As a cat owner, you know that cats are carnivores and require meat to eat. What you may not know is what types of meats your cat can safely consume. While some cats might prefer chicken or beef, they should never eat raw steak because of the threat of bacterial contamination. The safest way to feed steak to your feline friend is by cooking it until it reaches an internal temperature of 160 degrees Fahrenheit, which will kill any bacteria and make it safe for your kitty to enjoy.

Although most families settle on feeding their pets commercial food from pet supply stores, many people also like to treat their pets with foods humans enjoy as well; however, this practice should be avoided when feeding certain treats such as raw meat products such as steak.
There is a difference between raw and cooked steak. For example, eating raw beef can lead to a form of food poisoning called ” E Coli” that causes cramps and diarrhea in adult humans; this bacterium is even more dangerous for children or those with weak immune systems such as the elderly. The Centers for Disease Control (CDC) reports that every year there are 73,480 cases of E Coli infection and 61 deaths due to eating contaminated food.
Will raw steak hurt my cat?
Although the bacteria in raw steak poses a threat to your feline friend, it can be cooked safely and provide your kitty with a tasty source of protein. There is nothing wrong with occasionally feeding your feline friend a small amount of cooked meat such as steak; however, you should never feed them scraps from the table or uncooked beef because it can cause serious illness or even death in some cats.
The potential danger of feeding your cat raw steak is that the meat may be contaminated with bacteria such as E Coli, salmonella, or listeria. These types of bacteria are often found on uncooked meats or foods not stored at the proper temperature to kill off any harmful organisms.
Can raw steak make a cat sick?
While there are documented cases of cats becoming ill or dying after eating uncooked meat such as steak, the exact causes are not known for certain. Most experts believe that the meats often contain bacteria that are harmful to both humans and animals; however, some pet owners have reported illness in their pets after feeding them cooked beef rather than raw steak.
What happens if a cat eats raw beef?
When your cat eats raw beef, he runs the risk of becoming ill with any one of several harmful bacterial infections. If not treated promptly, some of these illnesses can be fatal to both cats and humans. There are also many diseases that humans can get from eating undercooked meat which is why pet owners need to cook steak for their feline friends.
If your cat eats raw meat:
• Monitor your kitty for any signs of illness such as diarrhea, vomiting, and loss of appetite. If you suspect that he has become ill from eating steak, let him see a veterinarian immediately. Many types of food poisoning require immediate treatment to prevent serious complications or death in cats.
• Prevent your cat from eating raw meat in the future. Although there is nothing wrong with occasionally feeding steak to your feline friend, you should avoid giving him this rood treat daily. Offer your kitty-cooked meats such as beef or chicken instead and follow all safety guidelines for handling and storing these foods if you do decide to feed him a steak.
• Keep all uncooked meats out of the reach of your cat to prevent any future accidents. Steak is especially dangerous for cats because they are unable to digest it properly and may experience severe stomach upset when they eat raw meat that includes this food. Cooked steak, however, can provide protein that your cat needs in his diet as long as it is not eaten regularly.
• Cook steak before giving it to your kitty. Although there have been cases of cats becoming ill from cooked beef, these problems were most likely caused by the improper handling and storing of the meat rather than a reaction between bacteria in the food and a cat’s sensitive stomach. To ensure that your pet receives all of the nutrients from steak without having a negative reaction, you should always cook it before feeding.
What can I feed my cat instead of raw steak?
In most cases, you should not feed your feline friend any amount of uncooked beef for this reason. Cats lack an enzyme called “Amylase” in their saliva, which breaks down starch and sugars in raw meat. While most carnivores have this enzyme, it is absent from the saliva of cats because they do not need it to break down grass-eating animals such as rabbits and rodents.
[…] Cats can eat normal cat food, but you should always consult with your vet before changing a diet or adding anything to their regular regimen because it could be unsafe for the animal’s health. […]