# Dressing out a cat. **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [January 22, 2019, 2:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dressing-out-a-cat/828180 "2019-01-22T02:58:59Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Ranger\_Jeff](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ranger_jeff/32/2065_2.png) [@Ranger\_Jeff](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ranger_Jeff)\ **Post date:** [January 22, 2019, 2:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dressing-out-a-cat/828180/1 "2019-01-22T02:58:59Z")
No, not dressing _up_ a cat. How much edible meat can I get from a hypothetical 8 lb 6 oz domestic cat? 😕 ---
**Author:** ![nearwildheaven](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/90db22/32.png) [@nearwildheaven](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/nearwildheaven)\ **Post date:** [January 22, 2019, 3:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dressing-out-a-cat/828180/2 "2019-01-22T03:36:38Z")
What did Muffin DO to get you that angry? 😕 ---
**Author:** ![snfaulkner](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/snfaulkner/32/433_2.png) [@snfaulkner](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/snfaulkner)\ **Post date:** [January 22, 2019, 3:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dressing-out-a-cat/828180/3 "2019-01-22T03:40:27Z")
Long hair or short hair? And do you consider hot dogs “meat”? ---
**Author:** ![DPRK](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/4491bb/32.png) [@DPRK](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DPRK)\ **Post date:** [January 22, 2019, 4:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dressing-out-a-cat/828180/4 "2019-01-22T04:00:49Z")
If you want an answer to that appallingly morbid question, consider that “roof rabbits” were eaten during the Siege of Paris and similar wartime situations. If you then consider cat = rabbit, a source like [this](https://madhatterrabbits.com/2016/09/06/dress-out-rates/) suggests that dressed weight is something like 50% of live weight. ---
**Author:** ![SmartAleq](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/smartaleq/32/163_2.png) [@SmartAleq](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SmartAleq)\ **Post date:** [January 22, 2019, 4:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dressing-out-a-cat/828180/5 "2019-01-22T04:20:18Z")
Cats and rabbits are so anatomically similar once you take the head, paws and fur off that it’s been common in many places for one to be substituted for the other in butcher shops. Apparently the placement of the kidneys is the biggest tell. ---
**Author:** ![Beckdawrek](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/beckdawrek/32/3647_2.png) [@Beckdawrek](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Beckdawrek)\ **Post date:** [January 22, 2019, 4:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dressing-out-a-cat/828180/6 "2019-01-22T04:22:00Z")
Not much meat there. Mr.Wrekker often brings squirrels and rabbits for me to butcher and cook. Similar size. You’ll have a better meal with a skinny chicken. IMHO. ETA,plus there’s that fishy cat taste you’ll have to get by;) ---
**Author:** ![SmartAleq](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/smartaleq/32/163_2.png) [@SmartAleq](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SmartAleq)\ **Post date:** [January 22, 2019, 4:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dressing-out-a-cat/828180/7 "2019-01-22T04:31:41Z")
I’d imagine obligate carnivores don’t taste too yummy. ---
**Author:** ![penultima\_thule](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/penultima_thule/32/3833_2.png) [@penultima\_thule](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/penultima_thule)\ **Post date:** [January 22, 2019, 4:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dressing-out-a-cat/828180/8 "2019-01-22T04:32:43Z")
> [@Ranger\_Jeff](#): > > No, not dressing _up_ a cat. How much edible meat can I get from a hypothetical 8 lb 6 oz domestic cat? 😕 > [@DPRK](#): > > suggests that dressed weight is something like 50% of live weight. That’s correct but the OP needs to note the 50% is hot carcass, bones in plus kidney, liver and heart. For edible meat, depending on how choosy they are with the offal. Cold and boned out, you’ll have something closer to 30% on the plate. ---
**Author:** ![nelliebly](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/nelliebly/32/5422_2.png) [@nelliebly](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/nelliebly)\ **Post date:** [January 22, 2019, 4:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dressing-out-a-cat/828180/9 "2019-01-22T04:37:56Z")
> [@Ranger\_Jeff](#): > > No, not dressing _up_ a cat. How much edible meat can I get from a hypothetical 8 lb 6 oz domestic cat? 😕 That’s a disturbingly specific weight for a “hypothetical” cat. ---
**Author:** ![Beckdawrek](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/beckdawrek/32/3647_2.png) [@Beckdawrek](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Beckdawrek)\ **Post date:** [January 22, 2019, 5:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dressing-out-a-cat/828180/10 "2019-01-22T05:35:27Z")
Yeah, Ranger, just go get chicken nuggets. Or eat that old can of clam chowder in the pantry. Don’t eat Fluffy. You wont like it. What will you tell the kids? ---
**Author:** ![Dag\_Otto](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/439d5e/32.png) [@Dag\_Otto](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dag_Otto)\ **Post date:** [January 22, 2019, 5:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dressing-out-a-cat/828180/11 "2019-01-22T05:37:28Z")
And this is why we need food stamps. Well, _I_ don’t need food stamps, so my 15 pound [del]shithead[/del] cat is safe. But you get the idea. ---
**Author:** ![MindsEye\_Watering](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mindseye_watering/32/3619_2.png) [@MindsEye\_Watering](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MindsEye_Watering)\ **Post date:** [January 22, 2019, 12:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dressing-out-a-cat/828180/12 "2019-01-22T12:58:08Z")
> [@Ranger\_Jeff](#): > > No, not dressing _up_ a cat. How much edible meat can I get from a hypothetical 8 lb 6 oz domestic cat? 😕 Not sure, but I know I can’t finish a whole one by myself. What? ---
**Author:** ![Chronos](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chronos/32/134_2.png) [@Chronos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chronos)\ **Post date:** [January 22, 2019, 2:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dressing-out-a-cat/828180/13 "2019-01-22T14:13:44Z")
**penultima thule** , I’m confused by your “hot weight” vs. “cold weight”. It sounds like you’re saying that 50% of the total is edible, but once you remove the bones, then 30% of what’s left after that is edible. But that doesn’t makes sense. ---
**Author:** ![Shodan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/9f8e36/32.png) [@Shodan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shodan)\ **Post date:** [January 22, 2019, 3:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dressing-out-a-cat/828180/14 "2019-01-22T15:01:24Z")
> [@Chronos](#): > > **penultima thule** , I’m confused by your “hot weight” vs. “cold weight”. It sounds like you’re saying that 50% of the total is edible, but once you remove the bones, then 30% of what’s left after that is edible. But that doesn’t makes sense. Maybe it has to do with how choosy you are at considering what is edible. Are you going to eat the intestines, blood, brain, etc., IOW. Regards, Shodan ---
**Author:** ![wictor](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/b3f665/32.png) [@wictor](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wictor)\ **Post date:** [January 22, 2019, 3:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dressing-out-a-cat/828180/15 "2019-01-22T15:15:35Z")
We have an excellent buffet in this town. I love the food there, but I stay away from the tray labeled “Meow Mix”. ---
**Author:** ![Spiderman](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/spiderman/32/230_2.png) [@Spiderman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spiderman)\ **Post date:** [January 22, 2019, 4:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dressing-out-a-cat/828180/16 "2019-01-22T16:10:12Z")
> [@Chronos](#): > > **penultima thule** , I’m confused by your “hot weight” vs. “cold weight”. It sounds like you’re saying that 50% of the total is edible, but once you remove the bones, then 30% of what’s left after that is edible. But that doesn’t makes sense. Use the bones to make soup stock. ---
**Author:** ![DPRK](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/4491bb/32.png) [@DPRK](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DPRK)\ **Post date:** [January 22, 2019, 4:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dressing-out-a-cat/828180/17 "2019-01-22T16:45:47Z")
> [@Chronos](#): > > **penultima thule** , I’m confused by your “hot weight” vs. “cold weight”. It sounds like you’re saying that 50% of the total is edible, but once you remove the bones, then 30% of what’s left after that is edible. But that doesn’t makes sense. My link explains > [@](#): > > Our goal for all of our rabbits is a minimum of 50% dress out rate. The dressout percentage is the percent of the live animal that ends up as carcass. Generally, the carcass weight is taken immediately after skinning and evisceration and is commonly known as the hot hanging weight. (Evisceration is the removal of viscera (internal organs, especially those in the abdominal cavity). This can refer to: Disembowelment, removal of the internal organs of an animal.) Other people may refer to this as the bone-in weight. **penultima thule** says that if you further toss the bones, kidneys, liver, etc you wind up with 30% of the live weight, not 30% of the 50%. ---
**Author:** ![Chronos](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chronos/32/134_2.png) [@Chronos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chronos)\ **Post date:** [January 22, 2019, 5:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dressing-out-a-cat/828180/18 "2019-01-22T17:00:17Z")
Ah, gotcha. I suppose that what you do with the viscera depends on where and how you’re killing the animal. You’ve got to get them out quickly or they’ll stink up the whole thing, so if you’re hunting, you field-dress them out and lose them, but if you’re making the kill in a controlled setting where you can quickly clean them out, they might still be usable. I suppose that there might also be an issue of size: It’ll be easier to use a pig’s or a cow’s intestines as sausage casings or whatever than a cat’s or a rabbit’s. ---
**Author:** ![Ulfreida](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ulfreida/32/8014_2.png) [@Ulfreida](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ulfreida)\ **Post date:** [January 22, 2019, 5:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dressing-out-a-cat/828180/19 "2019-01-22T17:01:05Z")
Cats taste terrible. This is a bad idea. ---
**Author:** ![Si\_Amigo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/si_amigo/32/2877_2.png) [@Si\_Amigo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Si_Amigo)\ **Post date:** [January 22, 2019, 5:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dressing-out-a-cat/828180/20 "2019-01-22T17:26:15Z")
> [@Ulfreida](#): > > Cats taste terrible. This is a bad idea. I’m guessing you haven’t tried[bacon wrapped free range cat](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aHSw3R1F1Sw) then. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dressing-out-a-cat/828180.md?page=2)