Happy Thanksgiving to you and all cats

My Kitty Care really likes Thanksgiving: we hope to be with those we love and eat too much dinner. Maybe watch football, take strolls before dinner, and after, if possible. It’s a chance to share time and food. Since our cats are part of our families, we share with them too.

Marnie has too much dinner and pumpkin Photo by shari smith dunaif © 2021

Pumpkin is traditional fare on Thanksgiving. We especially like it as pie (warm with ice cream…yum). Your cat can enjoy pumpkin too, and the best part is that it’s good for cats. Please read how to give your cat pumpkin so everyone is happy.

Happy Thanksgiving everyone!

thanksgiving foods you can share with your cat

sharing Thanksgivings dinner with my cat

I am thankful for many things, including my cats. So, while I partake in our family Thanksgiving feast, I’d love to share it with my cats.  But what is safe for them?

Foods that are definitely NOT safe for our cats are

  • processed foods
  • dishes that have onions, garlic, chives or leeks
  • bread and bread products
  • butter
  • dishes with raisins and grapes
  • sugary foods, like yams with marshmallows
  • all desserts

So what’s left?Thanksgiving food for cats

  • roasted turkey: I rinse the meat to make sure there is nothing but plain turkey meat. Remove any bones. It provides high quality protein.
  • apples: provide fiber,  vitamin C. and antioxidants. However, be very  CAREFUL that your cat never eats the core or apple seeds. The seeds contain cyanide, which is very BAD for your cat.
  • cooked carrots: high in fiber and vitamins. Raw carrots are hard for cats to digest.
  • broccoli: contains healthy fiber, rich in beneficial nutrients like potassium, calcium, protein and vitamin C; has anti-inflammatory properties; supports eye and heart health
  • sweet potatoes are rich in beta carotene and antioxidants, and high in vitamins A and C. Sweet potatoes with purple flesh have potent antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties that may lower the risk from heavy metals and oxygen radicals.
  • green beans are a source of vitamins A, C and K. They also provide calcium, copper, fiber, folic acid, iron, niacin, manganese, potassium, riboflavin and thiamin, as well as beta carotene.
  • spinach: anti-inflammatory properties and supports heart health.
  • pumpkin : a great source of fiber, vitamin A and antioxidants. Can help both diarrhea and constipation. Make sure to feed your pet either fresh pumpkin or 100 percent canned pumpkin — not pumpkin pie filling.

We suggest a small amount of safe human food mixed with your cat’s regular food; just make sure that it doesn’t contain sugar, spices, salt or butter. Finally, avoid offering food from your plate at the table, because even cats can become “beggars”.

happy Thanksgiving to all! ?