A Safe and Stress Free Thanksgiving | Lola The Rescued Cat
Tuesday, November 24, 2015

A Safe and Stress Free Thanksgiving

With Thanksgiving only a few days away, it’s important to remember a few tips to keep our kitties safe during the holiday. 

Many people may not realize that our centerpieces can be hazardous to our furry children.  Lit candles can be a big danger to you cat as well as your house.  If you’re planning on lighting candles please make sure your cat is locked safely in another room.  And please don’t forget that certain flowersand plants are toxic. 



Another thing to be mindful of is the packaging for the turkey and other food wrappings. Strings from the turkey can be very tempting, and dangerous as well.  Foil, wax paper and other wrappings can cause intestinal blockages.  It is important to make sure these items are securely thrown away in the garbage and kitty has no access to the garbage can.  


The smells of the turkey wafting through the house may cause kitty’s mouth to water, but all the fixings that go with it should be off limits.  It’s OK to give your cat a piece of turkey (with no skin and definitely no bones), but please hold the stuffing.  Stuffing often contains onions and garlic, both of which contain a substance that destroys red blood cells, thus causing anemia.  And hold the fatty foods, too (such as gravies and rich sauces.) These can cause sever gastro-intestinal distress such as vomiting and diarrhea. 


You should watch the desserts as well.  Chocolate and raisins can be toxic, and nuts and dairy can cause digestive upset.  If you’re unsure is your cat ingested something that can cause problems, the ASPCA has a poison control hotline that you can call. 


If you're cat doesn't like strangers, expected changes in their environment, or noise, give her a little bit of zen by setting her up in a quiet room with her litter box, food and plenty of water.  And don't forget her favorite toys and bed or blankie. And make sure the room is off limits to company. (We don't want kitty trying to make a run for the front door because she's been spooked.) 

I don’t usually cook Thanksgiving dinner at home, but I’ll make sure Lola and Lexy get turkey and giblets Fancy Feast. And of course I’ll smuggle some turkey from Will’s mother’s house for them.

Are you having company for Thanksgiving this year? Do you have any plans to make the day stress free for your furry friend? 

Dawn

References: 
ASPCA
Banfield Pet Hospital
Pet Wave
North Shore Animal League

Photo Credits: 
Anna Maloverjan via Shutterstock
Michael Pettigrew via Shutterstock
Olesya Kuznetsova via Shutterstock
Steve Maskell via Flickr

Would you like to comment?

  1. The humans here aren't cooking for Thanksgiving either - I'm hoping that my human brings home some turkey, though!

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  2. We're having Thanksgiving on Friday (Thursday is my momma's birthday). And it's just da immediate family, so no strangers to deal wif.

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  3. The head peep is reluctantly cooking Thanksgiving dinner this year , and we're all for it because it pretty much guarantees that we'll get a taste of turkey. Score!

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  4. These are great reminders! It can be easy to forget about the needs of our kitties in the rush of the holiday season. We are having a small Thanksgiving dinner in our apartment this year. I am going to make sure that my bedroom is a cat-only space during dinner to ensure the kitties can get away when they want to.

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  5. We love these reminders, especially at this time of year. Our mom says she's always surprised at how many people don't know about garlic and onions, and oh, the string! She says don't even get her started on letting cats or dogs play with/eat the turkey string!

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  6. Great tips!! Another thing that some people do not know is that turkey is NOT GOOD for MALE cats...(it can cause urinary issues)....giving a tiny bit occasionally won't hurt, but turkey should never be a part of a male cats diet.
    We are going to the Lions game on Turkey Day ....the rest of the family is all out of town! (we are actually thrilled about that!), I am making my turkey tomorrow ...so we will have turkey starting tomorrow for the next few days, just hubby and I and the "boys!" xoxo
    catchatwithcarenandcody

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  7. lola & lexy....if we had ta smell burd waftin thru de houz; we wood think we waz on punish mint; worser than smellin de food servizz
    gurlz nastee shooz.....

    happee pie day two ewe both, pie furst...spuds second ~~~~ ♥♥♥

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  8. Excellent reminders. This year our peeps are having turkey dinner somewhere else so we won't be getting into any turkey here. Well, maybe the Fancy Feast kind.

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  9. We'll be cooking a turkey at our house and Mudpie is very excited for her first Thanksgiving in her forever home!

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  10. Thank you for all the great reminders. Have a wonderful Thanksgiving.

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  11. Happy Thanksgiving!

    We are quietly catabrating, just with our own furmily...the pawrents and the unfurbros.

    We might be lucky if we score a titdbit of turkey...

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  12. Thank you for these important reminders, friends! Happy Thanksgiving to you and your family! :)

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  13. We hope you had a wonderful Thanksgiving!

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  14. Gweat posty. We did da same fing we do every year. Only this year sis Lexi and me each got a slice of bacon. One of da neighbors was nice enuff to give mommy 2 slices and she saved 'em fur us to have as a special fur Fanksgivin'. Hope y'all had a blest day and enjoyed da turkey.

    Luv ya'

    Dezi and Lexi

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  15. No company for us. That would mean they’d have to share the home-made pumpkin pie. HAH! I’m glad I don’t get into everything so the peeps don’t have to worry about me ingesting something I shouldn’t. Oh, please add exasperated milk to the “not for cats” list. Nicky used to love it so TW tried giving me a few licks. I puked all over 2 rugs that afternoon. Glad you had a wonderful Thanksgiving too.

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  16. We were offline for Thanksgiving - we hope you had a wonderful day and we are thankful to know you! Happy Caturday - Purrs from Deb and the Zee/Zoey kitties

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  17. Mom Paula went to her sister's house for Thanksgiving. However, we did have company over the weekend, so Mom Paula made sure we felt safe and comfortable. Our Feliway diffuser was in the hallway and we got lots of treats.

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