Can Cats Eat Chicken and Turkey Stuffing?

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  • Can cats eat stuffing?

    Cats cannot eat stuffing due to the onion and garlic which are toxic to cats. Additional potential dangers include leek, chives, herbs (oregano) and fat.

    Allium

    The greatest concern with chicken and turkey stuffing is allium (fresh or dried). Members of the allium family including onion, garlic, leek and chives contain the alkaloid N-propyl disulphide which causes causing oxidative injury to the red blood cell membrane, leading to the formation of Heinz bodies. Heinz bodies are clumps of irreversibly denatured hemoglobin attached to the red blood cell membrane. Macrophages (a scavenger cell) clear affected red blood cells in the spleen.

    Fat

    While cats do need some fat in their diet, high quantities induce pancreatitis, an extremely painful inflammation of the pancreas. Not all cats who consume a fatty meal or treat will develop pancreatitis, but it is impossible to predict which cats will be affected. Fatty food can also cause gastrointestinal disturbances (vomiting and diarrhea), and add excess calories to the cat’s diet.

    Holiday food cats can and can’t eat

    As we move towards the festive season, it’s important to be aware of what cats can and can’t eat. Many foods safe for humans can be problematic for cats. Even food that is safe can be an issue for cats with health conditions or cats who don’t cope well with changes in diet.

    Limit treats to no more than 10% of a cat’s diet and always remember that cats must eat complete and balanced cat food for optimal health. Treats are fine, but they do not meet all the cat’s nutritional needs.


    Safe to feed

    Do not feed
    Cooked meat (chicken, beef, lamb, turkey) Chocolate
    Beans Alcohol
    Carrot Stuffing (regular or forcemeat)
    Sweet potato (plain) Grapes or raisins
    Pumpkin (plain) Onion
    Mashed potato Garlic
    Cranberry sauce Gravy
    Corn Mushrooms
    Brussels sprouts Cooked bones
    Apples (seeds removed) Bread
    Broccoli Nuts
    Turnip Artificial sweeteners (xylitol)

    Feature image: MSPhotographic/Shutterstock

    Author

    • Julia Wilson, 'Cat World' Founder

      Julia Wilson is the founder of Cat-World, and has researched and written over 1,000 articles about cats. She is a cat expert with over 20 years of experience writing about a wide range of cat topics, with a special interest in cat health, welfare and preventative care. Julia lives in Sydney with her family, four cats and two dogs. Full author bio