Homemade cat food
Raw Chicken Neck Dental Chew
A single raw chicken neck is a soft, edible bone that lets a cat gnaw plaque off its own teeth — the mechanical chewing does what no biscuit can. Raw only, and always supervised.
- Difficulty
- Easy
- Time
- 5 min prep (plus 72 hr freezing)
- Makes
- 1 chew
🧺 Ingredients
- 1 raw chicken neck, human-grade (skin on for most cats, off for weight-managed cats)
👩🍳 Method
- Buy fresh human-grade raw chicken necks from a reputable butcher or raw pet-food supplier.
- Freeze for at least 72 hours, then thaw in the fridge before serving — deep-freezing reduces surface pathogens.
- Offer the neck on a wipeable plate or mat and let your cat gnaw and crunch. The tearing action scrapes tartar from the teeth and gum line.
- Supervise every second. Remove and discard any piece small enough to be swallowed whole.
- Refrigerate an unfinished neck for no more than 24 hours, and discard any chew left at room temperature for over an hour.
Nutrition: Raw edible bone supplies natural calcium and phosphorus in balance, and the chewing action is one of the most effective ways to reduce dental tartar. The skin adds fat — trim it for cats watching their weight.
📝 Notes
NEVER give cooked bones of any kind — they splinter and can cause fatal injuries; this chew is safe only because it is raw and soft. Start with very short sessions. Not suitable for kittens, senior cats with poor teeth, or immunocompromised cats and households. Count the neck toward daily calories, and check with your vet before starting raw feeding.
⚕️ Before you cook for your cat
- Homemade food must be balanced. Cats need taurine, and deficiency causes heart and eye disease.
- Treat recipes are supplements to a complete diet, not a replacement for it.
- Check any new ingredient against the toxic-foods list, and ask your vet before switching diets.