Can cats eat minced meat?
Cats are known as carnivores, meaning meat eaters. Therefore, a →healthy, balanced cat diet should always include a high meat content. You might be thinking, "Great, then minced meat is also suitable for my kitty." We can agree with you on that, as cats can eat minced meat, provided it is not pork. Minced meat is not only a good source of protein, but it also contains important vitamins. Compared to processed meat products like ham or sausage, minced meat is significantly healthier for your cat. But be careful! The fat content of minced meat is usually higher than that of high-quality, healthy cat food. Here’s what you should consider when feeding your cat minced meat.
Our tips for minced meat as a cat treat:
- Always buy lean minced meat, as a high fat content in your cat's diet can be harmful to her health.
- Do not feed your cat anything from your minced meat casserole – additional ingredients and spices, such as salt and pepper, can be →toxic for your cat.
- Raw minced meat: In principle, it is suitable for your cat, but there may be dangerous pathogens present. Therefore, it is recommended to cook minced meat thoroughly.
- Minced meat can be a tasty snack in between meals, but it should not replace your kitty's balanced diet.
[TRANSLATION ERROR] Katzenernährung kann ganz schön verwirrend sein, deswegen haben wir unsere Fütterungsempfehlungen für dich zusammengestellt!
Is raw ground beef suitable for cats?
In theory, cats can eat raw meat without concerns. Beef, lamb, and other red meats serve as important sources of iron. If you want to feed raw meat, it is best to offer it in small and lean pieces, and with minced meat, you should pay attention to not too large portions. However, raw-fed meat (just like →fish) should always have the quality that you would also consume yourself. Otherwise, your kitty could come into contact with dangerous pathogens.
A food poisoning or even a parasite infestation can be detected quite quickly in humans, and you can seek treatment from a doctor. Your cat, of course, cannot tell you where it hurts, making her symptoms often harder to interpret. Therefore, it is advisable to cook minced meat thoroughly for your cat. This way, you can significantly reduce the risk of transmitted diseases.
[TRANSLATION ERROR] Bevor du eine Miez bei dir aufnimmst, solltest du dich gründlich informieren – unsere 5 Tipps bereiten dich vor!
Cooked meat reduces the risk of →diseases. However, you should keep in mind that raw meat contains the essential amino acid taurine for cats. For this reason, a purely →vegetarian diet for your cat or exclusively feeding cooked meat is not suitable. When cooking the (minced) meat, there is a loss of taurine, which is why the taurine content in commercial food is increased with additives. This is to prevent a deficiency in your cat!
Do you want to feed your cat raw meat but want it to be simple, quick, and healthy? Then our →BARF fresh menus for cats are just right for you! Full of juicy meat, crunchy vegetables, and important vitamins and minerals.
Lust auf knackfrisches BARF für deinen Stubentiger?
Can cats eat pork minced meat?
When feeding your indoor cat raw meat, you should never use raw pork minced meat. Because feeding raw pork can have fatal consequences for your cat!
Pork meat and also wild game can be infected with the Aujeszky virus. Unfortunately, there is no treatment for infection with this virus in cats (and also in dogs), and it always ends fatally. Aujeszky's disease, also known as "pseudorabies," breaks out 2 to 9 days after infection. The progression of the disease is rapid and ends within 24 to 48 hours with death.
The symptoms of Aujeszky's disease are quite similar to those of rabies:
- The cat's demeanor changes; she becomes anxious and restless.
- Tremors may occur.
- The cat's breathing becomes faster, and her salivation increases.
- Intense itching occurs, causing the infected cat to scratch herself constantly and vigorously.
It is good to know that the pathogen in the meat dies at 60 degrees and is harmless to humans. Also, accidental consumption of pork does not necessarily lead to an infection in your kitty. However, you should avoid the risk in any case.
