How to Keep Your Cat Safe on Thanksgiving: A Complete Guide

Thanksgiving is an enjoyable holiday, but it brings changes that can put your cat at risk. Things like foods, open doors, unfamiliar visitors, and seasonal decorations can create hazards for both curious and nervous cats alike.

Fortunately, you don't have to change everything to keep your cat safe on Thanksgiving. By simply taking a few simple precautions you can prevent accidents and make the holiday more comfortable for your cat.

Here are a few important Thanksgiving cat safety tips to follow.

Keep Thanksgiving Foods Away From Your Cat

Many traditional Thanksgiving dishes contain ingredients that are dangerous to cats. Here's a short list of things you'll most definitely want to avoid:

• Stuffing and casseroles frequently contain onions and garlic. These can damage your cat's red blood cells resulting in damage to their liver.

• Chocolate and alcohol are poisonous.

• Cooked turkey bones and carcasses can splinter and cause choking or internal injuries.

• Gravy can cause digestive upset and pose other health risks like bloating.

If your cat has any special health issues you'll want to pay even closer attention to ensuring they don't get any of these foods. Regardless of your cat's health, make sure to put leftovers away promptly, and secure your trash can so your cat can't reach any bones or food scraps.

Prevent Your Cat From Escaping

Frequent visitors can make Thanksgiving a risky time for indoor cats. Someone carrying food or greeting a guest may leave a door open long enough for a cat to slip outside.

As you prepare for guests to arrive, make sure to prepare for your cat too. Here are some important steps to take:

• Secure all doors and windows.

• Make sure window screens aren't damaged.

• Remind guests you have an indoor cat and they shouldn't leave the door open.

• Keep your cat in a secure room if people are coming and going frequently.

• Make sure your cat's identification and microchip information are current.

If your cat has a history of running toward open doors, put them in another room for their safety.

Help Your Cat Feel Safe Around Guests

Some cats enjoy meeting visitors. Others become frightened by them. If you are uncertain about how your cat will be, simply prepare a quiet room for them. Make sure to include fresh water, a litter box, comfortable bedding, and a few hiding spots. This is especially true for senior cats, medically fragile cats, and cats who are easily stressed by changes in their surroundings. Additionally, you always want to maintain their normal feeding and medication schedule.

When leaving a cat out, make sure to remind them not to chase, pick up, or disturb your cat if they're hiding. Let your cat decide when they want to participate.

Check Thanksgiving Decorations

Holiday decorations can create unexpected hazards for cats. Some of them are things you may not even think about such as:

• Whenever possible replace candles with battery-operated ones so you can avoid open flames.

• Lilies and daylilies can cause fatal kidney failure in cats. They shouldn't be in homes where cats live.

• Swallowing ribbon and stringcan cause dangerous intestinal injuries. You should never pull on them if they're hanging from your cat's mouth or anus.

• Small decorations that can be chewed or swallowed may cause choking or obstructions.

• Electrical cords need to be secured and kept away from cats, especially if your cat is known to chew on things.

Keep Trash and Leftovers Secure

Thanksgiving hazards don't disappear once dinner is over. Turkey bones, skewers, food-soiled foil, plastic wrap, and discarded string can attract curious cats. This is why it's important to check the kitchen before settling down after the meal.

Make sure you clear counters and refrigerate leftovers promptly. You should also use a covered trash can your cat can't open or knock over.

Know When to Contact a Veterinarian

If your cat eats a potentially toxic food, swallows a dangerous object, or develops concerning symptoms, promptly contact your veterinarian. Their phone number, along with contact information for the nearest emergency clinic, should always be kept in a place where you can quickly and easily retrieve it.

Never wait for symptoms to appear if you know for certain your cat has done any of these things. You also don't want to induce vomiting yourself or give your cat home remedies unless a veterinary professional specifically instructs you to.

Make Thanksgiving Safer for Your Cat

A safe Thanksgiving for cats begins with preparing for it ahead of time like you would prepare for any guests who will be visiting your home. The precautions you take should be determined by your own cat's needs, health, temperament, and habits.

At Special Little Whiskers Kitten Sanctuary, we believe every cat deserves care that respects its individual needs. A little planning can help you enjoy the holiday while keeping your cat safe.

This article is part of our Thanksgiving Cat Safety Series, with practical tips to help keep your cat safe throughout the holiday. Read the Complete Guide to Keeping Your Cat Safe on Thanksgiving to explore the full series.