Do not give cats cooked or raw bones. Bones can splinter or lodge in the mouth, throat or gut, and chewing hard material can damage teeth. Raw bones also introduce hygiene risks.
Remove bones before offering meat or fish
Cats Protection advises removing all bones from cooked meat or fish offered as an occasional extra. Never assume a cat will chew a small bone thoroughly. Poultry and fish bones can be difficult to see, so check the entire portion.
Watch for urgent warning signs
Contact a vet immediately if your cat is choking, struggling to breathe, repeatedly gagging, pawing at the mouth, drooling heavily, vomiting, painful or unable to settle. Do not reach blindly into the mouth or induce vomiting; sharp material can cause more injury on the way back.
Report the exposure accurately
Tell the clinic what animal the bone came from, whether it was cooked, the approximate size, how much may be missing and when it happened. Keep a matching bone or the food packaging if safe. A cat may need assessment even before obvious symptoms develop.
Use complete food and suitable treats
Choose a complete cat diet and treats designed for cats, within the daily allowance. The Kitty Buffet can hold the normal meal while human food stays off limits. Never promote bones as a dental-cleaning substitute.
Sources and further reading
Guidance checked 13 September 2026.
