As the holidays approach, new foods are introduced to our homes. All of these new smells and delicious-looking food will surely attract your cat’s attention. Cats are naturally curious animals and can find themselves in unwanted situations because of it. As a pet parent, it is up to you to ensure your cat doesn’t come in contact with a potentially fatal or toxic snack.
Traditional Thanksgiving Food and Your Cat
Chances are that if you have company coming over for the holidays, your cat will disappear until the festivities are over. Other cats will sit beside a naive house guest and make love eyes at them until they give in and hand over what the beggar wants. However, the food dangers will still be present after the company has left for home. Let’s look at which Thanksgiving foods are safe and which can poison your little tiger.
Thanksgiving Turkey
Turkey is acceptable for cats without any additional ingredients because it is high in protein and lean, which means it will not challenge their pancreas. You can feed your cat small portions of turkey white meat. Make sure to cut the pieces small enough so that your feline buddy will not choke. Turkey is one of the top ingredients in cat foods and is perfectly fine to feed. Refraining from feeding your cat any seasoned turkey or having additional ingredients thrown into the mix is essential.
Turkey Skin
Turkey skin is packed full of fat and is not good for anyone to consume. It also tends to be the layer we season and drench with olive oil or butter. Your cat or dog can become very ill if turkey skin is eaten. Since it is savory and high in fat, your cat will be drawn to it, so beware of furry thieves. A tiny piece for a healthy cat is not a big deal, but if your cat has an underlying health issue or is obese, avoid feeding any skin, even if it’s free of additional ingredients.
Turkey Bones
All poultry bones must never end up as a snack for your cat or dog because they can easily kill them or, at best, cause seriously high vet bills from the surgeries it will take to save your pet. Once everyone has finished eating and clean-up time begins, take the turkey bones and remaining skin and giblets and put them in a trash bag in your trashcan. Leaving the turkey out for a bit unattended is asking for trouble.
Stuffing
Stuffing almost always contains chopped onion, celery, seasoning, olive oil or butter, and sometimes garlic. Because of this, it’s best to keep the stuffing away from cats and dogs. Garlic and onions are part of the allium family and can be fatal if eaten. Stuffing may also contain turkey grease, which can cause severe digestive issues.
Mashed Potatoes
Plain mashed potatoes without any dairy or salt are acceptable to offer your cat, though we often make mashed potatoes with plenty of salt, butter, and milk added. They can also have chives and garlic in the allium family and can kill your cat. You can make a small amount by smashing the potatoes and offering plain. If you choose to offer plain mashed potatoes that include butter and a bit of milk or milk substitute, it will not seriously harm your cat but could leave it with an upset stomach.
Gravy
Gravy is not fatal to cats or dogs but does have a considerable quantity of salt and fat. Cats need very little salt or fat, so skipping this one is best. They can have a small taste, which is absolutely necessary (your cat might be extra convincing), but if there are any known health issues, especially with the pancreas, avoid them altogether. A cat with pancreatitis is miserable in pain and will cost quite a bit by staying overnight at the vet’s. Kitties with pancreas issues sometimes never fully recover and can need to have a special diet for life.
Pumpkin Pie
Pumpkin puree without added ingredients or sugar is fine and good for your feline’s digestive health, especially if they have a sensitive stomach. Pumpkins are known to settle upset stomachs in animals, but too much can cause constipation. Pumpkin pie, on the other hand, is not good for your cat because of the sugar content and dairy ingredients. If your cat needs to have a tiny piece of pumpkin pie and they do not have any health complications, go for it, but use caution. Pumpkin puree is good for tummies, but pumpkin pie, especially with added ice cream or whipped cream, can do the exact opposite to your little buddy.
Cranberry Sauce
It’s not that cranberry sauce is toxic to cats, but the extremely high sugar content can upset their stomachs and cause obesity. It’s fairly unlikely that you will find your cat begging for cranberry sauce when there’s turkey available, but each cat is differently odd.
Ham
Pork is a tricky food to offer cats because it is prepared and available in so many different forms. Certain types, like roasted ham without added ingredients, sodium, or nitrates, can be a fine snack for your cat. However, offering pork skin, bones, or fat to your cat can be toxic or fatal. It’s best to skip pork since it tends to be packed with salt, but a tiny, plain piece will not hurt.
Green Beans
Green beans can be a fun vegetable to offer cats and is generally safe. However, sometimes, they have dangerous added ingredients like bacon grease, butter, or salt that can harm your cat in large quantities. Offer your cat a chopped-up, cooked, plain green bean and see what they think. Again, they will go for your turkey first!
Feline-Friendly Festivities
The festive time of year is just beginning, for the most part, and it’s important to know what’s safe and what’s not for your cat. It can also be a struggle to ensure any dinner or house guests understand the dos and don’ts of what can be fed to your cat. It’s important to get everyone on board. If you’re still uneasy about the guests feeding harmful foods to your cat, stick them in a bedroom with their litterbox while you all eat. It’s always better to be safe than sorry with the delicate systems of cats.
