Cats

Can Cats Eat Turkey?

We might have noticed that our cats and kittens love to eat all kinds of meat, including turkey. We see them as they try to help themselves to our turkey sandwich, or even steal a piece of turkey bacon off our plates. During the holidays, we might even be tempted to let them partake in the turkey dinner with the rest of the family. However, over time you could find yourself wondering, Is turkey safe for my kitty to eat?

Can Kittens Eat Turkey?

Once a kitten has been weaned off their mother’s milk, you will notice that there are a ton of turkey kitten foods out there that have turkey in it; however, it is important to note that kittens need more than just meat proteins to stay healthy. This might include amino acids, calcium, phosphorus, and other items that are essential to create a well-balanced meal for your kitten. If you do decide to give your kitten a tiny piece of turkey meat as a treat, just make sure you follow the advice mentioned throughout this article. 

Can Cats Eat Turkey?

The good news is cats can eat turkey, but we recommend following certain advice, and if feeding outside of a complete and balance diet, it should only ever be as a snack. For starters, the turkey should not have any bones in it since this could act as a choking hazard and cause other health risks. The skin, fat, and drippings should be removed and there should be no seasonings, butter, oils, gravy, or other harmful ingredients on the turkey. These same rules apply if you want to cook them ground turkey. This is because these increase the chances of your loved one getting diarrhea or vomiting. Not to mention some seasonings and foods are not safe for kitties seeing that they can be toxic and make your cat ill if eaten in large amounts. 

Other concerns could include too much fat content, especially in the skin, fat, and drippings, which can lead to obesity and other weight issues. Furthermore, if the pieces of turkey are too large, this could also act as a choking hazard just like bones. Finally, if the turkey is raw and not cooked, this could lead to serious health concerns since raw meat could carry harmful pathogens like Salmonella or E. coli. Therefore, it is best to only give your cat a few small, bite-sized turkey pieces that are plain and have been perfectly cooked and deboned with the skin and fat removed.

Can Cats Eat Cooked Turkey?

Yes, a cat’s digestive system can process cooked turkey just fine. Keep in mind that turkey is not meant to be a meal replacement, but a snack. If your kitty eats too much turkey, then they will not be able to get a well-balanced meal, and this could lead to weight gain and other health concerns. Limit all treats, including turkey, to no more than 10 percent of your cat’s daily caloric intake. It is also a good idea to consult with your vet before introducing new food to your loved one, especially if they already have a preexisting health issue, like diabetes and chronic digestive issues.

Can Cats Eat Raw Turkey?

No, cats should not eat raw meat of any kind. As mentioned above, this is because most raw meat can carry dangerous pathogens and bacteria like Salmonella or E. coli, which can lead to gastrointestinal issues as well as serious infection and the risk of spreading those bacteria to humans. Stick to the best practices of feeding your kitty cooked, plain turkey meat with no skin or bones.

Can Cats Eat Turkey Bones?

Bones can act as a choking hazard, especially if it gets splintered in the cat’s mouth. Splintered bones can lead to mouth and tongue injuries, rectal bleeding from the sharp bone fragments, along with the potential piercing of the stomach lining and intestinal tract. If they swallow the bone, it could create constipation and/or intestinal blockage that may require emergency surgery. It is best to stick to approved, formulated cat treats instead.

Can Cats Eat Turkey Skin?

Turkey skin tends to contain too much fat for cats, especially if they are cooked in oils and butter. A high fat content can lead to vomiting, diarrhea, and more. If the turkey skin has seasonings, herbs, onions, garlic, or other ingredients that may be toxic, this can be detrimental to your cat’s health and can create serious risks if eaten in large amounts. Therefore, it is better to remove the skin to limit the chances of your furball getting seriously sick.

Can Cats Eat Turkey Bacon and Turkey Lunch Meat?

Long story short, it’s not ideal. The reason is because turkey deli meat, turkey bacon, turkey hot dogs, turkey sausage, smoked turkey, and other forms of processed turkey meat are usually packed with extra sodium and spices. These ingredients can cause gastrointestinal issues, pancreatitis, and other health conditions. Some of the added seasonings might even be toxic for your loved one. A tiny piece of unseasoned, processed turkey meat might not do a lot of harm, but it is best to not feed them these forms of turkey regularly.  

Can Cats Eat Dark Meat Turkey?

Dark meat tends to contain more iron and B vitamins; however, it is also much higher in fat and calorie content than white meat. In other words, the dark meat is more nutritionally dense, but the price for that is more calories. The white meat in turkey is a little higher in protein than dark meat. Therefore, if you are looking to feed your cat the leaner parts of the turkey, stick to the white meat.

As with other parts of the turkey, excess intake may also lead to unwanted weight gain. They’re also lacking in essential nutrients your cat needs and shouldn’t account for more than 10 percent of your cat’s daily caloric requirement.

How Much Turkey Can Cats Eat?

Turkey should be given as a treat. When it comes to feeding your cat treats, you should give them no more than 10 percent of their daily caloric intake. Anything beyond this amount will start increasing their risk for weight gain and associated risks such as diabetes mellitus, arthritis, among others.   

How to Feed Your Cat Turkey

It is important to feed your cat turkey in a way that will not cause harm to them. This means checking the ingredients, removing potentially harmful items, breaking the pieces down into bite-sized parts, etc. It is also a good idea to consult with your vet first before feeding your buddy anything new, especially if they are already struggling with a serious health condition. 

To break everything down, make sure you are following these best practices that we have mentioned above:

1. Keep the turkey bits plain and unseasoned. 
2. Ensure there are no other harmful ingredients on the turkey, such as garlic or chives.  
3. Remove any skin, fat, or drippings. 
4. Remove all the bones. 
5. Feed your cat small portions and bite-sized pieces as a snack food item. 
6. Limit turkey and other treats to no more than 10 percent of your cat’s daily caloric intake. 
7. Consult with your vet before introducing new foods.

Your kitty will thank you in the long run for feeding them turkey in the safest way possible. 

If you suspect your cat has eaten or drunk something toxic, then contact your vet, the local animal hospital, or the Animal Poison Control Center (APCC) at (888) 426-4435 immediately for assistance. 

For more expert tips on feeding your cat, explore our other What Can Cats Eat? articles.