For dogs and cats, egg whites are at the top of the list with a biological value of 100, followed by muscle meat (beef, chicken, lamb) at 92, and organ meats at 90. Wheat and corn are way down the list with biological values of 60 and 54.
They have to have protein from meat for a strong heart, good vision, and a healthy reproductive system. Cooked beef, chicken, turkey, and small amounts of lean deli meats are a great way to give them that. Raw or spoiled meat could make your cat sick. If you wouldn't eat it, don't give it to your pet.
Chicken is a wonderful source of protein for cats and is often included in high-protein dry cat foods. American Journey's Chicken Recipe Grain-Free Dry Cat Food contains 40 percent high-quality protein from real, deboned chicken as the first ingredient.
Cook any chicken you give to your cat. Canned meat or fish (in moderation only). Your cat may come running when you open a can of tuna, oysters, sardines, salmon, or shredded chicken. However, canned meat is high in sodiuim and canned fish (tuna especially) contains higher levels of mercury – both harmful to kitty.
The taste test Although cats are notoriously finicky, most felines find the mild flavor of chicken appealing. Fish, on the other hand, may be a good choice for a cat that hasn't been eating well, advises Tracy R. Dewhirst, DVM, who writes a pet advice column for the Knoxville News Sentinel.
While other common farmyard proteins have slightly higher protein and amino acid content, Lamb has more vitamins and minerals that offer cats many benefits.
For dogs and cats, egg whites are at the top of the list with a biological value of 100, followed by muscle meat (beef, chicken, lamb) at 92, and organ meats at 90. Wheat and corn are way down the list with biological values of 60 and 54.
Cooked, lean meats such as beef, chicken, turkey, liver and lamb are all ok for you cat to eat. However, it's important that you take great care when serving to make sure the meat's cooked through – never give cats raw meat – and remove all skin and bones before feeding your cat.
Best for Picky Eaters
Rabbit is the novel protein in this food and it contains no grain, chicken, fish, beef, dairy, soy, or potatoes making it less likely to cause a problem for a cat with allergies.
Common sources of animal proteins in cat food include beef, chicken, turkey, lamb, and fish. In addition to seeing these animal proteins on a label, you may also see different meat meals or meat by-products.
When shopping for an appropriate food for a cat with stomach sensitivity issues, look for easily digested protein sources such as chicken, turkey or non-fatty fish. Healthy carbohydrates such as white potatoes, brown rice, sweet potatoes, peas or quinoa are good choices.
Eggs are not only a perfectly safe food source for cats – they offer much in the way of nutritional benefits. Aside from being rich in protein, eggs are also a great source of linoleic acid, Vitamin B2 and B12 and water-soluble Vitamin A – all of which are wonderful for your cat's skin and coat.
Lamb is perfectly fine for your cat to eat in small doses. This meat does tend to be a bit fatty and so should be offered less often and in moderation. We recommended that you cook it properly and trim the fat off before giving it you your cat.
Remember to include chicken as part of your cat's daily treat allowance, fed with a balanced diet. Feeding only cooked chicken long term can lead to nutritional deficiencies. Do not feed your cat raw meat meant for cooking for humans.
What if my pet gets more protein than it needs? Feeding a diet that is higher in protein than pets need does not result in any health benefits. However, for a healthy pet, excess protein is unlikely to be harmful, either. The extra protein will just be broken down by the body and eliminated in the urine.
Oily fish such as tuna, salmon, and sardines are a superb nutritional supplement to your cat's diet. They are rich in healthy fats such as Omega-3 and Omega-6, which are great for your cat's eyesight and heart health.
Meat and poultry (including internal organs such as liver and kidney), and seafood are the richest sources of taurine. It's not found in plant foods, so cats eating vegetarian or vegan diets are at highest risk. The amount of taurine in cat food varies between wet and dry foods.
The cat's favorite food
Cats love pork, chicken and beef. Beef is the only type of meat that can be given to a cat raw, as long as it is fresh. As well as meat, there are also other foods that your kitten likes to eat, perfect for making him happy on Christmas Day. Salmon and tuna are among the cat's favorite fish.
This is so easy – buy half a pound of minced lamb or beef and from a butcher if possible. We make sure it's a lean cut for Delilah and ask for it to be minced fairly fine. Some of the other cats with a bigger appetite will eat almost any kind of mince but fussy cats don't like the fat and gristle.
Cats can be addicted to tuna, whether it's packed for cats or for humans. Some tuna now and then probably won't hurt. But a steady diet of tuna prepared for humans can lead to malnutrition because it won't have all the nutrients a cat needs. And, too much tuna can cause mercury poisoning.
Now you know that cats should never eat raw fish. Offering your cat cooked salmon from time to time is a safe bet, while canned tuna should just be a once-in-a-while treat. Learn more about which human foods are safe for cats and which foods to avoid.
Many cat's love fish; however, it is not an acceptable food for daily feeding. Fish contains high levels of fatty acids, which can lead to a vitamin E deficiency in cats and painful conditions.
The easy answer is yes! Your cat can eat salmon. However, like all good things, salmon should be fed to your cat in moderation. If you feed them too much salmon, they may decide they like it so much, that they won't eat anything else — and that's no way to feed your cat a healthful, balanced diet.
So remember, nonfat plain yogurt is usually safe and healthy for cats and dogs to eat as a fun snack — just check the nutrition label first to make sure it doesn't contain a dangerous ingredient, like xylitol. And for even more power-packed benefits, consider adding a daily probiotic to their regimen.