinary Manual. Garlic and Onion (Allium spp) Toxicosis in Animals.
- ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center. People Foods to Avoid Feeding Your Pets.
- Cornell Feline Health Center. Feeding Your Cat.
If your cat has eaten something toxic, contact your veterinarian, an emergency animal hospital or an animal poison control service right away, even if your cat seems fine. Do not try to make your cat vomit at home.