Food safety

Can Cats Eat Bully Sticks?

Not recommended — Bully Sticks for cats.

Not recommended

Why: Bully sticks are dried bull pizzle made as dog chews. They are very high in calories, can splinter or be swallowed in chunks (a choking and blockage risk), and carry bacteria. They are not made for cats.

If your cat ate bully sticks: If your cat chewed a small piece, watch for vomiting, gagging or constipation. If a large piece was swallowed, or your cat is straining, call your vet.

Related: Beggin Strips, Beef Jerky, Biscuits

Why this verdict

Bully sticks are dried bull pizzle made as dog chews. They are very high in calories, can splinter or be swallowed in chunks (a choking and blockage risk), and carry bacteria. They are not made for cats.

If your cat ate bully sticks

If your cat chewed a small piece, watch for vomiting, gagging or constipation. If a large piece was swallowed, or your cat is straining, call your vet.

Related foods

Beggin Strips, Beef Jerky, Biscuits

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.