Thanksgiving Dinner for Cats

I know I'm thinking pretty far in advance, but I'm considering making "Thanksgiving dinner" for my cats when the time comes. I'm struggling to come up with a menu beyond turkey and canned pumpkin. Any suggestions?

This is adorable. I'm not sure if the cat will actually eat cranberries, but I know they are in some of the cat food and treats I have. It is supposed to be good for their urinary tract health. We always have some sort of cranberry dish on Thanksgiving.

Just a note of caution? Pumpkin? I'd check on that. My cat won't eat any veggies but since I cant get a steamer still I'm forced to put water at the bottom of a pot with fresh veggies and drink the water to retain all the nutrients. I gave her a quarter dropper full of broccoli water when I do. Does her no harm, not sure if it does her any good but I feel it's worth it. Don't with carrots though. Vitamin A is no good for her. So...id caution you to look it up or ask a vet before giving your cat any vegetables for humans.

lemondrop said:

 
I know I'm thinking pretty far in advance, but I'm considering making "Thanksgiving dinner" for my cats when the time comes. I'm struggling to come up with a menu beyond turkey and canned pumpkin. Any suggestions?

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Thanksgiving is next weekend in Canada, so your topic is more timely than you thought. 

We had a cat once that would eat a few cooked peas along with her Thanksgiving/Christmas turkey.

About the canned pumpkin, are you aware that it is often suggested as an aid in treating cats with constipation or diarrhea?  So if everything is fine in that department for your kitties, you probably want to limit the amount they get.

I learned olive oil is good for constipation. Pumpkins a new one on me. I think this chalks up to the type of cat and if he or she will even touch a veggie. My cat likes dry oats on some food. Not a veggie not harmful but ni ce to see. Maybe a digestive aid?

Why not just feed Merrick's Thanksgiving Day canned cat food? There''s this Classic one and the Purrfect Bistro one. Or try Evanger's Turkey and Butternut Squash dinner or Slow Cooked Turkey Stew. Or any turkey based canned food will do

If you want to make something, just stick with plain cooked turkey or even raw turkey. Your cat doesn't need all the trimmings.

Be careful of dispoing of bones, raw and cooked, from your own Thanksgiving dinner. Pets can dig through the trash can because they smell all the yummy food and eat the bones. Cooked bones can easily splinter in a pet's mouth which may mean an expensive trip to the vet ER for treatment. Things like garlic and onions may be in the trash as well and those are hamrful if a pet eats them.

My silly cats don't even like fresh turkey, they do however enjoy chicken so I cook them a chicken breast to share, they like cat food better

I'll look into finding those canned foods near me! Thanks!

rubysmama said:

About the canned pumpkin, are you aware that it is often suggested as an aid in treating cats with constipation or diarrhea?  So if everything is fine in that department for your kitties, you probably want to limit the amount they get.

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Yeah, I was only planning to give them a little spoonful each. 

I give my old dog all the thanksgiving stuff. Turkey, gravy, stuffing, potatoes, Brussels, and corn. He loves it, he even has a holiday bib!

lemondrop said:

 
I'll look into finding those canned foods near me! Thanks!

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I think that's definitely the way to go! I definitely wouldn't want to give a cat anything more than tiny (or even trace, in the case of cranberry, since there's concern about benzoic acid) amounts of many of the foods we humans eat for Thanksgiving!

Our previous cat loved Merrick's Thanksgiving Day Dinner food and Turducken in the Purrfect Bistro line. I hope your cats like it, too! I've sometimes given cats bits of cooked turkey or liver on Thanksgiving, though last year I just made sure to feed them turkey Rad Cat instead of chicken!

LisaHE said:

I think that's definitely the way to go! I definitely wouldn't want to give a cat anything more than tiny (or even trace, in the case of cranberry, since there's concern about benzoic acid) amounts of many of the foods we humans eat for Thanksgiving!

Our previous cat loved Merrick's Thanksgiving Day Dinner food and Turducken in the Purrfect Bistro line. I hope your cats like it, too! I've sometimes given cats bits of cooked turkey or liver on Thanksgiving, though last year I just made sure to feed them turkey Rad Cat instead of chicken!

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Mine like Grammys pot pie!

bonepicker said:

Mine like Grammys pot pie!

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Yes, Brooksie liked that one, too! (That fits with the Thanksgiving theme, too, since I love pot pie and often make it with leftover turkey!)

We're not having turkey. DD doesn't like it and It's not my  favorite. We're having roast beef. The furkids will get a little bit either as a topper to their dinners or will share with me (more likely). I'm not a big fan of gravies and sauces so there won't be any of that to prevent them from having some. 

I'm a vegetarian. A eats meat and turkey which? Means thanksgiving is sorta every day.