Thanksgiving dinner for cats is easy when you understand cat nutrition needs.
Cats are healthier eating raw homemade cat food including meats, bones, and organs.
We can recreate a cat Thanksgiving meal following these guidelines including turkey and liver.
Coconut oil can make a great substitute for dessert.
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Cats and new foods
It’s important to note that the cat’s gut is highly sensitive to change.
The cat’s gut gets used to processing the same foods every day. So any sudden changes will wreak havoc on your cat’s digestive system.
Always transition cat food slowly.
Can cats eat Thanksgiving turkey?
It’s not safe for your cat to eat your Thanksgiving turkey for a few reasons. You probably used seasonings or marinades to dress your turkey. Some human foods are toxic to cats, including garlic and onion. Cooked bones are also dangerous because they can splinter and cause serious harm.
Mimicking human diets for cats isn’t best. Cooking meat depletes essential nutrients that your cats need.
Raw diets are best for cats because it closely mimics their natural diet.
Wild cats consume raw prey whole. We should mimic this diet instead.
Tip: Check out all the benefits of a BARF diet for cats according to vets and studies.
Can cats eat turkey liver?
Turkey liver is rich in essential nutrients for cats. Cats can eat turkey liver, but it should only be 5% of their diet. Turkey liver is high in vitamin A. Too much vitamin A can cause blindness, skin disease, and growth retardation in cats. Raw liver is best.
It’s best not to give too much liver at once. Overdoses in some vitamins and minerals pose serious health threats to cats.
Dehydrated and freeze-dried treats are great.
Best liver sources for treats:
Tip: Raw food and kibble don’t mix.
First, consider transitioning to a high-protein low-carb wet food.
Can cats eat bones?
Cats can eat bones, but they must be raw meaty bones. Cooked bones can splinter and cause serious harm. However, raw meaty bones are beneficial to cat health. Raw bones scrape and clean teeth while cats chew. Bones should not make up more than 7-10% of the cat’s diet.
Have you heard that kibble cleans teeth because it’s crunchy?
What if your friend told you he doesn’t brush his teeth because granola is crunchy so that cleans his teeth?
Raw meaty bones are mother nature’s toothbrush. Raw bones contain marrow and cartilage. This acts like a toothbrush and floss.
Never feed cooked bones to your cat.
Cooked bones become hard and can splinter. This will cause serious harm to your cat.
Turkey thighs for cats
Rather than feeding your cooked Thanksgiving turkey to your cat, offer raw or dehydrated meats. Chewing clean flesh is best for cats. This is more natural and better for their teeth.
Turkey thighs are wonderful for cats because they are high in taurine. Taurine is an essential amino acid that cats cannot produce. They must get this nutrient from meat (plants don’t have taurine).
Turkey gizzards are great for chewing as well.
Meat should make up 83-85% of your cat’s diet. So you can give extra turkey thighs as main meals or as treats.
Don’t buy basic meats at the grocery store. Most of these meats are pumped with sodium, anti-biotics, and other fillers not safe for cats.
I buy all of my meat supplies from Hare Today.
Ashlee, the owner, supports local farms and sells USDA-inspected meats. The business is licensed and inspected through the PA Department of Agriculture and regulated by the Food & Drug Administration (FDA) as a retail-only manufacturer.
In addition to great quality foods, Hare Today rewards points to your account for every dollar spent. These points can be used to save money on future orders.
You can also buy dehydrated turkey thigh strips from Hare Today. These are wonderful and healthy treats.
Chicken necks
If you want to feed some meaty bones to your cat, I suggest chicken necks. These are around two ounces each typically.
This is the perfect size for chewing.
Raw chicken necks are a better substitute for wishbones in your cat’s Thanksgiving meal.
You can buy chicken necks from Hare Today.
Bone broth
Bone broth can be a great addition to your cat’s diet. This is especially helpful for sick or senior cats that have trouble eating.
It should only be fed as a supplemental treat. Bone broths should not be the main meals.
Use bone broth for your cat Thanksgiving meal instead of gravy.
Coconut oil
Coconut oil has many health benefits for cats.
Benefits:
- Antibacterial, antiviral, antifungal, and antimicrobial
- Supports healthy skin and coat
- Provides easily digested forms of energy
- Supports healthy immune response
- Can be used as toothpaste
Feed coconut oil as a Thanksgiving dessert.
Buy coconut oil on Amazon.
Final thoughts on Thanksgiving dinner for cats
Only offer your cat biologically appropriate and safe foods.
Buy your cat’s food from reputable companies that use human-grade ingredients.
Better quality food means healthier and happier cats.
Never give your cat cooked bones. This is a choking and GI tract hazard.
However, raw meaty bones are great for dental health.
A homemade bone broth and organic coconut oil are both great treats for cats.
