Can Cats Eat Turkey?

Can cats eat turkey? A small piece of plain, fully cooked, boneless turkey is the kind of share the ASPCA allows for pets at the holidays.

The risks sit around the meat: bones, fatty skin, onion and garlic in the stuffing and gravy, and the string used to tie the bird.

The calorie math is stricter for a cat than you might expect, and the veterinary sources don't all agree on table food. Here is what each one says, and why.

Can cats eat turkey if it is plain?

Cornell's Feline Health Center describes cats as obligate carnivores, meaning they rely on nutrients found only in animal products. Turkey is an animal protein, so the meat itself is not foreign to a cat's diet.

The ASPCA's holiday tips call a small piece of boneless turkey a fine treat, and its Thanksgiving page suggests giving your cat and dog a small feast of their own.

The Merck Veterinary Manual is more cautious. Its owner guide to cat nutrition says to avoid giving table scraps, and notes that cats should not just be fed the kind of meat humans eat. A complete cat food comes first.

Why does it need to be cooked?

The ASPCA warns that raw or undercooked turkey may contain salmonella bacteria. The WSAVA, the world body for small animal vets, adds that raw animal-based foods carry a risk of passing on pathogens.

How much turkey can a cat have?

Very little. The WSAVA's guide to feeding cats says extras should make up less than 10% of a cat's daily calories. Cornell gives a slightly wider guideline of 10 to 15 percent.

Here's the number that puts it in perspective. The WSAVA lists one ounce of lean, skinless turkey breast at about 50 calories, and puts the daily allowance for extras for a 4 kg (about 9 lb) cat at 22 calories.

By the WSAVA's own figures, one ounce of breast meat is more than twice that cat's allowance for the whole day.

Cat's weight	Daily calories from extras (WSAVA)
3 kg (about 6.6 lb)	20
4 kg (about 8.8 lb)	22
5 kg (about 11 lb)	25
6 kg (about 13 lb)	26

The WSAVA bases these figures on an average healthy adult cat at an ideal weight. Your vet can tell you what your own cat's needs are.

Why are turkey bones dangerous for cats?

The ASPCA's people-foods guide says cats and dogs can sustain injury or obstruction to the gut when they eat bones. Its Thanksgiving page adds that poultry bones can be a major choking hazard.

The WSAVA's cat guide goes further: bones, cooked and raw, can be very dangerous and cause significant damage if chewed or swallowed by cats.

The carcass is the usual way pets reach them. The ASPCA suggests emptying the trash through the day, or keeping your pet out of the room where the trash is.

What about the skin, gravy and stuffing?

These are where most of the holiday warnings sit.

Skin and fat

The FDA names fat trimmings and the skin from a roasted turkey or chicken as scraps to avoid, and warns that rich, fatty foods can cause an upset stomach and pancreatitis.

The FDA also notes that in cats, the signs of pancreatitis are less clear and harder to notice than in dogs, such as eating less and losing weight.

Onion and garlic

This is the warning that matters most for cats. The Merck Veterinary Manual says cats are the most susceptible species to onion and garlic poisoning, followed by dogs.

Merck reports poisoning in cats after less than a teaspoon of cooked onion. It adds that concentrated forms, such as dried flakes, powders and dry onion soup mixes, are the most common cause in pets.

The ASPCA notes that onions and garlic are prevalent in many Thanksgiving dishes.

Salt and dairy

The ASPCA warns that too much salt can produce increased thirst and urination. The WSAVA lists milk and dairy products among foods to avoid, because many cats are lactose intolerant. Our guide to can cats drink milk explains why.

Why is turkey string a risk for cats?

Here is a hazard that is easy to miss. The Merck Veterinary Manual says cats are more likely than dogs to swallow linear objects, such as string, yarn and dental floss, often while playing with them.

The string used to truss a turkey is exactly that kind of object. Merck explains that in cats, a swallowed string may be anchored at the base of the tongue while the other end keeps moving through the intestines.

Merck is firm on one point: a string anchored like this must never be pulled out, because pulling may perforate the gut if the string is embedded. If you see string in your cat's mouth, leave it and call your vet.

What else on the holiday table is risky for cats?

• Lilies in table arrangements. The ASPCA says many lilies found in holiday bouquets are highly toxic and can cause kidney failure in cats. Our list of holiday plants toxic to cats covers the rest.
• Raw yeast dough. The ASPCA says it can expand in the stomach and cause bloating.
• Grapes, raisins, chocolate, alcohol and caffeinated drinks, which the WSAVA lists as toxic ingredients for cats.
• Fatty, sweet and spicy foods. The ASPCA's holiday tips say these, along with turkey and chicken bones, can all be dangerous to pets.

For the wider list of what is safe, see what can cats eat.

My cat ate turkey. What should I do?

The ASPCA treats a small piece of plain, boneless turkey as fine. Bones, string, and anything cooked with onion or garlic are different. For those, the ASPCA's advice is to call your vet or the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center at (888) 426-4435.

Have your cat's weight ready, and what was eaten, roughly how much and when. Merck notes that signs of onion and garlic poisoning usually appear several days after eating, so a cat who seems fine may still need a call.

Call your vet promptly if your cat:

• ate cooked turkey bones or chewed the carcass
• has string showing from the mouth or under the tail. Leave it in place: Merck warns that pulling an anchored string may perforate the gut
• ate stuffing, gravy or another dish made with onion, garlic, chives or onion powder
• chewed a lily, even a small amount
• is vomiting or won't eat after the meal, which Merck lists as the most common signs of a blockage in the gut
• seems weak or tired, breathes fast, or has yellowing of the gums or skin in the days after eating onion or garlic, which Merck lists among the signs of poisoning

Questions new cat parents ask

Can cats eat turkey skin?

The FDA lists roasted turkey skin among fatty scraps to avoid, and warns that rich, fatty foods can cause an upset stomach and pancreatitis.

Can kittens eat turkey?

We found no kitten-specific guidance on turkey from a veterinary authority. A kitten's complete food matters most, so ask your vet before adding any extras.

Can cats eat deli turkey?

Check the label first. The ASPCA warns that too much salt can cause problems, and the WSAVA lists onion and garlic, common in seasonings, as toxic to cats.

Can cats eat raw turkey?

The ASPCA warns that raw or undercooked turkey may contain salmonella, and the WSAVA says raw animal-based foods carry a risk of passing on pathogens.

Can cats eat turkey gravy?

Gravy often contains onion or garlic, and Merck reports poisoning in cats after less than a teaspoon of cooked onion. Plain meat with nothing added is the safer share.

If you have a dog in the house as well, our guide to can dogs eat turkey covers their side of the table.

Sources

• ASPCA: Thanksgiving Safety Tips
• ASPCA: Holiday Safety Tips
• ASPCA Animal Poison Control: People Foods to Avoid Feeding Your Pets
• FDA: Keep Your Dogs and Cats Safe From Holiday Hazards
• Cornell Feline Health Center: Feeding Your Cat
• Merck Veterinary Manual: Proper Nutrition for Cats
• Merck Veterinary Manual: Garlic and Onion (Allium spp) Toxicosis in Animals
• Merck Veterinary Manual: Gastrointestinal Obstruction in Small Animals
• WSAVA: Feeding Treats to Your Cat

This article is for general information and is not veterinary advice. Talk to your vet about your own cat — they know the animal in front of them.

Choolip products are food supplements, not medicine. They are not intended to diagnose or manage any medical condition. If your cat has been diagnosed with a condition, their diet should be set by your vet.