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beef

Can Cats Eat Beef?

The primary food source of cats should be meat because cats are obligate carnivores. It means that our cats need a diet rich in meat in order to stay healthy and to have a normal life. High-quality cat food is rich in protein and provides all the necessary nutrients for our cats. If you are feeding your cat a high quality cat food, your cat won’t need anything added to her diet, but it doesn’t mean that cats can’t eat some other human foods, too.

Apart from meat, cat can also eat some vegetables, fruits and other foods, but only as an occasional treat. There are some exceptions like garlic. Before feeding their cats, cat owners should know what foods are best for them. There’s no doubt that animal meat is one of the safest human foods for cats.

More About Beef

Beef is the flesh of a cow, bull or ox and it is used as a food. Beef meat can be cut into roasts, steak or short ribs. This meat is rich in protein and other necessary nutrients.

Also, beef is an excellent source of minerals and vitamins and it has many health benefits for people. But, what about cats?

Is Beef Safe for Cats?

Many cat owners are wondering if certain foods are safe for their cats or not. As far as a beef, we have the good news. Beef is safe for cats and it can be a part of cat’s diet. We recommend a ground beef, because it is cheap and easy to prepare.

Also, cats can digest this meat easily, without any problems in the gastrointestinal tract. If you feed your cat beef organ meat, then you should give her only a small portion of such meat. Beef meat is considered safe if it is cooked at least to 145 F, while ground beef should be cooked to 165 F. Although many experts consider that cooked meat is the best for cats, there are also experts who recommend raw beef meat because of the nutrients that it contains.

Also, cats are fierce predators and in their natural habitat they eat only raw meat. But, raw beef meat should be given in small amounts and should be always fresh. One fresh, raw and unseasoned steak is the best choice for your cat. Also, you can feed your cat a beef liver, but you should not do that very often. You can use beef liver as a surprise and an occasional treat for your cat. Meanwhile, vegetables might be healthy for you, but greens like asparagus are not necessarily cat food constants.

Health Benefits of Beef for Your Cat

Not only beef is safe for your cat, but it is also very useful for her. Beef is rich in minerals like iron, manganese, zinc and selenium, which are important for cat’s health and nourishment.

Also, beef is a great source of vitamin A, vitamin C and vitamins of B complex. It is known that cats need to be given a proper intake of taurine and beef is a great taurine source. If you feed your cat a beef liver, you will make her strong and healthy, and you will also take care of the taurine requierements of your cat. It is also proved that beef meat can fulfill your cat’s protein requierements.

How Much Beef Can Be Given to Cats?

Although beef is very healthy for cats and should be a part of their regular diet, you should know that moderation is always the key of good health. If you give your cat too much beef meat, the cat may not digest it well and can have some side effects and problems in the gastrointestinal tract. We have mentioned that beef meat contains vitamin A and it is known that high content of this vitamin can sometimes become toxic. It is recommendable that beef liver constitutes about 5% of cat’s total meal.

Precautions

Although many cats enjoy beef, there are also cats which are not interested in this food. Some cats are too sensitive or allergic to beef, so they can have some side effect, like vomiting or diarrhea. In that case, you should not give beef to your cat. Opt for some other meat that will suit her better. Also, it is important never to give your cat frozen foods.