As a cat owner, it’s important to know what foods are safe for your feline friend. When it comes to teriyaki chicken, you may be wondering if this popular dish is something that cats can eat. In this blog post, we will explore whether or not cats can safely consume teriyaki chicken.
What is Teriyaki Chicken?
Teriyaki chicken is a Japanese cuisine staple made of grilled or broiled chicken glazed with a sweet and savory sauce made from soy sauce, sugar, ginger, and other seasonings. Although often served as part of Asian dishes like stir-fry or rice bowls, teriyaki-style cooking has become popular in Western food culture.
Can Cats Eat Teriyaki Chicken?
The short answer is no. While small amounts of plain cooked chicken are generally safe for most cats to eat in moderation as an occasional treat; however the flavorings & seasoning used in most commercial preparation of teriyaki sauces contain ingredients that could be harmful to felines.
Most commercial brands include garlic and onion which belong to the Allium family – plants that include leeks ,shallots etc- contains compounds that damage red blood cells in dogs resulting into hemolytic anemia ; though there isn’t enough research data about its toxicity effect on cats but veterinarians would rather discourage feeding such food than risking their health.
Another ingredient commonly found in store-bought sauces used for preparing Terikayi ,Xylitol (a zero-calorie artificial sweetener) consumed by pets mostly dogs results into hypoglycemia(low blood sugar), seizures , liver failure . Hence extra precaution should be taken when introducing new product/food items especially those prepared with artificial additives .
Potential Risks
Feeding your cat too much teriyaki chicken or any seasoned meat may cause digestive issues like vomiting and diarrhea due to high levels of salt & preservatives included during processing. Also because too much intake increases sodium (salt) level in the blood leading to dehydration and other complications.
In conclusion, it’s better not to feed your cat teriyaki chicken as its unnecessary , unwanted & could lead to potential risks. Instead stick with treats that are specifically formulated for cats. If you want to spoil your feline friend occasionally, try plain cooked chicken without any seasoning or spices added. Remember- what might be good for us humans isn’t necessarily good for our pets .
