Time to loosen your belt buckle, cause Thanksgiving is right around the corner! While Thanksgiving dinner is for the whole family, there are “pawlenty” of pitfalls when it comes to fixing your feline friend a plate.
What foods can cats have on Thanksgiving? And which Thanksgiving foods are toxic to cats? Heres a comprehensive look at which Thanksgiving foods are safe for cats and which ones might harm your purring pal.
The holidays are a time for friends, family, and of course, food. For many pet owners, the question arises – can cats eat thanksgiving turkey?
As obligate carnivores, cats require protein from animal sources. Turkey can be a healthy treat for cats as long as it is prepared properly. Here’s what cat owners need to know about sharing thanksgiving turkey with feline companions.
Turkey Can Be a Nutritious Treat in Moderation
Turkey is a lean, low-fat source of protein that contains essential amino acids cats need. Unlike dogs, cats have a higher requirement for protein. Since turkey breast meat contains over 80% protein and only 2% fat, it can make an excellent supplemental snack.
Most experts agree that cats can eat a small amount of turkey breast meat, as long as it is cooked, boneless, and skinless. The key is moderation – turkey should never make up more than 10% of your cat’s diet. Too much can lead to gastrointestinal upset.
Avoid Seasonings, Bones, Skin, and Fat
While plain turkey meat is fine, cats should not eat turkey skins, seasoned meat, meat near bones, or fatty pieces.
Turkey skin is heavy in saturated fat. Excessive fat intake can cause life-threatening pancreatitis in cats. Any turkey seasoned with onions, garlic, or other spices should also be avoided, as these seasonings can damage red blood cells and cause anemia.
Bones can be a choking hazard or damage intestines if swallowed. Sticking to boneless meat portions removes this risk.
Opt for White Meat and Cook Thoroughly
Turkey breast or other white meat portions make the safest treat for cats. Dark meat contains more fat and isn’t ideal.
Be sure any turkey given to cats is thoroughly cooked to an internal temperature of 165°F. Raw turkey may contain harmful bacteria like salmonella. Cooked meat is safer.
Avoid Stuffing, Casseroles, and Side Dishes
While turkey meat alone is fine, cats should not eat other thanksgiving foods like stuffing, casseroles, gravy, desserts, etc. Most holiday dishes contain onions, garlic, excessive fat/salt, or other ingredients that could make your cat sick.
Even mashed potatoes should only be fed plain with no butter, milk, or spices added. Side dishes, if given at all, need modification to be cat-safe. Stick with turkey meat only for the safest treat.
Watch Out for Pancreatitis
Some cats are prone to pancreatitis, a potentially fatal inflammatory condition. Very high-fat foods like turkey skin can trigger an attack.
If your cat has a history of pancreatitis or other health issues, talk to your vet before offering any turkey meat. Certain cats require strictly-controlled diets and treats may not be appropriate.
Provide a Separate Dish
Rather than letting your cat nibble food directly from your plate, provide a small portion of plain turkey meat in their own dish. This helps control portion sizes and prevents them from accessing dangerous foods.
Monitor your cat to ensure they eat only the meat and do not start begging for other human foods. Remove the dish when they are finished with the turkey portion provided.
Make Sure Turkey Is Only An Occasional Treat
While tasty, turkey should not become a regular part of your cat’s diet. Stick to their normal food for daily nutrition. Too much turkey could lead to nutritional imbalances over time.
Most experts recommend turkey no more than 1-2 times per month. And no more than a few small bites should be fed at once.
The holidays are a time for sharing. With proper precautions, cats can safely enjoy a taste of thanksgiving turkey as part of the festivities. In moderation and prepared properly, turkey can be a healthy treat for your feline companion. Just be sure to avoid dangerous extras like skin, bones, and fatty pieces.
“Impawtant” safety notes for cats on Thanksgiving
Before we dig in to Thanksgiving foods for cats, here are a few pointers to keep in mind no matter what you plan to feed your feline on Turkey Day:
- Spices and seasonings can cause stomach upset and even poisoning. Avoid feeding your cat seasoned Thanksgiving foods.
- Thanksgiving foods are a decadent treat for cats — they shouldnt replace your cats usual food.
- Feed your cat small amounts of Thanksgiving foods to prevent weight gain and digestive issues.
- Let all your guests know not to feed your cat from the table or give them scraps without asking you first.
- Senior cats or those with dental issues may need their food cut up into small pieces for easier chewing and digestion.
What Thanksgiving foods are safe for cats?
Heres an overview of the Thanksgiving foods that cats can safely eat:
- Turkey
- Ham
- Gravy
- Cranberry sauce
- Corn/cornbread
- Carrots
- Broccoli
- Okra
- Potatoes
- Sweet potatoes
- Brussels sprouts
Lets take a closer look at each food, including how much you can safely feed your cat and the “pawtential” health benefits.
Turkey is safe for cats and a common ingredient in many adult cat foods. Turkey is low in fat and sodium, which can reduce a cats risk of obesity, diabetes, and heart disease. Its safe to give your cat some unseasoned turkey meat on Thanksgiving — just be sure to hold the skin and stuffing.
Ham is safe to feed your cat in small amounts, but it shouldnt replace their regular food. Ham contains high amounts of salt and fat, which can contribute to health conditions like obesity and high blood pressure. That said, its safe to give your cat an unseasoned sliver of ham as a special treat on Thanksgiving.
You should avoid anything other than plain gravy, as gray is sometimes seasoned with toxic ingredients like onions and garlic. Gravy is also high in sodium and fat, which can cause your cat to gain weight. A few drops of unseasoned gravy are unlikely to harm your cats health.
Cranberries are safe to feed cats in moderation. Theyre a good source of vitamin C and fiber. Cranberries also have anti-inflammatory properties and are loaded with antioxidants. However, you shouldnt feed your cat much cranberry sauce, as its high in sugar.
Cats can eat unseasoned corn on Thanksgiving, and its a common ingredient in many cat foods. Its considered healthy for cats, as it helps with digestion and has vitamins and minerals like carotenoids, vitamin E, and magnesium. You can also feed your cat cornbread, but only in small quantities, as its high in sugar and fat.
Cooked, unseasoned carrots are safe to feed cats. Carrots provide many of the same health benefits for cats as they do for humans. Theyre high in fiber, which improves digestion. Carrots are also high in vitamins and minerals like vitamin C and thiamine. Avoid giving your cat more than a small amount of glazed carrots, as theyre coated in butter and brown sugar, which could upset your cats tummy.
Unseasoned broccoli is safe to feed your cat on Thanksgiving. Its healthy for cats, as its high in fiber, which improves digestion. Plus, it has a high water content, helping your cat stay hydrated. As with any vegetable, you should feed your cat broccoli in moderation.
A Southern favorite, okra is safe to feed your cat at Thanksgiving. In fact, okra is healthy for cats and contains vitamin C, potassium, B vitamins, and folic acid. If youre cooking fried okra, ensure the okra isnt seasoned with anything toxic to cats, like onions or shallots. Its a good idea to remove the breading altogether if youre planning to give a piece to your cat.
Many forms of cooked, unseasoned potatoes are safe for cats, including mashed and roasted potatoes. Again, if youre planning to give your cat a taste of your Turkey Day potatoes, skip the seasoning (especially garlic). Cats cant digest raw potatoes, so ensure theyre fully cooked before feeding.
Just like potatoes, cooked sweet potatoes are safe for cats to eat on Thanksgiving. Sweet potatoes are chock full of fiber, which can help resolve digestive issues and help your cat feel full for longer. If you want to share some sweet potato with your cat, ensure its fully cooked and unseasoned. Avoid giving your cat any sweet potato pie or souffle (well discuss why in the next section).
Is your cat one of the rare Thanksgiving guests who love Brussels sprouts? Good news! Fully cooked, unseasoned Brussels sprouts are safe for cats in moderation. Theyre also high in fiber and vitamin C. Give your cat a small nibble of cooked Brussels sprouts before adding harmful extras like onions, garlic, or cheese.
Can Cats Eat Turkey? (2019)
FAQ
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