Cats can have plain, cooked ground beef in small amounts, but it should only be an occasional treat, not their main diet.

Quick Scoop

  • Yes, cats can eat ground beef if it is lean, fully cooked, and completely unseasoned.
  • It must not contain onion, garlic, sauces, salt, or spices, as these can be harmful or toxic to cats.
  • Use it as a topper or treat alongside a complete cat food, not as a full replacement, or your cat may develop nutritional deficiencies over time.
  • Raw ground beef is generally not recommended because of the higher risk of bacteria like Salmonella and E. coli.
  • High‑fat beef can upset your cat’s stomach and, long term, increase the risk of obesity or pancreatitis, so choose lean (under about 10% fat) when possible.

How to make it safer

  1. Choose lean ground beef (low fat).
  2. Cook it thoroughly until no pink remains.
  3. Do not add oil, butter, salt, onion, garlic, or other seasonings.
  4. Let it cool, then offer a small portion mixed with their regular cat food.
  5. Watch for vomiting, diarrhea, or behavior changes; if you notice anything off, stop and contact a vet.

Tiny example

If you’re making burgers, you can set aside a spoonful of plain lean beef, cook it separately with no seasoning, and give your cat a teaspoon or two as a special treat alongside their normal balanced food.

Bottom note: Information gathered from public forums or data available on the internet and portrayed here.