AboutKC Expertise I can answer questions related to feline and canine diet including questions regarding ingredients, by-products, nutrients, raw diets, brand named products, etc. I can also answer questions related to pet health, behavior, grooming, and general animal management.
***Before asking a question, please read my past answers as they will more than likely answer your question:
http://en.allexperts.com/q/Cat-Food-3490/indexExp_83830.htm
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http://petfoods.freeforums.org
Experience I have done research on the relationship between feline diet and feline diabetes due to my personal experience in dealing with one of my own cats. I am a pet lover and always have numerous cats and dogs. I believe in feeding a high quality and by-product free diet. Diet alone cured my diabetic cat as well as either cured or significantly helped many others.
Education/Credentials Bachelor's Degree in Biological Sciences and years of
experience working as a Veterinary Technician
Expert: KC Date: 1/12/2008 Subject: cooked ground chicken bone ok?
Question Hi KC,
I was wondering if you could advise me on whether or not to feed my homemade cat food to my cats. Here's how I made it: I pressure-cooked an entire 7 lb. chicken. I deboned it and put almost all of the bones (leaving out some) into my Vitamix with 2 c. water and ground them into oblivion. I checked afterwards and they were ground as fine as a facial scrub one might use, or even finer. I then put all of the rest of the chicken, except the breast, into the vitamix and also ground it into oblivion. (except for some little yellow things I found that worried me, which I threw away, thinking they might contain bile). Meanwhile, I cut the chicken breast into extremely small pieces, checking carefully for bones and finding none. I would have prepared all this raw, but I was worried about my boy, Phantom, who has congestive heart failure and diabetes. I was worried about his little immune system, so I didn't want to risk the salmonella with raw. Then a friend cautioned me about feeding cooked chicken bones to cats. I looked and looked on the internet but found warnings mostly against feeding cooked WHOLE bones, not cooked ground bones. There was one reference on a dog site to "cooked bones turning to concrete in your animals' intestines" but I tried to go to the website and it was no longer there. Do you feel it is safe to feed cooked, finely ground chicken bones to cats? Or will it impact their little digestive systems? Thanks a lot for your time.
Erika
Answer Hi Erika,
First off, please read some of my past answers here: http://en.allexperts.com/q/Cat-Food-3490/indexExp_83830.htm
I recently answered one about a diabetic cat and raw diet. Diet alone basically cured my diabetic cat to where he no longer needed insulin. Since then, I've become a huge supporter of natural, by-product free, grain free, and raw foods. Feeding cooked chicken is perfectly fine...but raw is much better for them. Raw bones, contrarly to popular belief (with the exception of fish bones) are perfectly safe. The bones can be chewed and easily digested...as carnivores, their digestive systems are shorter and made to process a large portion of food quickly...they are designed to eat meat (including bones and even fur from prey). They are not designed to eat grain, sugars, or cooked bones..cooked bones become brittle and splinter...especially chicken! Raw, on the other hand, crushes when chewed and naturally cleans the teeth as well. I feed all of my cats and dogs raw meat including bones...some cooked meat with no seasoning and never any cooked bones of any form. I honestly can't say whether the cooked ground bones would be safe or not...I would think it would be okay to feed a few times but I wouldn't feed it regularly.
It's wonderful that you are making your own food...just keep in mind that raw is SOOO much better for a diabetic cat than big named commercial dry or prescription food from the vet. Most are loaded with grains (sugars) and horrible fillers...all they do is add to the problem. Raw, on the other hand, won't cause a huge blood glucose spike after eating, etc. Also, if you continue to feed raw, please visit some of the links that I included in my last article on a diabetic cat. In addition, make SURE that you supplement...it's essential.
Hope this helps you. If you have further questions, please just reply to this message.
