Fall Foods That Are Dangerous for Cats
Fall is basically one long invitation to eat.
There is Halloween candy on the counter, pumpkin pie in the kitchen, Thanksgiving dinner on the table and leftovers everywhere.
Unfortunately, some of our favorite fall foods contain ingredients that can be dangerous for cats.
Your cat may not be interested in everything you are eating, but curious paws, dropped food and unattended plates make accidental exposure possible. Here are the fall foods worth watching most carefully.
1. Onions, Garlic, Chives and Leeks
These are among the most important ingredients to watch because they appear in so many savory fall dishes.
Stuffing, gravy, mashed potatoes, casseroles, soups and seasoned meats may all contain onion or garlic.
Members of the Allium family can damage a cat's red blood cells and lead to anemia. Cats are particularly susceptible, and the risk does not disappear when these ingredients are cooked. Concentrated forms such as onion and garlic powders are also a concern.
That means giving your cat "just a little" Thanksgiving turkey may not be safe if it has been seasoned with onion or garlic.
2. Chocolate and Halloween Candy
Keep the Halloween candy bowl away from curious cats.
Chocolate contains methylxanthines, including theobromine and caffeine. Exposure can cause vomiting, diarrhea, abnormal heart rhythms, tremors, seizures and, in severe cases, death. Dark chocolate, baking chocolate and cocoa powder contain particularly high concentrations.
Cats are less likely than dogs to raid a chocolate stash, but that does not make chocolate safe.
Candy wrappers can create another problem if swallowed, so clear discarded wrappers from floors and tables too.
3. Alcohol and Alcohol-Containing Desserts
Mulled wine, cocktails and desserts containing alcohol should stay firmly on the human side of the table.
Alcohol exposure can cause vomiting, diarrhea, weakness, poor coordination, breathing difficulties, tremors, coma and potentially death in pets.
Remember that alcohol can turn up in desserts and other recipes, not only drinks.
4. Raw Yeast Dough
Homemade bread and rolls are fall comfort-food staples, but keep unbaked yeast dough away from your cat.
Raw yeast dough can expand after being swallowed. Fermentation can also produce alcohol, creating an additional poisoning risk. The FDA includes yeast products such as raw bread dough among potentially dangerous foods for pets.
Let your dinner rolls rise somewhere your cat cannot investigate.
5. Fatty and Heavily Seasoned Foods
Your cat may appear deeply offended when you refuse to share Thanksgiving dinner.
Stay strong.
Fatty foods can cause gastrointestinal upset and potentially contribute to pancreatitis. Rich gravies, buttery sides, fatty meat scraps and heavily seasoned dishes also tend to contain ingredients cats simply do not need.
Plain, appropriately cooked meat is very different from meat covered in gravy, butter, salt, onion and garlic.
6. Bones and Turkey Scraps
The Thanksgiving turkey itself is not the problem.
The leftovers can be.
Cooked bones can cause choking, injuries or gastrointestinal obstruction. The FDA specifically warns that bones can become lodged in a pet's esophagus, stomach or intestines.
Keep the turkey carcass and bones in a trash container your cat cannot access.
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7. Pumpkin Pie Is Not the Same as Pumpkin
This distinction is worth repeating during fall.
Plain cooked pumpkin or 100% pure canned pumpkin can be safe for cats in small amounts. Pumpkin pie is not the same thing.
Pie and pumpkin desserts can contain sugar, fat and spices, while other fall recipes may include ingredients that are unsuitable for cats.
If your cat wants a seasonal taste, wonderfully boring plain pumpkin is the better option.
What Should You Do If Your Cat Eats Something Dangerous?
Do not wait for symptoms if you know or strongly suspect your cat has eaten a potentially toxic food.
Remove access to the food, note what your cat ate and approximately how much, save the packaging or ingredient list if available, and contact your veterinarian or a veterinary poison service promptly.
Do not attempt to make your cat vomit unless a veterinary professional specifically instructs you to.
Fall should mean cozy blankets, crunchy leaves and your cat attempting to steal your warmest spot.
Not an emergency vet visit because somebody left the stuffing unattended.
Save this list before the holiday food starts appearing, and comment FALL if you want more seasonal cat-safety tips. 🍂🐾
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Frequently Asked Questions
1. Can cats eat Thanksgiving turkey?
Plain, fully cooked, boneless turkey without seasoning may be suitable in a small amount for some healthy cats. Avoid turkey prepared with onion, garlic, heavy seasoning, gravy, excessive fat or bones.
2. Can cats eat pumpkin in the fall?
Small amounts of plain cooked pumpkin or 100% pure canned pumpkin can be safe for many cats. Pumpkin pie, pie filling and heavily sweetened or seasoned pumpkin foods are different and should not be shared.
3. Are onions and garlic really dangerous for cats?
Yes. Cats are particularly susceptible to Allium toxicity. Onion and garlic can damage red blood cells and lead to anemia, and cooked, dried and powdered forms can also pose a risk.
4. What should I do if my cat eats a toxic food but seems normal?
Contact your veterinarian or a veterinary poison service rather than waiting for symptoms. Some toxic effects can be delayed. Tell them exactly what your cat ate, how much they may have consumed and when it happened.