What Foods Can My Cat Eat on Thanksgiving? 13 Worst Foods to Avoid
You know the drill. You’re preparing Thanksgiving dishes, and the kitchen smells like heaven, and everyone in your family comes into the kitchen begging to taste, and yes, even your cat will be among them!
Here is a list of foods that your cat can eat on Thanksgiving.
What Can My Cat Eat on Thanksgiving?
1. Turkey
Cats can eat Thanksgiving turkey, preferably when unseasoned. This Thanksgiving favorite is high in protein and provides cats with the needed nutrition. Avoid giving your cat fat trimmings and the skin.
2. Pumpkin
Cats can eat this Thanksgiving t staple. Pumpkin is packed with nutrients and fiber that cats can benefit from.
One time when my cat had constipation, the vet told me to give her some pumpkin. Since then, she frequently gets some to help her in the litter box.
Make sure you only give plain cooked pumpkin to your cat.
3. Fruits
Cats can safely eat most fruits comfortably. They are loaded with vitamins, fiber, and nutrients beneficial to cats.
However, some are toxic and should be kept away from your furry pal. Avoid giving your cat grapes and raisins as these are toxic to cats.
I’ve prepared a detailed list compiling over 25 fruits that your cat can safely eat. To be on the safe side, it would be best if you checked out these safe fruits for cats.
4. Vegetables
Mashed potatoes are a favorite during Thanksgiving and we can’t really blame our kitties for wanting some. Potatoes are perfectly safe for your cat and a welcome treat. However, only feed them plain mashed potatoes without onions and garlic.
Most vegetables are safe for cats. The fiber in them will help your catto avoid constipation. Some on the other hand are toxic and will kill your cat. To explore more on this topic, check out this post on toxic vegetables for cats.
5. Ham
Cats love ham and it shouldn’t be a surprise if she begs for a bite. My Chacha goes crazy whenever she smells some.
However, because of its high salt content, only feed them a little. Too much could easily lead to sodium poisoning or kidney problems.
6. Sage
Sage is not toxic to cats and a little during the holiday mood will not harm your furry friend. However, it should be treated as a treat, only taken occasionally and not daily.
7. Smoked Salmon
Most cats will jump at the opportunity to have some salmon. The fish is packed with omega 3 and 6 which help in keeping their coats shiny. Salmon is also high in protein providing the needed nutrition to cats.
8. Cooked Grains and Oats
The good old corn is a perfect snack for cats. It provides some carbohydrates and enough roughage to keep things going in the litter box.
Just make sure the corn is unsalted and has no butter.
9. Cheese and Plain Yoghurt
Cats can safely take plain yogurt as the enzymes in the dairy help in breaking down the lactose. Yoghurt is packed with healthy fats and proteins that are beneficial to cats.
When feeding your cat some cheese, stick to the size of a small dice.
10. Whipped Cream
If your cat is lactose tolerant, like mine, then some whipped cream would be a fun treat. However, cats should only eat it occasionally as it can easily lead to excessive weight gain.
If your cat is lactose intolerant and happens to lick some, don’t worry. Whipped cream is not toxic to cats. They will only have a mild stomach upset that should resolve in a few hours.
11. Dinner Rolls
Cats can eat dinner rolls and bread. However, the pastries have little to no nutritional value for cats and should only be eaten once in a while.
What Thanksgiving Foods Can Cats Not Eat?
1. Bones and Skins
Unlike dogs, cats can’t eat bones. House cats have smaller canines that are unable to properly break bones. Feeding them smaller bones could also expose them to choking if it gets stuck in their throat.
Avoid giving your cat any skin (turkey skin, chicken skin, etc.). This is because the skin is always loaded with spices from the margination that could easily harm your cat.
2. Onions and Garlic
Alliums (onions, garlic, scallions, and leeks) are lethal to cats. These vegetables have chemical compounds that kill cats’ red blood cells. Exposure could easily cause a cat to develop Heinz anemia.
3. Gravy
Most of us make gravies with a lot of onions and garlic, which are toxic to both cats and dogs. However, some gravy with little to no seasoning and a little salt will not harm your cat.
Many cats love gravy and will beg for some. They are attracted by the concentrated flavors of the meat used. Gravy can make your cat quickly gain weight because of its high fat content.
4. Stuffing
Most of the stuffing has onions, garlic, or even raisins and currants. Onions, garlic, and other vegetables from the allium family cause a cat’s red blood cells leading to anemia.
5. Nutmeg
Nutmeg is a no-no for cats. All it takes is one teaspoon of ground nutmeg for it to be lethal to cats and other small animals.
Nutmeg has myristicin, a narcotic that causes hallucinations in cats (and sometimes in humans too). Other symptoms of poisoning include vomiting, diarrhea, and increased heart rate.
6. Pies
Pies are a Thanksgiving favorite, but it’s best to keep them away from our feline friends. Cats should not eat pies because they are loaded with a lot of sugar. Some pie recipes also contain nutmeg and cinnamon which are toxic to cats.
7. Alcohol
We’ve all seen those videos of cats sipping some wine and later on being unable to walk. However, cats should not drink any alcohol. It is toxic and can easily lead to liver failure.
Cats have tiny livers and cannot properly metabolize/digest the alcohol. It’s all fun and games until you have your cat hospitalized over one tablespoon of wine.
8. Chocolate
Chocolate is toxic to cats. This sweet treat has theobromine which can lead to death. Your cat may be attracted to the dairy in chocolate, but remember it only takes 0.5 – 1.1 ounces for it to be lethal.
9. Bread Dough
Cats should stay clear of bread dough. The raw dough has yeast which ferments in the body when eating. The fermentation produces an alcohol that can lead to seizures and is toxic to cats.
The dough can also expand and produce carbon dioxide in your cat’s stomach, leading to bloating.
10. Deviled Eggs
Cats can eat plain-boiled eggs but should avoid deviled eggs. These contain ingredients such as mustard, mayonnaise, and pepper that may cause a stomach upset in cats.
The mustard and mayonnaise in deviled eggs will most likely upset your cat’s stomach.
11. Candied Yams
Cats should not eat candied yams, although plain sweet potatoes are healthy for them. The added sugar in candied yams can quickly spike the sugar levels in cats. Cats may also suffer from an upset stomach.
12. Artificial Sweeteners Found in Deserts
Some artificial sweeteners like xylitol are toxic to cats and dogs. Signs of poisoning include lethargy, difficulty walking, weakness, collapsing and vomiting.
While xylitol poisoning does not have an antidote, your vet can administer an IV fluid to help save your cat.
13. Coffee and Tea
Coffee and tea have caffeine which is bad for cats. Symptoms of caffeine poisoning in cats include panting, tremors and seizures, vomiting and diarrhea, increased heart rate, and excessive thirst and urination.
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