Updated 2026-08-07 · Source: ASPCA Animal Poison Control — People Foods to Avoid Feeding Your Pets; FDA Center for Veterinary Medicine · Free · No sign-up
Not toxic, but be careful — raw meat isn't poisonous to cats, and it comes with caveats that matter.
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
Caution
Severity
3 / 5 — Risky — more than a taste can cause real illness.
Safe amount
A taste at most
Category
Protein
Source
ASPCA Animal Poison Control — People Foods to Avoid Feeding Your Pets; FDA Center for Veterinary Medicine · reviewed 2026-08-07 · confidence: high
Why
Same bacterial risk for cats and for the household. Raw feeding is a decision to make with a vet, not on the strength of a web page.
Signs to watch for if your cat has eaten raw meat
Vomiting
Diarrhea or loose stools
Loss of appetite
Belly discomfort or unusual tiredness
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
Don't make it a habit. Watch for vomiting, diarrhea or a lost appetite over the next day and call your vet if it doesn't settle or your cat seems unwell.
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.
Not toxic, but be careful — raw meat isn't poisonous to cats, and it comes with caveats that matter. Same bacterial risk for cats and for the household. Raw feeding is a decision to make with a vet, not on the strength of a web page.
What happens if a cat eats raw meat?
Watch for: Vomiting; Diarrhea or loose stools; Loss of appetite; Belly discomfort or unusual tiredness. 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 raw meat is dangerous for a cat?
More than a taste can cause real illness, and the risk rises with the amount and with a smaller pet. The safe amount is a taste at most — if your cat has had more, call your vet.