How to Avoid Emergency Vet Visits this Thanksgiving
The holidays are stressful enough without having to make a trip to the emergency vet. With Thanksgiving approaching, the ASPCA has published info on what holiday foods you should avoid feeding your cat. Sure, a little well-cooked, boneless turkey is okay as a treat, but other common foods are poisonous to your pet. Here’s the list:
Turkey
If you decide to feed your pet a little nibble of turkey, make sure it’s boneless and well-cooked. Don’t offer her raw or undercooked turkey, which may contain salmonella bacteria.
Sage
Sage can make your Thanksgiving stuffing taste delish, but it and many other herbs contain essential oils and resins that can cause gastrointestinal upset and central nervous system depression to pets if eaten in large quantities. Cats are especially sensitive to the effects of certain essential oils.
Bread Dough
Don’t spoil your pet’s holiday by giving him raw bread dough. According to ASPCA experts, when raw bread dough is ingested, an animal’s body heat causes the dough to rise in his stomach. As it expands, the pet may experience vomiting, severe abdominal pain and bloating, which could become a life-threatening emergency, requiring surgery.
Pie Filling and Cake Batter
If you’re baking Thanksgiving pies and cakes, be sure your pets keep their noses out of the batter, especially if it includes raw eggs—they could contain salmonella bacteria that may lead to food poisoning.
Other forbidden foods:
- Macadamia nuts (can cause weakness and tremors)
- Raisins and grapes (can cause kidney failure)
- Onions and garlic (can cause anemia)
- Chocolate (contains caffeine and theobromine, two different types of stimulants that affect the central nervous system and the heart muscle, as well as increasing the frequency of urination)
Of course, the safest route is to avoid feeding Fluffy table scraps entirely. For the ASPCA’s safe Thanksgiving guidelines, go to ASPCA.org.
More Safety Tips
- Make sure that if you truss your turkey, the string is disposed of where your cat can’t find it. Turkey-flavored string is appealing to cats. If ingested, it may need to be removed via surgery.
- Having holiday guests? Keep your cats sequestered in a quiet room so that they don’t escape to the outdoors when Uncle Fred leaves the door open for the eightieth time (despite being told eighty times to keep in closed).
- If young children are visiting you, spend a few minutes educating them about proper cat-handling (No tail-pulling. No loud noises. No sudden movements. Let the cat come to you.) If your cats are not accustomed to having children around, supervise the interactions until you’re comfortable that neither the kids nor the kits will harm one another. A good experience could turn the child into a lifelong cat lover.
The ASPCA’s Animal Poison Control Center
The ASPCA is an excellent resource for any animal poison-related emergency, 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. If you think that your pet may have ingested a potentially poisonous substance, call (888) 426-4435. A $60 consultation fee may be applied to your credit card.
[PHOTOS: 1) Mercedes (Mercy), 2) SkeezixTheCat; 3) nirvanapeace]
Wow – who knew that there were some many things to watch out for on the holidays. We don’t do Thanksgiving here, but we’ll keep this in mind for Christmas.
About turkey….I had a cat that loved to eat table food. She was as ravenous as a dog. One Thanksgiving everyone was giving her turkey and I didn’t realize it. She got really sick and almost died. The vet said she had a pancreatic attack because turkey is too fatty for cats, especially alot. The vet said she must have eaten alot. Five days and 500 dollars later she came home. So please beware!!!
I wanted to alert you to Rescue Remedy, especially after reading this article about SAGE, and the effects of certain herbs and oils on cats.
I was told to use Rescue Remedy to calm my cats, it was a way to also deal with the multi cat household fights and also the craziness of my young and very very active male. he was exceptionally naughty and causing havoc with one of my other males and he was given Rescue Remedy. the way I administered was what I read on the web site explaining how to use it. It said to put some in your palms and rub on the cats ears and fur and you could also rub the gums. there were glands it said, near the ears and it would be a successful way to administer. I did this with Ty, my 2 1/2 year old tabby. he hated the smell and squirmed to get away. I gave it to him and he went and slept. the following night he repeated his behavior and I did the same thing with the Rescue Remedy. this happened at about 7 pm. he came to see me in the bathroom, I held him on lap, he put his head under my arm while I rubbed his belly.
I woke up the next morning late, I had the day off, about 11 am. walked into the living room and found him dead on the floor.
my vet assured me that the rescue remedy was not the reason, but I do not believe that and wanted to alert anyone using it.
Our vet recommended against Rescue Remedy in cats, too. Mom checked with her cuz someone suggested it for my sisfur Bonnie, the Attack Tabby.
One Thanksgiving tradition I specially like is when Mom takes da turkey giblets an boils them. Smells WONNERFUL. Then she chops some up fur us (only 1-2 TBSP per cat since they aren’t used to it) an HOLY MOLY, it’s one of da bestest treats efur.
Oh, an any time you has bisitors, make sure dey knows yur bafroom rules, like “leave da lid down, door open when you’re done”. Mom writed a note frum us an taped it to da mirror so we a) could get to da litter box and b) wouldn’t drink from da toilet.
That’s a horrendous story about the Rescue Remedy! This is commonly sold on websites as a calmative for cats and other beloved family members. I’ve never used it for my cats, but never would have thought it would cause harm. I use it myself occasionally and find it very helpful. For calming cats, I find Feliway spray on the environment (NOT ON THE CAT) to be very effective! and harmless.
Wow. Blows me away about the onions. I put chives in a planter on my balcony last spring and the cats went after that more than their own cat grass. I didn’t let them eat a lot of it but that was their preferred treat through out the summer.
Lynn I am so sorry about your loss. I would be interested in knowing what the vet told you the reason was for death of Ty your cat.
I have used Rescue Remedy for years on numerous cats and have never had a problem. I used the tincture (drops) and although I tried the cream once I did not find it effective. What bothers me about this message is that you say Ty didn’t like the smell of the RR but any RR I have used both drops and cream had no scent whatsoever. Are you sure you were using Rescue Remedy for pets?
What about pumpkin? I love trying to get a nibble of pumpkin when momma’s making pies.
Make sure to use rescue remedy just for PETS! It does not contain alcohol. Don’t use the regular rescue remedy for people!
I’m so sorry for your loss. How horrible to wake up and find you beloved cat dead. I never even heard of this RR, My boys haven’t needed calming down that much. Anyway, nothing anyone says can bring him back nor lesson your pain. Please know I share it with you and with everyone who has lost a beloved one. They are truly our kids and we love them that way and to lose one is as horrific as losing a child.
If Garlic is poisonous to your pet and can cause anemia, why is it included in some pet foods??
Sage is not considered a healing essential oil, it is a cooking herb. Please don’t confuse these topics. I have used Rescue Remedy for over 10 years with great success on more than 10 cats (mine and family members), as well as other Bach and “healing” essential oils. I can personally tell you it has probably saved more cats than anything else, from the panic of hurricanes, to all kinds of crisis/stress situations. I’m sorry, but this is sheer bunk and junk science to say it’s harmed an animal. With the proper person prescribing the right oil for the right type of problem and telling you how to use them properly (usually in a cats water dish) you will fight great success. I can tell you Post Traumatic Stress formula has helped my Niki get over being a victim of a previous owner’s abuse. Certain things trigger memories of that abuse even ten years later, a little smell of the PST formula and she is instantly fine. Nothing else worked like that. A mere oil used in the proper way will not kill a cat in two days, nothing pains me more than the loss of a cat, but your cat had some other issue your vet did not take the time to find.
Yikes, I am so glad I read this about sage and onions. We have run a no kill cat sanctuary from our home for over 20 years now and the cats (and their companion dogs) demand their bit of Thanksgiving treats, which usually includes sage stuffing with lots of onions. They won’t be getting it this year! It makes me wonder how many other foods they shouldn’t be getting. We’re vegetarian (with carnivorous sons) and the cats have never found a veggie they don’t like. The 25 year old calico female is very adept at stealing Brussel’s sprouts and candied carrots (sugar free) from our plates – along with any other food she happens to fancy.
Maybe I’ll just make a casserole dish with peas, carrots, giblets, diced turkey, eggs and cat chow in place of the stuffing for the crew this year. With a couple dozen cats, I don’t suppose they’d get enough turkey and giblets to hurt, and they would make it known if we didn’t share.
After all, if we upset them, they’d make their displeasure shown on our bed, closet, pillow, dresser drawers, linen closet, in the dryer….
To answer Michelle, organic pet foods (which is what you should be feeding your pets) do not use garlic, onions or any of the bad things that shorten pets lives. For the best info on pet foods, read Celeste Yarnall, Ph.D., author of Natural Cat Care and Natural Dog Care, she has done the most research w/o a hidden agenda – only to protect our pets and extend their lives.
Does anyone have any home remedies for conjunctivitis in cats??
! woke up this morning with an eyeful of yuck and mom washed it out but she can’t get me to the vet
until later this week.
Any suggestions??
How come we are told to use garlic to get rid of worms in our cats and dogs…garlic every day????????
Cats will not get salmonella from raw turkey. They are designed to eat raw meat and their digestive tracts are short so the meat does not stay long enough for the bacteria to grow. Undercooked turkey may be another matter. I am very sorry to read the story of Lynn’s poor little tom and the rescue remedy. I am giving my two cats RR at the moment, but because I can’t get the RR for pets, I put 4 drops in a tablespoon of just-boiled water to evaporate the alcohol preservative in it, then I dilute it further in their water. Even so, I will now stop administering it.
a little cooked turkey has been a standby for holiday dinner in the dish–never any onions or chocolate and nothing on the floor
we are pretty sure there is a Rescue Remedy that is designed for kittys, we have never used it but people we know have
so sorry to hear about the situation above
phantom and georgy
SASHA: canned pumpkin is recommended by vets for cats with constipation or diarrhea. My Maine Coon had a touch of constipation last year; the canned pumpkin was a big hit with her!
My Maizy girl loves baked bread – not raw dough. Is that something that would harm her? She is also a sweet lover, but only gets a tiny taste once in a while & never any chocolate. I will try the giblet idea this year as I am sure Tigger will love it.
I’m so sorry to hear of the death of Lynn’s kitty. It is hard to know what to believe when it comes to remedies for our furry kids. It takes a lot of research time and also a vet you trust and as important, if you purchase via the internet, a company whose site you use and trust. Just as human pharmaceuticals can come up as bogus when tested, animal medications are no different. Try to use companies based in Canada, the US, or the UK. And independently check the company via another source such as the BBB. Lynn’s vet may not be at fault but he may have been duped when ordering supplies. And, animals can have anaphylactic reactions to anything. Critters have died after having a vaccine that millions of other cats were fine with it. And these sorts of allergies are virtually impossible to diagnose until the reaction happens. So, there are other possiblities than the RR itself being at fault. I am sorry for your loss though, Lynn. Only other catsters truly understand the bond and the grief that follows a loss. My little one will be 18 in February so I know we don’t have decades left together. I am used to having more than one cat but I thought that he deserved to have me to himself for whatever time we have left together. As I want my obituary to read-”let there no heaven be, lest my cats be there to greet me”.
We only get a snippet of cooked turkey for thxg. Fat chance of getting more from Mum (she likes it too well herself). We are glad to know about sage. We are sorry to hear about Ty. May all my kitty friends have a grrrreat Thanksgiving.
Meowie,
Tiger and Blackie
I have used Rescue Remedy for over 20 yrs – on my pets, plants, myself and friends.
However, I have never rubbed it on any pet – always just placed a drop or 2 in their drinking water when needed.
It has always worked like a charm in calming them.
Same when re-potting house plants – a drop or 2 in the water given after they been repotted. Also, used the same way when moving a small (5′) Redbud tree to another spot in the yard.
Perhaps too much was used when rubbed on the fur…it’s base is alcohol after all.
Thanks, Lynne (Roscoe’s human)
I found that list to be really helpful. I have to make sure everyone in my household knows about the list, so they won’t feed our kitties anything harmful.
Thank you.
We have used Rescue Remedy for our cats for years, but we put only a couple of drops in their water dish. It was very helpful when we moved across country. I never heard of rubbing it on their ears and fur though. RR is strong since I take only 4 drops when I use it, and I am way bigger than the average kitty. Lynn, I am sorry for your loss of your cat. I do not understand why you do not believe your vet in this matter. Why don’t you as one of the Catster vets about using RR in the manner that you did and get a second opinion.
I have used RR for over 2 years when my Bengal, Ansel is upset or we are traveling. I have asked every vet he has ever seen about it and never had any of them say anything negative about it. It calms him down and has never made him sick at all. I have never rubbed it on him, I just give him half a dropper under his tongue. He’s 15 lbs. I’m sorry for your loss…but I can’t imagine it was from the RR.
So sorry to hear bout our kitty buddy Ty . We each get our own plate of turkey piece for Thanksgiving I guess we are kinda spoiled but we had a bad beginning so we think that has something to do with it cuz mama and daddy used to give us turkey and gravy baby food when we wouldn’t or couldn’t eat cat food but hey we are good and healthy now
Gizmo a.k.a. Moe & Alexis a.k.a. Sexy Lexy
Gosh am I glad I don’t like turkey! Now why isn’t there a holiday that features tuna fish?
SO sorry to hear about Lynn’s kitty . . . maybe like people there is always somecat that is deathly allergic to something, like I’m always hearing about peanuts and people.
Purrs to you all for a safe and happy holiday,
Meep
Thanks for the info. I didn’t realize that some of these foods weren’t good for kitties.
To keep my babies included with holiday festivities, I give them turkey-flavored canned cat food. They love it.
What about cranberries? I’ve heard that they were poisonous …
Since cats are carnivores, they thrive on a raw food diet. Salmonella is a risk in ALL foods (including cereal and tomatoes), not just raw meat. However a healthy cats digestive system was made to handle raw food.
Nonsense I feed my three cats RAW turkey and they LOVE it and don’t get sick!!!
Bella hit it right on the money. How many birds have cats killed and ate raw with no problems? Billions! How many have had problems with raw birds? Probably none!
Thank you for the reminder, and the details.
How about peanuts?? Are peanuts OK??
Lynn, I just went back and read your post. I’m really sorry to hear about little Ty, and I’ll be sure to remember…no Rescue Remedy for my furbabies!!