Have you ever walked away from your turkey sandwich for a second, and then come back to find the turkey missing and your cat licking their lips?
Cats are obligate carnivores, which means that they are designed to eat and process meat. So it’s no wonder why so many cats love turkey or any other meat, and why animal protein is the main ingredient in almost every cat food recipe.
But can cats eat all kinds of turkey, like turkey lunch meat or turkey scraps from your meal? Is it healthy for them? Here’s what you need to know about turkey for cats.
The aromas of roasted turkey often get cats curious around the holidays. Is it safe for cats to eat cooked turkey breast meat? With proper precautions, turkey can be a healthy, protein-rich treat for cats. However, certain guidelines should be followed to prevent upsetting your cat’s digestive system.
As obligate carnivores, cats can benefit from the lean protein found in plain turkey meat. But it’s crucial to avoid feeding cats the fattier dark meat, skin, bones, or seasoned sections. Cooked white turkey breast meat, in moderation, can provide healthy nutrients without the risks
Health Benefits of Turkey for Cats
Turkey breast is an excellent source of protein for cats. The protein provides lasting fullness so your cat feels satisfied longer between meals. This can help prevent begging and overeating.
Turkey is also lower in fat and calories compared to many cat treats. The decreased fat and sugars help reduce your cat’s risk for obesity, diabetes, and heart disease. The taurine found in turkey is also important for your cat’s heart health.
Additionally, plain cooked turkey contains vitamins and minerals like B vitamins, selenium, phosphorus, and potassium. So in moderation, turkey can be a nutritious component of your cat’s diet.
Is Cooked vs. Raw Turkey Okay?
It’s crucial to only feed your cat thoroughly cooked, plain turkey Raw or undercooked poultry can contain salmonella, campylobacter, and other dangerous bacteria
The high temperatures of cooking destroy any harmful pathogens, making cooked turkey breast safe for your cat. But raw turkey poses a contamination risk and should never be fed.
Avoid These Parts of the Turkey
While the lean breast meat is fine, steer clear of giving your cat these higher risk turkey components:
- Skin: Too high in fat for cats and can cause pancreatitis
- Bones: Can splinter and puncture internal organs
- Fatty/Dark Meat: Often seasoned and leads to stomach upset
- Giblets: Can be fatty and upsets digestion
- Processed Meat: Contains onion, garlic, nitrates, and other additives dangerous to cats
The safest part of the turkey for your cat is plain, boneless, cooked white breast meat with no skin or seasoning.
How Much Turkey Can Cats Eat?
Turkey breast should only comprise a small portion of your cat’s diet. As an occasional treat, give your cat a few thumbnail-sized pieces one or two times per week. Treats should make up 10% or less of your cat’s total caloric intake.
Overfeeding turkey can lead to gastrointestinal upset like vomiting or diarrhea. Always start with tiny portions to gauge your cat’s tolerance. When in doubt, consult your veterinarian about the ideal turkey portion sizes.
Is Leftover Holiday Turkey Okay?
At holiday dinners like Thanksgiving, your cat will inevitably beg for turkey tidbits. You can share small bites of your leftover turkey if it’s unseasoned white meat without skin.
Avoid giving your cat meat that touched stuffing, gravy, butter, or broth since these likely contain onions, garlic, or other seasonings. And never let your cat chew on turkey bones.
Signs of a Turkey Allergy in Cats
Some cats may be allergic to poultry like turkey. Signs of an allergy can include:
- Itchy skin, excessive licking/biting
- Hair loss
- Wheezing or coughing
- Vomiting/diarrhea
- Swelling of the mouth, tongue, or throat
If you notice these allergy symptoms after feeding your cat turkey, discontinue giving them turkey and contact your veterinarian. They can provide allergy medication and confirm turkey should be avoided.
How to Serve Turkey Safely
To safely share turkey meat with your cat:
- Choose plain, boneless, skinless, cooked white breast meat
- Double check the meat has no seasoning, broth, or marinade
- Dice or shred the turkey into bite-sized pieces for your cat
- Start with a small amount and gradually increase if well-tolerated
- Provide only as an occasional treat in moderation, not daily meals
Ask Your Vet First
It’s always smart to consult your veterinarian before introducing any new food, especially if your cat has any underlying health conditions. Your vet can provide personalized advice on whether turkey is suitable based on your cat’s needs.
In conclusion, while cooked turkey breast can be a healthy treat, proper precautions are needed to avoid gastrointestinal issues or allergies. Only offer small, plain portions occasionally after a vet gives the green light. This allows your cat to safely enjoy a taste of turkey!
Is Turkey Good for Cats?
Yes, turkey has many nutritional benefits for cats. It’s low in calories and fat, and is rich in B vitamins, selenium, magnesium, zinc, phosphorous, sodium, and potassium. However, it is low in fiber, which cats need to produce normal stool.
Dark turkey meat contains more iron and B vitamins than white meat, but it’s also higher in calories, cholesterol, and fat. As a rule, the dark meat is more nutritionally dense, but the price for that is more calories.
Turkey also contains the amino acid tryptophan, which is known to make people sleepy. You might be wondering whether this is the case with cats as well. Some animals do seem to respond similarly to the effects of tryptophan in their food.
However, any “people turkey” fed to cats should be in snack-sized amounts—just a piece smaller than the size of your top thumb joint. It is highly unlikely that feeding a cat this amount of turkey will make them sleepy just from the tryptophan. It might be that your cat is just taking a nice nap on a full stomach after having a meal and then a little turkey snack.
How to Safely Feed Your Cat Turkey
Cats can be fed turkey in a number of ways. If your kitty is a true turkey fan, consider feeding them one of the turkey-based commercial pet foods on the market. This is the best way to make sure your cat gets a balanced diet while enjoying the taste of turkey.
If you are looking to share with your cat, plain cooked turkey is the way to go. It can be breast meat, ground turkey, or dark meat that’s baked, boiled, broiled, or otherwise prepared, except deep-fried, which has too much fat. Do not add any spices or seasonings. Some seasonings used in pre-cooked or even raw turkeys can make your cat sick, so it’s best to cook your own and check the labels when buying the raw meat.
Remove the skin and bones, cook the turkey fully, let it cool, and share a small portion (about a 1-inch cube) no more than once per day. This snack can be broken up and fed directly to your cat, used to top their food, or placed in an exercise food toy.
Featured : iStock.com/Denis Valakhanovich
Sandra Mitchell is a 1995 graduate of the New York State College of Veterinary Medicine. Since graduation, she has worked in many fields…
Can Cats Eat Turkey? (2019)
FAQ
Can cats have cooked turkey breasts?
Should Cats Eat Raw or Cooked Turkey? Cats should always be fed cooked turkey. Despite the debates on raw food versus cooked foods for pets, the safe option for pets and people is to only eat cooked turkey. Raw meat may contain bacteria, which can make you and your pets extremely sick.
What cooked meats can cats eat?
Cats can eat cooked meat (i.e., beef, turkey, chicken) and cooked and de-boned fish (like tuna). Avoid raw meats and fish as they can make your cat sick.Mar 30, 2023
Can I feed my cat Thanksgiving turkey?
Turkey breast is safe (but skin and bones are not).
A small amount of unseasoned white meat such as turkey breast is a great treat for both dogs and cats, but ensure you steer clear of turkey skin and bones. Turkey skin is very high in fat, which can cause life-threatening pancreatitis in both dogs and cats.
Is turkey better than chicken for cats?
2. Turkey: For cats who crave variety without compromising on nutrition, turkey is a fantastic alternative to chicken.Apr 30, 2024
Can I Feed my Cat turkey breast?
So long as your canine or cat would not have any meal allergy symptoms, it is secure to feed a small quantity of turkey breast. Ideally, we need to keep away from any fatty snacks (equivalent to trimmings, turkey pores and skin, gravy, and so forth.), as this will over-stimulate and inflame the pancreas, leading to life-threatening pancreatitis.
Can one have turkey and carrots?
Eating turkey and carrots is part of healthy habits. The turkey has meat like chicken and is another healthy poultry option. Carrots are rich in carotenoids, it is a source of vitamin A, fiber, potassium and vitamin B3.
Can cats eat turkey?
While turkey is generally safe for cats to eat, here are some parameters to keep in mind: Only serve cooked turkey: Raw poultry, including turkey, carries a risk of harmful bacteria like Salmonella and E. coli, which can lead to serious illness in both cats and humans. By cooking the turkey properly, you kill any harmful bacteria.
Can cats eat turkey breast with skin removed?
Turkey breast with the skin removed is safe for cats to eat. However, cooking fats and seasonings as well as turkey bones or other ingredients can be risky. Therefore, you should only offer plain, grilled, or boiled turkey breast without bones or skin. Help us do better!
Can cats eat turkey skin?
Yes, cats can eat plain, unseasoned turkey deli meat in moderation. Just be sure to avoid deli meats that are high in sodium or contain any seasonings or additives that could be harmful to your cat. 2.
How much cooked white turkey meat can a cat eat?
An adult cat can have 1 ounce of cooked white turkey meat at a time. Cooked white turkey meat can be given to cats, but it’s important to note that their foods should not contain large amounts of spices and other condiments that may cause stomach upset.