Turkeys are quite big, so if you are attempting to use up those leftovers you may consider your cat and ask, “are cats able to have turkey as well?” Turkey is a common-place people food we believe in feeding as a treat to our cats.
Are cats able to have turkey? When it comes to table scraps, turkey is an example of a people food that’s safe and healthy for cats. Though, there’s several vital health and safety provisions to remember when feeding a cat some turkey.
Let’s examine some facts on cats and turkey, so you can be sure any morsels you give your cat are safe and healthy for them.
Are cats able to have turkey?
Cats are an obligate carnivore, and that means they require a stringent meat diet to stay alive. A wild cat’s natural diet contains a lot of protein, although it is low in fats and carbs. Studies involving domestic cats who got to pick their own foods discovered cats intuitively gravitated to the same high level of protein to low fats and carbs ratio as wild cats.
It seems lean turkey would be an ideal animal protein for your cat, what is the dilemma? If a cat consumes fresh and natural, fully cooked turkey meat, it is excellent. Cats can eat this without issues, and it’s good for cats.
Are there types of turkey a can’t should not eat?
In which ways could turkey hurt your cat? Let’s see. Undercooked or raw poultry such as turkey or chicken can harm a cat. Wild cats do eat raw meat, but when it comes from a store, raw poultry might have big quantities of harmful bacteria like listeria or salmonella so this is something you need to make sure you check for.
Symptoms of salmonella infection in a cat consist of fever, diarrhea, lethargy, vomiting, dehydration and weight loss. If you think you cat has salmonellosis, take them to the vet immediately. Dependent on the seriousness of the situation, treatment involves medication, hydration, as well as supportive care.
Related Post: Can A Cat Have Raw Chicken?
How to keep Turkey Safe for Cats
Since cats can get nausea by eating a lot of fat (and become overweight), you ought to additionally not feed cats any turkey skin or give a lot of dark meat. And be certain the cats don’t get anywhere near any remaining Thanksgiving turkey carcass.
Tiny bones may hurt or possibly even obstruct your cat’s digestive system, plus pan drippings as well as bits of bread stuffing may trigger an upset tummy.
What turkey meat is the best for a cat?
The healthiest and safest way to feed a cat some turkey is to purchase fresh boneless, skinless breast meat, then cook it fully with no additional seasonings. That means if you purchase turkey for yourself, you can make a little serving of plain cooked turkey to feed a cat, but cut that into small bits, and give it in tiny quantities as a treat.
Don’t give cats turkey that’s been seasoned highly or pre-cooked meat that’s been processed via preservatives and chemicals.
Is turkey jerky ok for cats to consume?
Packaged jerkey is not typicall good for cats or dogs because of the amount of spices, sweetners and preservatives that are put on the meats. One of the best ways to feed your cat meats is if you cooked and dried it yourself with no additives, sugars or salt.
You might also be interested in: Can my cat eat beef jerkey?
Can you feed your cat raw turkey?
As mentioned it’s not safe for your cat to eat undercooked or raw turkey meat. Raw poultry may be an unhealthy risk for people. It also could make your cat sick , because it’s known to be full of bacteria which triggers food-borne diseases.
How can you make sure the turkey is cooked completely enough to kill those types of contaminants such as salmonella? The USDA Food Safety and Inspection Service says you should cook turkey until the internal temperature is 165 degrees Fahrenheit or 74 degrees Celsius to make sure it’s ok to eat it.
Meat thermometers are a good buy so you can stick it into the thickest section of the turkey to check for the right temperature.
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Can cats eat turkey lunch meat?
Does your cat watch you eat your turkey sandwich at lunch? Many cats beg for human foods like luncheon meat such as turkey. Is it alright for the cat to eat turkey luncheon meat?
That is dependent on the type of luncheon meat. A lot of lunch meats are highly processed so they have too much preservatives and artificial ingredients. Don’t feed cats processed and packaged turkey luncheon meats that have things in them like smokey flavoring, sugar, or salt.
If you want to buy already cooked turkey lunch meat to give to your cat, buy some at a place which roasts and slices up the meat right there in the store. Lean deli meats with no spices ideally. The packaged types in grocery stores tend to have a ton of chemicals and preservatives.
Can cats eat turkey bones?
No, it’s not a good idea to mix turkey bones and cats. As has been said before, your cat could swallow a tiny bone from turkey or chicken and get stuck in their digestive system.
And don’t give them cooked ones either, as they are worse! They could splinter because they are very brittle, then your cat’s intestines, throat or mouth would be injured. Those pieces of sharp bones do lots more than merely scratch. The cat’s intestines can be punctured and then the contents would come out and cause a devastating infection known as peritonitis, and that’s a medical emergency.
There’s additional risks involved with ingesting turkey bones. It is horrifying to watch a cat struggling with something stuck in their throat such as a bone or foreign object. They will gag, salivate and cough to show it’s stuck and they must be taken to the vet immediately.
A obstruction in their tummy or their intestines triggered by a chunk of bone similarly necessitates veterinary care. A cat will show they are in distress and won’t be able to poop or put down food. So, do not feed turkey bones to your cat as they are unsafe.
Can cats eat turkey liver?
Numerous people believe organ meats such as liver are healthier for a cat than eating muscle meat like turkey breast. So if you’re already feeding your cat turkey meat, is the liver more nutritious instead? Liver has many kinds of nutrients such as iron, phosphorus or vitamin A.
Though, organ meats such as kidney or liver filter contaminations from their body, so they may include toxins. They can be very toxic dependent on if the animal was healthy or not.
Therefore, if you want to feed your cat any liver or some of the other giblets included with a whole turkey, is it ok?Whilst you should not give them these things raw, if you cook them and cut them up into little portions you can give it to cats as a treat once in a while.
The easiest way to cook giblets and turkey liver or parts like gizzards and hearts is by boiling them. Just be certain they are cooked completely and not seasoned. Giblet gravy for people is not something cats should eat as it includes some additional ingredients which may make them get an upset tummy.
Summary
Yes, you can feed your cat bits of turkey. It is good to use for a healthy treat and is mostly safe for cats. Cats can eat turkey as a treat once in a while. mixed with some wet cat food so it’s more appetizing.
Purchase top notch fresh turkey, then cook it completely. Feed cats unseasoned white meat, or maybe a tiny portion of the dark is ok too, but don’t five them any of the skin from the turkey. And above all, don’t give them any bones from the turkey.
Cats and dogs both love chicken turkey and just about any meats out there so they will not object, but if it’s not fresh and spice free, avoid feeding it to them or restrict it to small amounts as you would with most human food.
Turkey luncheon meat created from a fresh roasted turkey is the best choice for both cats and humans and is much better than either of you eating turkey luncheon meat that has additives. Or try boiling up giblets and turkey liver so you can enjoy Thanksgiving with your cat
