Bone Broth for Cats: Is It Safe?

Bone broth for cats is safe in small amounts when it is plain: no onion, no garlic, little or no salt, and every bone strained out. Cats are more sensitive to onion and garlic than dogs, so the label matters even more.

Used well, a little low-sodium broth can make water or food more tempting. It is an optional extra, and a cat on a complete and balanced diet doesn't need it.

The reason cats need extra care comes down to their blood, and it explains why one gentle-looking food deserves a second look.

Why are cats so sensitive to onion and garlic?

Merck's veterinary manual names cats as the most susceptible species, ahead of dogs. It reports poisoning in cats after less than a teaspoon of cooked onion.

The reason is in the red blood cell. A peer-reviewed toxicology review in Veterinary Medicine notes that a cat's normal hemoglobin is about two to three times more easily damaged by oxidation than that of other species.

Onion and garlic deliver exactly that kind of damage. The ASPCA warns that the Allium family can irritate the stomach and harm red blood cells, which can lead to anemia (a low red blood cell count).

Garlic is the stronger of the two, three to five times more toxic than onion by Merck's figures. Cooking doesn't help either, the Veterinary Medicine review states.

The baby food surprise

Meat baby food can look like a gentle choice for a cat who is off their food. A study at the University of California, Davis, published in the Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Association, tested what happens when it contains onion powder.

Healthy cats fed baby food with onion powder developed Heinz bodies, small clumps of damaged hemoglobin, in their red blood cells. Levels peaked at 33 to 53%, significantly higher than in cats fed the same food without onion powder.

The researchers advised avoiding baby food with similar amounts of onion powder for cats. The same goes for broth. Merck notes that powders and dry soup mixes are among the most common culprits.

Can bone broth help my cat drink more?

It can, and this is where broth earns its place. The Cornell Feline Health Center suggests flavoring water with a small amount of low-sodium chicken broth, or water from a can of tuna, to prompt a cat to drink more.

Cornell puts a cat's daily need at about 4 ounces of water per 5 pounds of lean body weight. Food counts toward that: wet food can be up to 80% water, so cats eating it may drink less from the bowl.

A few easy ways to use broth:

• Stir a teaspoon of plain, low-sodium broth into a second water bowl. Keep a bowl of plain fresh water out as well.
• Change broth water often. It spoils in a way plain water doesn't.
• Warm it slightly. AAHA's palatability tips suggest warming food for fussy eaters.
• Use a wide, shallow dish. AAHA advises feeding cats from a bowl wide enough that their whiskers don't touch the sides.

For more ideas beyond broth, see our guide on how to get a cat to drink more water.

What should I check on a store-bought broth label?

Every ingredient, every time. Broth made for people can contain onion, garlic and plenty of salt, sometimes all three.

• Skip anything listing onion, garlic, chives, leeks or shallots, in any form. WSAVA lists all five as toxic to cats.
• Choose low sodium or no salt added. AAHA's tips name low-salt tuna, clam or chicken broth for cats.
• Avoid bouillon cubes and dry soup mixes, which are concentrated by design.
• If the label only says "seasoning" or "spices," ask the maker or choose another.

Too much salt has its own effects. The ASPCA notes it can cause increased thirst and urination, and sometimes abnormal electrolytes in the blood.

Broths sold for pets need the same check. Labels vary, and the ingredient list is the only reliable guide.

How much bone broth can a cat have?

Less than you might expect. Cats are small, and their allowance for extras is tiny. WSAVA's guide puts it at about 22 calories a day for a 4 kg (about 9 lb) adult cat.

The guidance differs slightly here. WSAVA says extras should stay under 10% of a cat's daily calories. Cornell's rule of thumb is 10 to 15%. Either way, broth counts toward it, so check the calories on the label.

A teaspoon or two over food, or stirred into water, is a sensible amount. Our guide to cat food toppers covers other small additions.

Don't count on broth for minerals. A 2017 study in Food & Nutrition Research found broths supplied less than 5% of a person's daily calcium and magnesium per serving, despite hours of simmering bones.

Cornell describes cats as obligate carnivores, relying on nutrients found only in animal products. Meat broth suits that taste, but it is mostly water. The meal itself still has to be complete and balanced.

How do I make cat-safe broth at home?

Keep it as plain as possible. Cats don't need the vegetables or herbs that make broth taste good to people.

1. Simmer chicken bones, or a chicken carcass, in water. Nothing else.
2. Add no salt, onion, garlic, chives, leeks or stock cubes.
3. Strain through a fine sieve and check by hand for shards. WSAVA warns that cooked and raw bones can cause significant damage if a cat chews or swallows them.
4. Chill it and lift off the fat layer.
5. Serve it lukewarm, never hot.
6. Freeze small portions in an ice cube tray, so you thaw only what you need.

Call your vet promptly if your cat:

• ate anything made with onion, garlic or onion powder, including broth, gravy or baby food, even if they seem fine. Merck notes signs usually appear a few days later.
• seems unusually tired or weak
• stops eating
• breathes fast while resting
• has pale or yellow gums
• passes red or brown urine
• has vomiting or diarrhea after a new food

The ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center answers 24 hours a day at (888) 426-4435. A consultation fee may apply.

Questions new cat parents ask

Is chicken broth safe for cats?

Plain, low-sodium chicken broth with no onion or garlic is fine in small amounts. Cornell even suggests it for flavoring a cat's water.

Can kittens have bone broth?

Weaned kittens can have a little plain broth, but their complete kitten food comes first. Never use broth in place of milk replacer for a kitten still nursing.

Can I put bone broth in my cat's water?

Yes, a small amount. Use a separate bowl, keep plain water out too, and change the broth water often.

Is bone broth better than milk for cats?

Plain broth avoids lactose. Cornell notes that milk is not generally recommended for cats, as many are lactose intolerant. More in our guide: can cats drink milk.

Sources

• Cornell Feline Health Center: Hydration
• Cornell Feline Health Center: Feeding Your Cat
• Merck Veterinary Manual: Garlic and Onion (Allium spp) Toxicosis in Animals
• Cope RB. Allium species poisoning in dogs and cats. Veterinary Medicine, 2005
• Robertson JE, Christopher MM, Rogers QR. Heinz body formation in cats fed baby food containing onion powder. JAVMA, 1998
• WSAVA: Feeding Treats to Your Cat
• AAHA: Healthy and Low-Calorie Snacks for Pets
• ASPCA Animal Poison Control: People Foods to Avoid Feeding Your Pets
• ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center
• Hsu DJ et al. Essential and toxic metals in animal bone broths. Food & Nutrition Research, 2017

This article is for general information and is not veterinary advice. Talk to your vet about your own cat — they know the animal in front of them.

Choolip products are food supplements, not medicine. They are not intended to diagnose or manage any medical condition. If your cat has been diagnosed with a condition, their diet should be set by your vet.