Meat & fish
Can cats eat pork?
A small piece of plain, well-cooked lean pork is fine for cats. Never feed raw pork.
Why Fat; salt in processed pork; parasites and viruses in raw pork
By Maya HartIf your cat ate some
- A small amount usually causes nothing worse than a mild stomach upset.
- Offer water, skip the next treat and call your vet if vomiting or diarrhoea lasts more than a day or your pet seems unwell.
- If your pet ate a lot of fatty pork or raw pork, call your vet.
Signs to watch for
- Vomiting and diarrhoea
- Belly pain (pancreatitis) after fatty pork
- Excessive thirst after salty ham
How much, how often
A small piece.
Treats of any kind should stay under 10% of the day’s calories. Work out your pet’s calories
Serving it safely
- Cook thoroughly
- Trim fat, and skip crackling
- No cooked bones
- Avoid ham, bacon, sausages and pulled pork with sauces
Dogs and cats, side by side
Dogs In moderation
Plain, well-cooked lean pork is safe in small amounts. Raw pork, fatty cuts, crackling and processed pork such as ham and sausages are best avoided.
How much: A few small pieces of plain cooked meat.
Can dogs eat pork?Cats In moderation
A small piece of plain, well-cooked lean pork is fine for cats. Never feed raw pork.
How much: A small piece.
The details
Raw pork carries a risk of parasites and, in some parts of the world, Aujeszky’s disease (pseudorabies), a virus that is fatal to dogs and cats. For this reason raw pork shouldn’t be fed. Plain cooked pork is a perfectly good protein, but many pork products are cured, smoked or seasoned with salt, garlic and onion.
Safer treats your cat can have instead
Questions owners ask
Can cats eat pork?
A small piece of plain, well-cooked lean pork is fine for cats. Never feed raw pork.
How much pork can a cat have?
A small piece.
What makes pork risky for cats?
Fat; salt in processed pork; parasites and viruses in raw pork.
What are the signs to watch for in cats?
vomiting and diarrhoea, belly pain (pancreatitis) after fatty pork, excessive thirst after salty ham.
What should I do if my cat ate pork?
A small amount usually causes nothing worse than a mild stomach upset. Offer water, skip the next treat and call your vet if vomiting or diarrhoea lasts more than a day or your pet seems unwell. If your pet ate a lot of fatty pork or raw pork, call your vet.
Is pork safe for dogs too?
Plain, well-cooked lean pork is safe in small amounts. Raw pork, fatty cuts, crackling and processed pork such as ham and sausages are best avoided.
Sources
Tailwise is for general information and is reviewed by veterinary professionals, but it is not a substitute for advice from your own vet, who knows your pet. How we check facts