Do Cats Eat Chicken Bones

[Batman7070]

My wife and I are in dispute. She puts out Chicken scraps and Chicken bones for the local Fox. She says its not the local cats eating the bones it can only be the Fox. I have seen the Cats come to the bowl and scoff the lot. Wifey does not believe me she prefers to watch the TV. Are there any pet owners out there who feed their moggies Chicken scraps including Chicken bones?

[IggyB]

Chicken bones can be a risk for cats and foxes alike, both can end up with shards stuck in their throats.

That said my old neighbours used to give their cat chicken bones, it would jaw them up completely.

Every so often mine will find some bones somewhere in the neighbourhood and bring them back to the house well chewed.

[SMP]

Cats will eat chicken bones but shouldn't have them as they can splinter and get stuck in the throat. I would not give them to foxes either.

[pastafreak]

I always thought it was cooked bones that are a danger...but not raw.

[RATTER15]

Do not allow cats or dogs cooked chicken bones, raw bones are fine.

[woofgang]

i agree, cats will eat chicken bones, i have seen the scavenging at rubbish sacks, Cooke chicken bones are dangerous for all animals and your wife should not be putting them out in your garden as animals will either eat them themselves and may be injured but the bones splintering in the their gut; or will carry them away to other gardens where other animals (eg dogs) will find them and eat them with the same risk. Please tell her to stop doing it!

[Sparkles62]

Cats and dogs should never have chicken bones, they are dangerous and can splinter and stick in their throats.
They are probably just as harmful to foxes, but when you consider that foxes will eat wild birds/ chickens etc raw, complete with bones I wouldn't worry about them having the bones. X

[pastafreak]

Yes...and cats also will eat birds raw with no problem. As said...it's cooked that is the problem.

[Batman7070]

Thank you those that have answered so far. Wifey says that Chicken bones are bad for cats but insists she put them out anyway in the hope the Fox will come. The Cats that come to the bowl I can confirm are fit and very healthy and have been for several years. I have not seen the Fox for a long time.

[IggyB]

it probably choked on a chicken bone

[Batman7070]

Ha Ha well done Iggy perhaps now wifey will stop

[CatGirl4]

It's dangerous for cats,they could choke.

[askyourgran]

NO never give cats chicken bones.

[Brinjal]

My cat will eat chicken bones if he gets the chance.

[pastafreak]

This is from a site called raw fed.com

FEEDING CATS RAW MEATY BONES

So how does one feed a cat a raw diet? Cats can eat the same raw foods a dog can eat, just in smaller portions and always fresh. They can eat game hens, chicken, quail, lamb, beef, pork, turkey, duck, fish, goat, venison, rabbit, mice, rats, eggs, and various organ meats. As with feeding dogs, you should try and re-create the whole prey your cat would be eating in the wild. If your cat is an avid hunter, then you may only just be supplementing with raw food occasionally. Some cats do not eat meat from animals that typically are not their prey, which may rule out beef, lamb, venison, and the like. However, this does not mean these meats should not be tried. On the contrary—some cats 'change their minds' about certain meats once they start eating fresh raw food. The trick is to keep offering it in various ways, even if that means mincing some of the beef in with some fish. Plus, since beef liver and beef heart (and kidney) are excellent sources of nutrients, I feel it is important that the cat learn to eat this. My own cat ate organs from cows before she would actually eat the meat from cows.

[nannybooby]

in my experience if you put out any thing for the birds etc cats will go and eat the lot from fruitcake to curry ! Raw bones are ok but not advisable cooked ones too dangerous

[RATTER15]

nannybooby

"Raw bones are ok but not advisable" WRONG!

Raw bones are absolutely fine, in fact if the cat is being fed a raw diet then bones are pretty much essential for calcium.