Thanksgiving Foods And Cats

September 29, 2026

Covering What Thanksgiving Foods Are Safe For Your Cat To Eat And What Thanksgiving Foods To Avoid Giving Your Cat


One of the best holidays of the year that brings friends and families together is Thanksgiving. This includes your furry friends and family too! It’s common for people to give their cats table scraps during Thanksgiving dinner. However, most Thanksgiving foods are not healthy for cats. This article will discuss what Thanksgiving foods are bad for cats, why they are bad for them, and offer some pet-safe Thanksgiving food alternatives.


Cats And People Food


Typically speaking, cats should never be fed human food. This is because cats can’t properly digest many of the things that we eat. Cats are obligate carnivores, meaning they need a meat-based diet in order to thrive. Additionally, cats should not be fed meat that humans eat. This is because the meats that we eat usually have seasonings, spices, and/or preservatives that cats can’t properly digest either.

A Thanksgiving turkey

Turkey


Yes, cats can safely eat turkey. However, there are some stipulations to consider. If you plan on giving your cat turkey this Thanksgiving, it should be boneless, skinless, unseasoned, and fully cooked. We also recommend cooking the turkey yourself as pre-cooked turkey may contain additives and preservatives that are unhealthy for your cats.


Additionally, we recommend always double checking the ingredients list before giving your cat any pre-cooked turkey or turkey based cat foods. Due this to ensure that they are getting the best nutrition possible. For more information on what ingredients to look for and avoid in cat food, click here.


Other Thanksgiving Foods


When it comes to other Thanksgiving foods like mashed potatoes, green beans, stuffing, cranberry sauce, etc. your cats shouldn’t be eating it. As previously mentioned, this is because of the spices and seasonings that these dishes usually contain.


Cats can’t properly digest these seasonings and consumption of them can lead to upset stomachs, diarrhea, and gastrointestinal issues. Therefore, you should make it very clear to your Thanksgiving dinner guests that your cats should not be given table scraps. No matter how much they beg, it’s for their own good.

Turkey in a can

Thanksgiving Foods Specifically For Cats


Instead of giving your cats table scraps, we suggest making a small separate Thanksgiving dinner just for them. Rather than cooking a full turkey, cook some turkey breasts instead! Be sure not to use any seasonings or spices! Additionally, you can also buy prepackaged Thanksgiving-themed food for your cat. They usually come in a can, pouch, or plastic container and contain turkey and gravy.


As previously mentioned, always double check the ingredients list first so you know exactly what your cat is eating. Click here to check out some Thanksgiving-themed prepackaged cat food. For D.I.Y. Thanksgiving-themed cat food recipes, click here.


Looking For A Cat Sitter?


Are you or someone you know looking for a pet sitter? Here at Cool Cats Professional Cat Sitting, we treat your pets as if they were our own and provide them with the love and affection they deserve. We are bonded, insured, and offer a wide variety of pet sitting services. We proudly serve the following North Carolina towns and zip codes: Apex, NC (27502, 27523, 27539), Cary, NC (27511, 27513, 27518, 27519) and Morrisville, NC (27560). Click here to become a client today or give us a call at 919-372-5985. We look forward to hearing from you soon!

< Older Post Newer Post >
Tabby cat with closed eyes being gently held by hands, close-up portrait

Happy Cat Month

September 29, 2026
Talking About How To Make Cats Happy And The Month-Long Holiday That Promotes Cat Happiness The month of September is celebrated by cat lovers everywhere as Happy Cat Month! Never heard of Happy Cat Month? Then you’re in luck because Cool Cats Professional Cat Sitting has you covered! This article will cover everything you need to know about Happy Cats Month, how to celebrate it, and some of the best ways to keep your cat happy. What Is Happy Cat Month? So what is Happy Cat Month? Happy Cat Month is a month-long holiday that aims to inform and educate cat owners about how to make their cats healthy and happy. It’s a common misconception that cats are self-sufficient pets. While most cats do have an independent nature, they are still very social creatures. Cats need lots of love & attention just like any other pet. Happy Cat Month is a friendly and celebratory way to educate people about the welfare, health, and importance of our feline friends.
A wildcat behind a wire fence, looking through the bars with one paw raised.

Adopt A Less Adoptable Pet Week/ Remember Me Thursday

September 29, 2026
Covering Two Very Important Pet-Themed Holidays That Focus On Shelter Animals And The Struggles They Face The month of September contains several pet-themed awareness based holidays. Two of the most significant of these holidays are Adopt A Less Adoptable Pet Week and Remember Me Thursday. Both of these holidays are centered around shelter animals and the struggles they face. This article will discuss both of these holidays and offer various ways you can observe them. Adopt A Less Adoptable Pet Week The 3rd week of September is widely celebrated by pet lovers everywhere as Adopt A Less Adoptable Pet Week. This year (2023) Adopt A Less Adoptable Pet Week takes place from September 18th to September 24th. This week-long holiday was founded by PetFinder , an online searchable database of animals that need homes. Additionally, PetFinder also has a directory of nearly 11,000 animal shelters and adoption organizations. These animal shelters and adoption organizations span across the U.S., Canada, and Mexico. Adopt A Less Adoptable Pet Week was founded to raise public awareness about shelter animals that are often overlooked. Most of these animals are overlooked based solely on appearance. However, just because an animal doesn’t look perfect, doesn’t mean they are not worthy of adoption. Additionally, this also applies to senior pets or pets with special needs. Many people believe it would require too much effort to care for a senior pet or special needs pet. Caring for these types of pets may not be easy, but it is still very rewarding and humbling to do so. Remember Me Thursday Remember Me Thursday occurs every year on the last Thursday of September. This year (2023) it will take place on September 28th. This pet themed awareness based holiday was founded in 2013 by Helen Woodward Animal Center of San Diego . The focus of Remember Me Thursday is to raise awareness about the importance of pet adoption and all of the shelter animals that are in need of a forever home. Remember Me Thursday has made a huge impact in the world since its founding in 2013. More than 190 countries have supported Remember Me Thursday along with over 700 different animal welfare organizations worldwide. Additionally, more than 330 million people have helped spread awareness about Remember Me Thursday across various social media platforms. What started as a pet-themed holiday has now become a worldwide movement to inspire change in shelter animals’ lives.