What To Do If My Cat Ate Cooked Chicken Bones

While every cat is a little different, some things are true about all of them. For example, cats love to eat. All cats eat (except for the one in my neighborhood that has unfortunately become a feral monster), but not all cats know what’s good for them. Cats love to hunt and eat birds and rodents (again, except for the one in my neighborhood that eats from dumpsters), but they also like to nibble on plants and grasses that upset their stomachs. They may even decide they want to try whatever you’re eating. I mean, we eat raw fish sometimes! Can’t we try whatever it is you’re having? In other words, your cat might like to try meat on the bone because it’s real meat with bones intact. But while bones are great sources of calcium, they can also be hazardous if consumed by your feline friend. Fortunately, there are plenty of steps you can take to make sure that doesn’t happen—and even more steps you can take if it does happen anyway. Here’s everything you need to know about how cooked chicken bones affect cats and what you should do if your cat does end up eating some:

Observe your cat closely.

If your cat has consumed raw or uncooked bones, it’s important to watch him closely for the following symptoms:

• Excessive urination and/or defecation
• Vomiting or diarrhea (sometimes bloody)
• Lethargy, loss of appetite and weight loss. Cats may also vomit if they have eaten something toxic.

If you observe any of these signs in your cat, contact your veterinarian right away.

Monitor how often your cat goes to the bathroom.

Monitor how often your cat goes to the bathroom. If he is passing stool, you may be able to rule out a blockage or other obstruction. However, if the stool remains dry and hard or if your cat seems to be constipated (passing very little stool), take him in for a checkup anyway. A vet can give him some medication to help with this problem as well as ensure that there is no more serious underlying issue such as an intestinal disease or cancer of the colon.

Feed your cat a bland diet.

You should feed your cat a bland diet to avoid diarrhea and vomiting.

If you’re worried that your cat has eaten chicken bones, it’s best to err on the side of caution. If you have any reason to believe that your cat ate cooked chicken bones, it’s best to give them one or more of the following:

• boiled chicken breast (without the skin)
• boiled boneless skinless white fish (e.g., cod, halibut)

Offer your cat plenty of water.

If your cat has been vomiting for more than a day, offer him plenty of fresh water.

Cats need to drink a lot of water since they can’t vomit the way humans do. So if you’re in the situation where your cat is puking up cooked chicken bones, offering him lots of fresh, clean water will be critical. If he’s still vomiting and his stomach is empty, try giving him small amounts by syringe (if you’re comfortable doing so).

It also helps to keep an eye on how much liquid he urinates—if it’s not normal, that could point to dehydration or infection.

Watch for additional symptoms.

If you think your cat has eaten cooked chicken bones, monitor him for the following symptoms:

• Vomiting
• Diarrhea
• Lethargy
• Weakness
• Excessive thirst
• Fever (raised body temperature) or loss of appetite are also signs that need to be watched out for. If you see these symptoms in your cat, take him to the vet as soon as possible.

Get your cat to a veterinarian as soon as possible.

If your cat is showing signs of blockage, you should take them to the vet immediately. If your cat is not showing symptoms of blockage but you are concerned, please see a veterinarian as soon as possible. If your cat is not showing symptoms of blockage and you are not concerned about them eating chicken bones, please still see a veterinarian just so that they can be checked out.

Don’t panic and make sure you know what signs to look for if your pet is in distress.

Don’t panic, but make sure you know what signs to look for if your pet is in distress.

• Don’t feed your cat anything else
• Don’t give your cat any medications
• Don’t give your cat anything to drink
• Don’t give your cat anything to eat or chew on

We hope that you’re feeling more confident about what to do if your cat eats cooked chicken bones. While it is unlikely that any of these issues will occur, it’s important to be aware of the potential dangers. If your cat is exhibiting any signs or symptoms listed above, please see your veterinarian as soon as possible.