Why?
Lean pork, like tenderloin, offers quality protein comparable to other meats, while fattier cuts are harder to digest. Raw or undercooked pork can carry parasites such as Trichinella and Toxoplasma. Raw pork, and especially wild boar or feral pig, can also transmit pseudorabies, a virus that is fatal to cats. Ham, bacon and sausage are another story: far too salty and fatty.
How much?
A few small pieces of lean pork now and then, cooked through, with no rind, fat, bones or salt. Skip garlic-rubbed roasts, marinades and sauces. Pork should stay a small extra next to regular cat food.
The risks
- Raw meat: parasites and pseudorabies, which is fatal
- Fat and rind: vomiting or diarrhea
- Marinades and rubs with garlic or onion
- Cooked chop or rib bones that splinter
- Processed pork that's too salty: ham, bacon, sausage
Your cat ate some: what now?
A small bite of plain cooked pork is fine. If it was fatty, seasoned or had bones, watch your cat for 24 to 48 hours and call your vet for vomiting, diarrhea, lethargy or belly pain. If your cat ate raw wild boar, feral pig or raw pork offal, call your vet for advice even if they seem fine.
Better options
Chicken, turkey and rabbit are lean meats that are simpler to get right. For a quick treat, pick one made for cats.
Common questions
Can cats eat raw pork?
No. Raw pork can carry parasites, and raw pork or wild boar can transmit pseudorabies, which is fatal to cats and dogs. Always cook pork all the way through.
Can cats eat pulled pork or pork chops?
Plain lean chop meat, cooked and cut small, is fine. Pulled pork is usually rubbed with spices, garlic and onion or covered in sauce, so skip it.
This information is general and does not replace advice from a veterinarian. If your cat has swallowed something toxic, call your vet or an animal poison control center right away, without waiting for symptoms.