Updated 2026-08-07 · Source: VCA Animal Hospitals — pet health library; ASPCA Animal Poison Control — People Foods to Avoid Feeding Your Pets · Free · No sign-up
Yes — bone broth is generally safe for cats in moderation, plain and in small pieces.
If your cat may have eaten something harmful — or any part of a lily — call your vet or the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center at (888) 426-4435 right now — don't wait for symptoms. A consultation fee may apply to the ASPCA hotline.
Verdict for cats
Generally safe
Severity
1 / 5 — Low risk — fine in moderation for a healthy pet.
Safe amount
Small amounts
Category
Protein
Source
VCA Animal Hospitals — pet health library; ASPCA Animal Poison Control — People Foods to Avoid Feeding Your Pets · reviewed 2026-08-07 · confidence: high
Why
Plain unsalted, Allium-free broth is a good way to tempt a cat to drink or eat. Never use commercial stock, which is salty and usually onion-based.
Signs to watch for if your cat has eaten bone broth
Most pets are fine after a small amount
Vomiting, loose stools or a skipped meal if they had a lot
Any new food can upset a sensitive stomach — introduce it in a small amount
Signs vary with the amount and with the individual pet, and some appear only after a day or more. Their absence does not mean your cat is in the clear — call rather than watch.
What to do now
Serve it plain, in small pieces, as an occasional treat. Keep all treats to under about a tenth of daily calories, and introduce anything new in a small amount so you can spot a sensitive stomach.
Never induce vomiting and never give any medicine unless a vet tells you to. With some substances it causes more damage than the poison. This page tells you when to get help — it never tells you how to treat at home.
Safer treats made for cats
If you're sharing food because you want to treat them, a treat formulated for cats does the job without the guesswork.
Verdicts are transcribed from the cited veterinary sources, never inferred. Where a source establishes a finding for one species only, the other species is left null and the page says to ask your vet — a dog finding is never copied onto a cat.
This page is a reference, not veterinary advice or a diagnosis. CanMyPetEat is a reference, not veterinary advice or a diagnosis. It tells you when to get help — never how to treat at home. Never induce vomiting or give any medicine unless a vet tells you to. Individual pets vary and toxicity guidance changes; your vet and the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center are the authority.
Yes — bone broth is generally safe for cats in moderation, plain and in small pieces. Plain unsalted, Allium-free broth is a good way to tempt a cat to drink or eat. Never use commercial stock, which is salty and usually onion-based.
What happens if a cat eats bone broth?
Usually nothing — in moderation this is a safe treat. If they had a large amount, watch for: Most pets are fine after a small amount; Vomiting, loose stools or a skipped meal if they had a lot; Any new food can upset a sensitive stomach — introduce it in a small amount. Signs can take hours or, for some poisons, a day or more to appear, so call your vet rather than waiting to see.
How much bone broth is dangerous for a cat?
The safe amount is small amounts, as an occasional treat rather than a daily habit. Large amounts mainly cause stomach upset; if that doesn't settle within a day, call your vet.