Can cats eat raw meat and raw bones?
Ask your vet about your own pet. This page is general information from the sources below.
No. Never share raw meat and raw bones with cats; call your vet or a poison line if some is eaten. Source: FDA. Merck says raw meat is not safe for cats and can pose health risks. The ASPCA says raw bones can hurt or block the gut in dogs and cats. Skip it, and call a vet if a cat ate some.
Checked October 29, 2026.
Why
Merck says raw meat is not safe for cats and can pose health risks. The ASPCA says raw bones can hurt or block the gut in dogs and cats. Skip it, and call a vet if a cat ate some.
Good to know
In an FDA test of 196 raw pet food samples, 15 had Salmonella and 32 had Listeria.
Watch for: Raw meat juices and raw pet food can spread germs to hands, bowls and counters. Wash up well and keep pets from licking faces.
Already ate it?
Call now, even if your pet seems fine. Say what was eaten, how much and when, and have your pet's weight ready.
Poison emergency? Call now
ASPCA Animal Poison Control: (888) 426-4435, 24 hours a day, every day. A consultation fee may apply.
Pet Poison Helpline: (855) 764-7661, 24/7. $99 per incident, follow-up calls included.
Or call your vet or the nearest emergency vet.
For the children
"Raw meat and raw bones can make cats very sick. Never share this food, and tell a grown-up right away if a pet gets some."
A job: Be the label reader. Before a grown-up shares any food with the cat, check this page, and ask a grown-up if the food is not on it.
A fridge sheet
Never give cats raw meat and raw bones.
If cats eat some, don't wait. Call right away, even if they seem fine.
ASPCA Animal Poison Control (888) 426-4435, 24 hours. A consultation fee may apply.
Pet Poison Helpline (855) 764-7661, 24/7. $99 per incident, follow-ups included.
Or call your vet or the nearest emergency vet.
This page is general information from the sources below, not veterinary advice. Your own vet knows your cat. Cats differ.
Sources
- FDA: Get the Facts! Raw Pet Food Diets can be Dangerous to You and Your Pet (checked October 29, 2026)
- Merck Veterinary Manual: Proper Nutrition for Cats (checked October 29, 2026)
- ASPCA: People Foods to Avoid Feeding Your Pets (checked October 29, 2026)