Food plays a massive role in our Christmas traditions, and pet owners want to be able to involve their feline friends in the celebrations too. Not all human food is safe for cats to eat, so we must be careful what they might be getting their teeth into around the festive period. Nobody wants a poorly cat or an emergency vet visit, especially at this time of year.

We’ve put together this handy guide on what cat Christmas dinner you can dish up. So, now everyone can safely enjoy the day!

Can Cats Eat Christmas Dinner?

Roast turkey, potatoes and vegetables are a staple for Christmas dinner. All of which seems harmless when considering our furry friends, but is it safe for cats to eat this food? Cats are carnivores, which means their natural diet needs to consist mostly of meat.

Most cats will be fed a diet consisting of a wet and/or a dry cat food mix. This is all they need to maintain a healthy and balanced diet, but that doesn’t mean they can’t eat other foods occasionally. There are several food items that are safe to serve as part of your cat’s Christmas dinner, but any changes to their normal diet can cause some digestive upset, so keep the holiday treats to a minimum.

What to Give a Cat for Christmas Dinner

While there are a few food options that you can serve for your cat’s Christmas dinner, keep in mind that you can have too much of a good thing! Only serve small quantities so you don’t cause your cat any digestion problems. Don’t cook or serve the food with salt, pepper, oil, butter, seasonings, or gravy. Make sure all the food is cooked until soft and cut it into small bits, so they don’t pose as a choking hazard.

Here are some safe Christmas foods that can be added to your cat’s dinner bowl:

• Cooked turkey and chicken: white meat that is skinless and free from bones. Dark meat is too fatty and rich for a cat’s sensitive tummy.
• Ham or bacon: these meats are high in fat and salt, so only give your cat a very small portion.
• Salmon: a great alternative to the usual Christmas meats, with more nutritional benefits for your cat.

Your cat may not care for vegetables, but if you want to give them a go, here are some safe options:

• Carrots.
• Parsnips.
• Broccoli.
• Brussel sprouts.
• Green beans.
• Potatoes.

When serving a Christmas dinner for cats, remember to reduce their usual daily serving of cat food so they’re not overindulging on the day.

What Not to Feed Your Cat at Christmas

At Christmas time there’s usually lots of food around that your cat could easily get its paws on. There are some foods that are toxic or could be harmful for to cats consume. So, it’s important to make sure your cat doesn’t have free access to some food, especially these ones:

• Onions and garlic: these are part of the Allium family, along with spring onions, shallots, chives, and leeks, and are all toxic to cats and can cause damage to their red blood cells. They’ll also cause vomiting and diarrhoea. Even a small amount is dangerous, so contact your vet if you think your cat has eaten something containing any of these. Garlic and onion granules are even worse, so avoid any sauces, gravy or seasoning on your cat’s Christmas dinner.
• Cooked bones: as bones are cooked, they soften and become more prone to splintering. They can become lodged in your cat’s throat or further down their digestive system causing serious health problems.
• Dairy products: as cats are weaned off their mother’s milk, they become lactose intolerant because they produce less of the enzyme needed to digest it. Dairy products such as milk aren’t toxic to cats, but if an adult cat consumes them it may suffer from lactose intolerance symptoms, like an upset stomach, diarrhoea, and vomiting.

Small amounts of something like cheese is unlikely to have an effect, but it’s best to avoid all dairy products just to be on the safe side. That means no cheese board for your feline friend!

Other food items that must be avoided are:

• Gravy.
• Chocolate.
• Grapes.
• Green tomatoes.
• Raw chicken.
• Raw potato.
• Rhubarb.
• Stuffing.
• Artificial sweeteners.
• Mince pies.
• Christmas cake.
• Christmas pudding.

These are all toxic or contain ingredients that are toxic for your cat. You won’t be able to follow your cat’s Christmas dinner with a traditional pudding, but you can treat them to a few extra cat treats instead!

Are There Other Christmas Food Options for Cats?

You don’t need to look up some fancy cat Christmas dinner recipes to treat your cat on the day. They can have some of what you’re having (within reason) or for an easier and safer option, you can buy tinned Christmas dinner cat food that contain festive elements like turkey, ham, and cranberry. This option ensures your cat gets a festive meal without you having to worry about avoiding the use of oils, butters, salt, seasoning, and any other ingredients they can’t eat.

There are also Christmas treats designed specifically for cats, including advent calendars, turkey sticks, and salmon canapes. So, your cat can join in with some holiday snacking too!

Can cats eat Christmas dinner? Yes, cats can have some Christmas foods, but others can cause digestive problems or are toxic so should be avoided. It’s generally safe for cats to eat cooked meats or fish, although some are high in salt and fat, so only small amounts should be fed.

Vegetables are unlikely to be top of your cat’s wish list, but they can have some plain boiled vegetables if they want to. Before feeding your cat humans foods, make sure you’re aware of what’s toxic for them, like onion and garlic, which can also be found in sauces and gravies. Contact your vet If you notice signs of digestive problems or your cat doesn’t seem its usual self.

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