By: Madison Todd
Thanksgiving is a time to reflect on how thankful your are for your friends, family, and fur-babies! With all the holiday preparation going on, we sometimes forget that a lot of Turkey day festivities can be dangerous to our kitties.
Keep your little turkeys safe this Thanksgiving with these tips to a cat-friendly holiday.
AVOID THESE THANKSGIVING FOODS:
Cooked Bones
They can splinter and cause injuries to your cat's mouth and internal organs
Sugar
Watch for foods high in sugar. While cranberries and pumpkin are safe for cats to eat, cranberry sauce and pumpkin pie are TOO HIGH in sugar; which can cause upset stomach, and long term lead to tooth decay, diabetes, and obesity.
Grapes & Raisins
Many think grapes and raisins are toxic to dogs only, but they can also cause kidney failure in cats
Chocolate
Baking chocolate is often the most dangerous for cats. If ingested, can cause vomiting, diarrhea, and increased heart rate
Milk & Dairy
Most adult cats are lactose intolerant, and large amounts of dairy products can cause diarrhea
Onions & Garlic
Can cause damage to red blood cells
Alcohol & Raw Dough
Both alcohol and raw dough contain ethanol, which can cause permanent damage to the brain and liver
Fatty Foods & Trimmings
Foods like stuffing, gravy, and fat trimmings from meats are TOO FATTY for your kitty; and can cause vomiting and diarrhea
Don’t forget about the trash!
Food wrappings and utensils are holiday hazards that are often forgotten. Please remember to properly dispose of aluminum foil, plastic wrap, and wax paper. Frisky felines enjoy licking up foods stuck on these wrappings; which can sometimes lead to dangerous blockages in your cat’s intestines, if ingested. Also, keep an eye out for sharp utensils such as forks, knifes, toothpicks, and skewers.
SAFE THANKSGIVING FOODS:
- Small bits of white meat turkey or chicken — no dark meat!
- Plain vegetables — carrots, peas, green beans, and winter squash — are great options!
- A scoop of canned pumpkin, yams, or sweet potatoes — avoid pumpkin pie mix and candied yams
It is best to add small amounts of Thanksgiving foods to your kitty’s normal meal to avoid upset stomach, vomiting, or diarrhea.
Hosting the turkey fest at your house? Give your kitty his or her own quiet space to roam freely and comfortably.
Try confining them a room with plenty of food, fresh water, toys, and a litter box. Have a few Feliway wipes, spray, or a room diffuser on hand — just in case your kitty becomes stressed from all of the holiday commotion. Stressed cats are more likely urinate outside of the litter box, isolate themselves, or become aggressive towards people and other animals.
