Can Cats Eat Orange Chicken

A curious cat can get himself into many strange situations, especially regarding the treasures they can find in their favorite garbage bin. If you find yourself in this situation, you may start to worry about what they’ve gotten themselves into – especially if it involves your leftovers.

It may leave you wondering what is and isn’t okay for your cat to eat. For example, can cats eat orange chicken?

Cats should avoid eating orange chicken. While the chicken itself is generally harmless (depending on how long it’s been out), the problem will come down to the citrus in the orange. The sauce is also loaded with too much sugar which can harm cats.

We’ll talk about what you should do if your cat eats orange chicken and why it’s best to be avoided below.

Can cats eat chicken?

Generally speaking, it is safe for cats to eat various cooked meat, including chicken. Cats are carnivorous animals, meaning they thrive on a meat-filled, protein-rich diet. While dry and wet cat food can cover the protein content that cats need, your pet may find himself wanting the real thing (and can you blame him?). 

You certainly can if you are making chicken, beef, or turkey and want to give your furry friend a bite. You’ll want to avoid giving your cat anything raw, though, as this might make them sick. You will also want to make sure any meat you throw away isn’t accessible to your cat because spoiled meat can also lead to illness.

Is orange toxic to cats?

Yes, orange – along with all citrus – is toxic to cats. Usually, cats will avoid citrus (that’s why many sprays are made to deter scratching smell so citrusy). Oranges are full of sugar, which in itself is something you’ll want to make sure your cat avoids.

But more specifically, the acids and essential oils found in oranges can cause some significant problems with your cat’s nervous system. While oranges are a great fruit and source of nutrients for us humans, it’s best to keep these away from your cat – no matter how interested they may seem.

The peel is more toxic than the fruit itself because that is where the essential oils are found. You’ll want to be extra careful with how you dispose of the rind of your oranges. Be sure to keep it out of reach of your cat because even touching this part of an orange can cause an allergic reaction.

Can cats eat flavored chicken?

Cats should not eat any flavored chicken. The herbs and spices that make the chicken so appealing for us to eat are the exact things that are likely to cause problems for your cat or kitten. Most herbs and spices that are used to flavor chicken will at the very least cause an upset stomach for your cat.

This can look like vomiting or just a general change in their behavior. However, flavors like garlic and onion can be toxic for your cat. While the amounts used in flavoring your chicken are unlikely to cause serious problems, it’s still best to keep this kind of chicken far out of reach.

How to know if your cat ate orange chicken

Most of the symptoms will involve the digestive system, so keep an eye out for the following:

• Diarrhea
• Vomiting
• Drooling
• Stomach upset
• Weakness

However, if your cat eats a significant amount of orange or another citrus, it can begin to affect its nervous system. Here are some symptoms of that:

• Depression
• Photosensitivity (sensitive to light)
• Seizure

Your cat may also have an allergic reaction on their skin where they touched the orange. This is often called allergic dermatitis and can look like a rash, swelling, or rough texture. 

Your cat’s reaction after consuming or touching an orange will depend on just how much of the fruit they ingested or came in contact with. Fortunately, fatalities for orange or citrus consumption are rare. Most cats will fully recover after treatment. Just be sure to bring them to the vet as soon as you notice anything is wrong – the sooner they can get help, the better the recovery process will go.

What should I do if my cat eats orange chicken?

First, you will want to keep an eye on your cat to see if you notice any noticeable signs of distress. If your cat begins to vomit, you’ll need to contact your veterinarian immediately. They will be able to talk through the symptoms with you and let you know what your next steps should be. If they think the symptoms are severe, they will likely ask you to bring your cat in as soon as possible. If your vet is not open or available, you can bring them to an emergency clinic.

It is essential to know what part of the orange your cat ate. The peel on the orange is significantly more potent than the fruit inside, so if you know they ate or chewed on some of the rinds, you will want to bring them right to the vet. It can also help to know just how much of the orange was eaten if you can tell. The more information you can provide to your vet, the better off your kitty will be. 

The treatment for citrus poisoning will begin right away. If the cat only touched the fruit and didn’t consume any of it, your vet will give him a special bath that removes toxins from his skin and fur. Then they can apply a topical treatment to any of the skin that has been irritated.

If your cat ate some fruit, the vet would likely give him a solution that will induce vomiting (especially if he hasn’t vomited already). They may proceed to give your cat medicine that will help clear his intestines of the toxic citrus or do a full internal stomach wash. Because of all of the vomiting, your cat can become dehydrated. If this happens, the vet may choose to administer an IV to make sure your cat is getting enough fluids. 

While all of this can be very scary as it’s happening, know that fatalities from consuming citrus are very rare. Once they get to the vet, your cat is in great hands and will want some extra love and affection when they go home.

Things to keep in mind

It’s never fun to witness our favorite pet going through pain and discomfort. Try your best to limit their opportunities to get into a trash bin with leftovers in it, and avoid feeding your cat any food directly. Accidents happen, though, and it’s always a good idea to have the name and number of your vet handy just in case.