This Not That: Thanksgiving Edition
Friends and Felines,
Thanksgiving is a wonderful time of year! Let’s make sure that our cats love the holiday for the right reasons. Use our ‘This Not That’ guide to make sure your kitties are happy and healthy this Thanksgiving.
Felines are obligate carnivores. They require a high protein diet as their little bodies are best for digesting animal protein. Plants don’t contain enough protein to meet a cat’s dietary needs. Additionally, while a cat can safely consume carbohydrates here and there, they are not good at digesting them. They need calorie dense options that meat provides.
💡Unsure about the right amount of treats to give your cat? A good rule of thumb is that treats should only make up 10% of your cat’s daily diet.
This: cooked, unseasoned turkey or fish
Not That: raw meat or cooked, seasoned meat with bones in it.
This: cooked, unseasoned pumpkin
Not That: desserts that have toxic ingredients including:
Xylitol
Chocolate
Grapes
Sugar
Artificial sweeteners
Macadamia nuts
This: cooked, pureed, unseasoned vegetables including:
Spinach
Broccoli
Green Beans
Carrots
Pumpkin
Not That: Gravy which contains onions and garlic.
This: a teeny, tiny bit of cheese (cats can have a little cheese, as they say,) but don’t make it a habit!
Not that: Bread dough that can expand in their tummy - very bad! Additionally, if your kitty gets a nibble of plain white or wheat bread without raisins, nuts, or seeds - it’s no big deal. While it doesn’t have a nutritional value for them, like cheese, it shouldn’t become a part of their regular diet.
This: Visiting with friends and family
Not That: Going beyond their social comfort. Every pet has their social limit. Respect your cat’s boundaries by letting them settle down in their favorite comfy space before they reach their limit. If you’re planning on having guests, try a Feliway diffuser or other anti-anxiety medications if necessary. Contact us if you feel your pet needs some extra help around the holidays or with travel.
Please contact the ASPCA Poison Control Hotline for any potential ingestion emergencies this holiday.
We hope you find these tips useful and that they help keep your cats happy and healthy this holiday season. Contact us with any questions you may have or to schedule a visit. We're always here for you and your cats!
Always at Their Service,
The BLVD Cat Team
