For many years, pork wasn’t on my list of recommended raw meats for cats. However, I’ve since incorporated it into my own cats’ diet—first by accident (a mistaken packet of ground pork I thought was turkey), and later deliberately, to help with a food intolerance in one of my cats. As it turns out, most cats seem to really enjoy pork. Pork is also inexpensive compared with other meats and can be blended with expensive red meats like extra lean grass-fed beef or venison to reduce the cost of the homemade cat food.

But what about the risks of feeding pork raw?

Disease Risk in Raw Pork

Pigs can carry diseases and parasites that pose health risks to both humans and animals when their meat is consumed raw or undercooked. Of greatest concern are Trichinella spiralis and Pseudorabies virus (Aujeszky’s disease). Both are classified as Reportable Diseases—meaning any confirmed cases must be reported to public health authorities. Fortunately, due to decades of rigorous monitoring and eradication efforts, both diseases are now extremely rare in Canada and the United States.

Trichinella spiralis

Trichinella spiralis is a tissue-dwelling roundworm found in rats, pigs, and humans, and is responsible for the disease Trichinellosis. It can occur in bears and walruses as well, and people have become infected by eating the meat of these animals. It is sometimes referred to as the “pork worm” due to it being found commonly in pork products that are undercooked. It is not a very important parasite in cats, but it can occur.

This parasite does not lay eggs. Instead, adult worms in the small intestine produce live larvae, which travel through the body, cause inflammation, and encyst in muscle tissue. These larvae can remain dormant for years, potentially causing muscle pain, weakness, or—in severe cases—pneumonia, neurological issues, or even heart failure, depending on where the larvae lodge.

Infection in cats is rare and treatable using dewormers designed for roundworms. Cats become infected when eating the muscle meat or other organs of an infected animal.
Infection is prevented by not feeding raw pork or bear, and not allowing the cat to roam and hunt.

Good news: Trichinella larvae are killed by freezing. Meat pieces less than 6 inches thick can be safely frozen at 5°F (-15°C) for at least 20 days to kill the larvae effectively.

According to the U.S. trichinellosis surveillance system, infections in people have dropped steadily, with a median of just 12 cases reported annually between 1997 and 2001—and no deaths. This dramatic reduction is due to significant improvements in commercial pork farming practices, and reported cases are associated with the consumption of undercooked meat from wild boars, horses, wildlife species such as walrus and bear, and outdoor-reared and home-processed pigs.

Pseudorabies (Aujeszky’s Disease)

Pseudorabies is another disease historically associated with pigs. Despite the name, it bears no relation to rabies but is caused by a herpes virus that attacks the nervous system. It poses no threat to humans and does not spread from cat to cat, but it is almost always fatal to cats if contracted. Cats typically become infected by eating raw pork or rats, making it more common in farm environments.

Symptoms of Pseudorabies in cats can appear within two to nine days of exposure. These may include restlessness, drooling, itching around the head and shoulders, sudden behavioural changes, difficulty breathing, fever, or a staggering gait. Affected cats often appear to have something stuck in their throat. Sadly, the disease progresses so rapidly that in many cases, the cat simply slips into a coma and dies within twenty-four to thirty-six hours. There is no known treatment. As with Trichinella, the best defence is prevention: keep your cat from roaming freely, avoid feeding raw pork from unregulated sources, and never feed pork from feral or backyard pigs.

Pseudorabies does not exist in Canada. Thanks to nationwide eradication programmes, the commercial pig population in the U.S. was declared free of the disease by 2004. However, it may still be present in feral pigs and backyard-raised pigs, especially in parts of the U.S.

So, Should You Feed Pork?

Pork can be a useful meat for cats—especially for those with food intolerances or allergies—but it’s wise to weigh the benefits against the risks.

If you decide to feed pork raw:

• Buy only commercial pork from commercial sources, like the grocery store.
• Buy extra lean pork and grind the meat yourself. Pre-ground pork is typically too high in fat.
• Freeze it flat in freezer bags for at least 20 days at 5°F (-15°C) or lower. A typical home freezer should be set to 0°F (-17°C) or below, which is even better.
• Avoid feeding raw pork to kittens, senior cats, or cats with health issues.
• Consider cooking the pork thoroughly if you’re at all concerned.

In Canada, the risk of Pseudorabies from commercial pork is essentially non-existent. In the United States, choosing only inspected, commercially raised pork greatly reduces any remaining risk.