It’s Thanksgiving time to have fun and celebrate with loved ones, including your pets! Many cat parents are searching for cat safe thanksgiving foods and would feel deprived if they didn’t have their kitties by their side on Thanksgiving Day.
What if you wanted to share some yummy turkey with your pets? All human foods, including those on this list, should be discussed with your veterinarian before feeding them to your cat. There may be some foods that are unsafe for your feline friend because cats are unique.
Here are a few foods you should avoid sharing with your cats during your Thanksgiving dinner, including those that are safe to share with most cats.
Thanksgiving Foods That Cats Can Safely Eat
The critical thing to remember is that, even though these foods are technically safe for cats, they may disrupt their usual eating routine.
Cats may vomit or experience diarrhoea when eating wealthy foods. Before you freely feed your cat from Thanksgiving’s table, consult your veterinarian first. Cats can have intolerances to any type of food.
Turkey
Thanksgiving is Turkey Day! It is okay to feed turkey to most cats in small quantities as long as it is plain. As carnivores, cats benefit from a bit of lean protein.
When giving your cat a little treat, try to stick to giving them white turkey meat rather than the skin or dark meat. The turkey should be avoided if it has been heavily dressed with garlic, onions, or shallots. Garlic, for instance, can be deadly to cats if consumed in large quantities.
You must also ensure that your cat doesn’t eat bones in their turkey, as bones can cause severe discomfort or even death if they become lodged in their intestinal tract.
Mashed Potatoes
Your cat usually has a tiny bit of plain mashed potatoes during your Thanksgiving feast. The potatoes should not be prepared with alliums, such as garlic, onions, scallions, or leeks. You should also avoid adding butter, sour cream, or cheese to mashed potatoes, as they can cause gastric discomfort and digestive issues.
Cranberry Sauce
Providing your cat with a bit of cranberry sauce on their plate or mixed with their regular food is a healthy Thanksgiving treat as long as there isn’t too much sugar or artificial sweetener in the sauce. Additionally, cranberries are known to help with urinary tract health issues.
Green Beans
It is common for cats and dogs to enjoy plain green beans as healthy treats. Be sure to prepare the green beans without using butter or alliums; your cat should be fine.
Pumpkin
Dogs and cats love pumpkin because it contains fibre.
The best option for your kitty may not be pumpkin pie, however. Most sweets contain artificial sweeteners like xylitol. Animals should not consume due to dangerous drops in blood sugar. It is excellent for digestion, however, if the pumpkin is plain. For stomach issues, pet parents often use a spoonful of pumpkin instead of medication. However, you must consult your veterinarian.
Apples
In addition to providing vitamins C and K, apples also contain other healthful nutrients. Don’t give your cat seeds or stems from apples. Cut them into slices or small cubes instead.
Bananas
Thanksgiving is commonly celebrated with fruit salad in some parts of the country. Bananas are a healthy and safe snack for cats, too! Fruit salads would not be complete without them!
Bread
The cats shouldn’t have any problems eating it, but make sure it is plain white or wheat without nuts, seeds, or raisins. You should only feed bread to your pet occasionally since it provides no nutritional value, and overeating will lead to weight gain. It is also important not to give your cat raw yeasted dough since ethanol can poison your cat.
Broccoli
Your cat will love broccoli when steamed or boiled without seasoning because it is high in antioxidants.
Pumpkin and squash
The quintessential fall gourd can be a great treat for your cat when cooked. Wet or dry food can be enriched with puree containing any unseasoned squash. Ensure your cat never receives preseasoned, sugary pumpkin pie mix from the can.
Thanksgiving Foods Cats Must Avoid
You must keep your cat away from certain Thanksgiving staples. The consumption of these foods can be uncomfortable at best, but they can also be deadly at worst.
Immediately consult your vet if you find your cat has consumed any of these items by mistake. Immediately seek medical attention if you experience extreme side effects.
Alcohol
Thanksgiving shouldn’t be the time to give your cat alcohol.
Cats’ bodies are smaller than humans, so even a tiny sip that would be deemed okay by us could prove deadly. An ounce of grain alcohol is enough to cause cats to become toxic to alcohol. You can instead choose a wine that contains catnip and is specifically designed for cats.
Chocolate
There’s no need to tell you this again: Do not give chocolate to your cat. Just like how it is dangerous with your pet dog, chocolate may bring terrible effects to your cat. Numerous symptoms are associated with it, including nausea, diarrhoea, abnormal heart rate, seizures, and muscle tremors. There can be cases of death in rare cases.
Tea and coffee
It might be an addiction for you to have a cup of coffee every day, but caffeine’s effects are much more problematic for cats. You shouldn’t worry about a bit of coffee or tea causing you problems, but don’t forget to contact your vet if you consume more significant amounts of the grounds, beans, or tea bags.
Bones that have been cooked
If you’re thinking about feeding your cat a cooked chicken or turkey bone, you might want to consider it twice. The bones from cooked meat can splinter and become lodged in your cat’s throat or tear its oesophagus if swallowed.
Alliums
There is a risk of death for cats from alliums, especially onions. Your cat can suffer anaemia if alliums damage the membrane of his red blood cells. A high heart rate and vomiting can result from consuming too many onions.
Stuffing
Alliums are dangerous for cats and are often found in Thanksgiving stuffing. If you don’t want your cat to eat the stuffing, keep it away from it.
Gravy
Its salty and fatty taste makes the gravy so delicious. You should be fine if your cat sneaks a tiny gravy lick but douses their dry food with it. Gravy’s high salt and fat content could be problematic for kitties with heart conditions.
The most prudent course of action is always to avoid caution and not feed your cat certain Thanksgiving foods. During the Thanksgiving holiday, take your cat to the vet and ask what they recommend to spice up his dry or wet food routine.
Conclusion
Remember your favourite feline friends this Thanksgiving as you prepare the family feast. While cats can also enjoy some human-favourite foods, many others should be avoided!
Frequently Asked Questions
Is stuffing safe for cats to eat?
Garlic and onions may cause problems. In addition, the bread is laden with delicious turkey grease, which could upset your digestive system. Make sure your cat doesn’t touch the stuffing.
Is green bean casserole safe for cats?
I don’t have a problem with the green beans, but I have a problem with the canned onions. For cats, this is a no-no.
Can cats eat cranberry sauce?
This isn’t a natural food for cats, but it’s also not toxic. Cats supposedly aren’t attracted to sweets or tarts since they aren’t sweet or tart. However, there are probably some cats who enjoy cranberry sauce. Cats do not usually get drunk unless they are so greedy with alcohol that they are satiated by brandy.
Are rolls and bread safe for cats to eat?
There should be no problem with plain bread and rolls. The consumption of garlic bread, however, can increase the risk of developing Heinz-body anaemia.
What is the best way to keep your pet safe?
The best way to keep your cat (and even dog) safe is to keep them indoors. This is because they are more likely to be hit by a car or attacked by a stray animal outside. They also have less chance of getting sick if they stay inside and don’t get exposed to the harmful chemicals found in most homes that can cause illness and disease.
Many people who live in apartments often find it challenging to find an outdoor space for their cats, but this doesn’t mean you can’t keep them safe from harm inside your home!
How can I keep my pet safe during the holidays?
Some tips to keep your pet (either a cat or dog) safe during the holidays include:
- Make sure all doors are locked and secured.
- Put your cat in a carrier or a crate.
- Give your cat plenty of food and water.