Can Cats Eat Chicken Nuggets?

CAN CATS EAT CHICKEN NUGGETS? ​

​Yes, cats can eat chicken nuggets, but there are a few things to understand before feeding them to your pet.

Chicken nuggets are not a nutritionally complete and balanced source of nutrition for your cat and should only be fed occasionally.

​Not all chicken nuggets contain the same ingredients, and some of these ingredients can be harmful to your cat.

Let’s take a look at two (2) well-known brands of chicken nuggets; Tyson and McDonalds.

Tyson Foods (TSN) owns the McDonald's (MCD) chicken supplier Keystone Food.
 
You will find several different brands of chicken nuggets on the market at any given time, and all these brands do not use the same ingredients. Therefore, your cat may eat one brand of nuggets and be perfectly fine, while a different brand can make them sick.
 
Here we compare two (2) well-known brands (Tyson and McDonald) to demonstrate some of these differences. You can also see that just a few chicken nuggets exceed the daily recommended allowances for total fat, calories, and sodium. 

Tyson and McDonalds Nutritional Information (10 Pieces): ​

McDonalds

TYSON

​Are Chicken Nuggets Bad For Cats?

Yes, chicken nuggets can be nasty for your cats. Unfortunately, many of the most common spices contained in the ingredients and the oil added during the cooking process can have a negative impact; such as the following:  

​Onion and Garlic Poison: Onion and garlic poisoning can result in gastroenteritis, which can cause drooling, vomiting, nausea, oral irritation, abdominal pain, and diarrhea. Garlic, Onions, and Chives can relax the heart muscles and dilate blood vessels causing low blood pressure and circulatory problems. 

Too Much Salt Intake: According to The Association of American Feed Control Officials (AAFCO), ​cat meals, at a minimum, should contain at least 0.2 percent salt. The problem with most chicken nuggets is that they have high levels of salt (sodium) that exceed this recommended amount. A salt consumption of more than 41mg a day could become poisonous to cats, resulting in symptoms such as vomiting, diarrhea, lethargy, and incoordination. 

Food Allergies: The ingredients in the batter of the nuggets can trigger food allergies. Some cats are predisposed and can start having problems with just a few bites. You should monitor the cat after feeding a small piece. Some of the most common allergens for cats would be chicken, corn, and wheat. Food allergies are pretty uncommon in cats. 

Obesity: One of the most standard nutrition-related problems in cats. Obesity also makes cats susceptible to several health problems, such as diabetes and osteoarthritis. Chicken contains a lot of carbohydrates and/or a high-fat content.   ​

conclusion

While chicken nuggets can be nasty for your cat, let's keep this in perspective. All kinds of foods are bad for people, but we continue to eat them anyways. This can lead to health issues in most cases, and it's no different from your cat. A rare treat is not typically harmful, just remove the breading (the most damaging part) and make sure this "treat" will not exceed 10 to 15 percent of your cat's daily caloric intake.

For more than 80 years, the National Academies has fostered an improved understanding of pets' nutritional needs. They have an outstanding article;  YOUR CAT'S NUTRITIONAL NEEDS A Science-Based Guide For Pet Owners.