Recommended Raw Meaty Bones for Cats & Kittens

Kittens have a higher edible bone recommendation than adult cats to ensure that the diet provides sufficient calcium and phosphorus for growth and development. There are several variables to consider when feeding a kitten a homemade diet. It is important to ensure that there are adequate amounts of essential nutrients to support optimal growth.

These variables are important to consider when formulating a balanced homemade diet for cats and kittens. The amount of edible bone decreases once a kitten reaches adulthood. Supplements that provide only calcium can be used instead of bone meal for adult cats because physical development is complete.

Edible Bone Average

Kittens have a higher calcium and phosphorus requirement than adult cats. Therefore, the kitten PMR ratios have a higher edible bone percentage. The raw edible bone ratio guideline for kittens starts at 17% of the overall daily intake. The guideline for adult cats is 6% edible bone.   

It is important to note that this ratio refers to the amount of bone alone, and does not include the meat on the bone. Since various raw meaty bones will differ in their bone content, some calculations will be required to know how much of each raw meaty bone to feed.

The amount of raw meaty bones a cat or kitten may need to maintain firm and consistent stool will vary. The edible bone ratios are a starting guideline. Many kittens do well on 15% to 20% raw edible bone content. Always adjust according to the cat or kitten’s individual needs.

Size & Age Considerations

In order to gain essential calcium and phosphorus from raw meaty bones a kitten must be able to fully and safely consume the item. Edible raw meaty bones for kittens should be chosen based on the size and age of the kitten. Very young or small kittens may struggle to crush and consume raw meaty bones while jaw strength develops. Meaty bones that are larger and more dense can be fed once all kitten teeth have been replaced with adult teeth.

Calcium Content of Meaty Bones

The USDA Food Database provides nutritional data on the muscle meat, skin, and fat of raw meaty bones. It does not provide the nutritional data on the vitamin and mineral content found within the actual bones. The nutritional data on the mineral content of some raw meaty bones can be found in Monica Segal’s K9 Kitchen.

Raw Chicken Necks

Skinless chicken necks provide a soft edible bone gentle enough for some young kittens to crush and consume. Duck necks are another raw meaty bone that is comparable to raw chicken necks. Duck necks are also appropriate for larger kittens and adult cats. The nutritional content will vary between these different raw meaty bones.

Nutritional Breakdown

The USDA provides nutritional information on chicken necks with and without the skin. While the USDA data does not include the nutrient content found in chicken neck bones, the nutritional data on the bone’s mineral content can be found in Monica Segal’s K9 Kitchen book.

Cornish Hen

Raw cornish game hens are a smaller species of chicken which provide smaller bones suitable for cats and kittens. The USDA Food Database provides nutritional data on cornish hen muscle meat, skin, and fat. It does not provide the nutritional data on the vitamin and mineral content found within cornish hen bones. Although the nutritional data on the amount of calcium and phosphorus within cornish hen bones is unavailable, the data on chicken bones can be used as a guide to calculating an estimate on the mineral content within cornish hen bones.

Nutritional Breakdown

The nutritional information available on cornish hen reflects the entire bird without feathers, internal organs, head, feet, or bones. Individual parts from cornish hen will have varying nutrients.

Ground Raw Meaty Bones Are Acceptable

Very young and small kittens may not physically be capable of crushing and consuming even the smaller raw meaty bones. It is also common for adult cats raised on commercial pet food to refuse to eat whole meaty bones when transitioned to a raw diet. Therefore, in many cases it is necessary to use an alternative to whole meaty bones for cats and kittens.  

Ground bones are a suitable replacement for feeding whole bones.Ground raw meaty bones can provide essential calcium and phosphorus to developing kittens when whole bones are not fed. Additionally, ground bones can provide a wider variety of larger meaty bones such as turkey necks to cats and kittens who would not physically be able to consume the intact bone. Ground meaty bones can be sourced from many online raw food suppliers or ground at home using a heavy duty meat grinder.

Supplement Alternatives

A supplement that provides both calcium and phosphorus is required for kittens if whole or ground raw meaty bones are not fed. Bone meal powder provides the essential calcium and phosphorus that kittens need for optimal growth. The amount of calcium and phosphorus available in bone meal will depend on the individual brand – always review the label for the nutritional analysis. Some recommended bone meal options include:

It is important to select a bone meal supplement over a calcium only supplement for kittens. This is due to their higher need for phosphorus in addition to their higher need for calcium. 

Calcium carbonate supplements and egg shell powder will only provide calcium and nothing more. Therefore, these calcium sources are not an appropriate choice for kittens but can be used for adult cats. Considering the prevalence of renal problems in older cats, these calcium options are often beneficial to use in place of bone or bone meal for older adult cats. Some recommended calcium options for adult cats include: