Food safety

Can Cats Eat Beef Jerky?

Not recommended — Beef Jerky for cats.

Not recommended

Why: Beef jerky is very salty and usually marinated with garlic, onion powder, sugar and preservatives. The salt alone can upset a cat's stomach, and the flavourings include ingredients that are toxic to cats.

If your cat ate beef jerky: A small piece is not an emergency — offer fresh water and watch for vomiting or diarrhoea. If your cat ate a lot, or jerky made with xylitol, call your vet.

Related: Beef, Slim Jims, Bully Sticks

Why this verdict

Beef jerky is very salty and usually marinated with garlic, onion powder, sugar and preservatives. The salt alone can upset a cat's stomach, and the flavourings include ingredients that are toxic to cats.

If your cat ate beef jerky

A small piece is not an emergency — offer fresh water and watch for vomiting or diarrhoea. If your cat ate a lot, or jerky made with xylitol, call your vet.

Related foods

Beef, Slim Jims, Bully Sticks

Check another food

Back to the Food-Safety Checker to check all 90 foods, or see the beginner feeding guide and the feeding estimator.

Before you use the result

Use the result as a starting point for observation and planning. Cats vary by age, body condition, temperament, medical history, and household setup.

Sources: ASPCA Animal Poison Control — People Foods to Avoid Feeding Your Pets, the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center, and the Cornell Feline Health Center — Feeding Your Cat. Chocolate toxicity figures are approximate values from the Merck Veterinary Manual. If your cat ate something on the toxic list, call your veterinarian or ASPCA Animal Poison Control at (888) 426-4435.