Thanksgiving Foods Cats Can and Can't Eat

Thanksgiving this year is Thursday, November 26, and if your house is anything like ours, there's at least one guest who'll be circling the kitchen from the moment the turkey goes in the oven. Four legs, whiskers, very persuasive stare.

The good news: a few Thanksgiving favorites are perfectly safe for cats in small, plain portions. The not-so-good news: plenty of classic dishes hide ingredients that can make cats seriously sick. Here's what your cat can share, what to keep off their plate, and how to keep the holiday stress-free for everyone.

Thanksgiving foods cats can eat

The golden rule: plain, cooked, boneless, and bite-sized. Set your cat's portion aside before anything gets seasoned, buttered, or sauced, and let it cool first.

• Turkey (white meat, no skin). Cats are obligate carnivores, so this is the one they'll actually want. Stick to a few small pieces of fully cooked breast meat with no skin, bones, gravy, or seasoning.

• Plain pumpkin. Cooked fresh pumpkin or 100% canned pumpkin puree is a fiber-rich treat. Just make sure it's not pumpkin pie filling, which contains sugar and spices.

• Green beans. Steamed or boiled, unseasoned, and cut into small pieces. Many cats will ignore them, but they're safe to offer.

• Peas, carrots, and squash. Cooked plain, these are fine in small amounts.

• Plain sweet potato. Cooked and unseasoned is fine. Candied yams and marshmallow-topped casseroles are not.

Keep treats to a tiny portion of your cat's daily food so their regular diet stays on track. If your cat is diabetic, has a sensitive stomach, or has any health condition, check with your vet first. Starchy foods like potatoes, sweet potatoes, and pumpkin may not be a fit for diabetic cats.

Thanksgiving foods cats should never eat

• Onions, garlic, leeks, shallots, and chives. These alliums are toxic to cats in any form: raw, cooked, powdered, or mixed into other dishes. That rules out stuffing, green bean casserole, and most gravies.

• Turkey bones, skin, and drippings. Cooked bones can splinter or block the digestive tract. Skin and drippings are loaded with fat and seasoning.

• Gravy, butter, and other fatty foods. Rich, fatty foods can cause vomiting and diarrhea, and can trigger pancreatitis, a painful condition that may need a hospital stay.

• Raw bread dough. Yeast keeps rising in a warm stomach and produces alcohol as it ferments, which can become an emergency fast.

• Chocolate. Especially dark and baking chocolate. It can cause vomiting, a racing heart, tremors, and seizures.

• Grapes, raisins, and currants. Watch for them in stuffing, salads, and desserts.

• Xylitol and other sweeteners. This sugar substitute shows up in sugar-free desserts and baked goods.

• Nuts. High in fat and a common pancreatitis trigger.

• Alcohol and caffeine. Keep wine glasses and coffee mugs out of reach. Even small amounts are dangerous for cats.

• Raw or undercooked turkey. It can carry salmonella.

• Dairy-heavy dishes. Many adult cats are lactose intolerant, so creamy mashed potatoes and casseroles can lead to an upset stomach.

Quick reference: can my cat eat this?

Keep the holiday calm (and cat-safe)

• Brief your guests. Let everyone know the cat isn't allowed table scraps, no matter how convincing they are.

• Secure the trash. Turkey carcasses, bones, and the string used to truss the bird are tempting and dangerous. Use a lidded can or take the trash out right away.

• Watch the counters. Cats can jump. Don't leave plates or roasting pans unattended near furniture they can launch from.

• Skip the lilies. Most lily varieties are deadly to cats, even the pollen and vase water. Choose cat-safe flowers for your centerpiece.

• Give them a quiet room. A busy house can be stressful. Set up a calm space with water, a bed, a few toys, and a clean litter box.

• Use a puzzle feeder. Stuff it with their regular food or a cat treat to keep them happily busy while you eat.

If your cat eats something they shouldn't

Don't panic, and don't wait for symptoms. Figure out what and how much they ate if you can, then call your veterinarian or the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center at (888) 426-4435 right away (a consultation fee may apply). Watch for vomiting, diarrhea, drooling, lethargy, or loss of appetite.

Happy Thanksgiving from all of us at Boxie

This year, we're thankful for slow blinks, warm laps, and every cat who's ever supervised the cooking. A few plain bites of turkey and a quiet, cozy corner are all your cat needs to feel part of the celebration.

And with a full house of guests, don't forget the one room everyone notices: a fresh, clean litter box. Boxie's low-dust, flat-top clumping litter keeps odors in check, so you can focus on the pie.

Shop Boxie’s Cat Litters