Can Cats Eat Turkey?

Yes, cats can eat turkey, as long as it is plain, fully cooked, and boneless. Turkey is meat, and cats need meat to stay healthy. The trouble comes from how it is prepared: raw turkey can carry germs, and seasoned, fatty, or salty turkey can make your cat sick.

Why is turkey okay for cats?

Cats are obligate carnivores. That means they must get certain nutrients from animal foods. The Merck Veterinary Manual says cats need animal-based protein, because plant protein does not supply taurine. A lack of taurine can lead to heart disease and eye damage in cats.

The ASPCA says that if you feed a pet a small bite of turkey, it should be boneless and fully cooked. A few bites of plain turkey fit that advice.

Turkey is still not a full meal. Merck warns that homemade diets are often unbalanced, and a diet of almost only meat can cause a calcium shortage. Keep your cat’s regular complete cat food as the main meal.

How do I serve turkey to my cat safely?

• Cook it all the way. Merck says food must reach at least 165°F (74°C) to kill bacteria, worms, and other germs.
• Take out every bone. The ASPCA says poultry bones are a major choking hazard.
• Keep it plain. No salt, butter, gravy, stuffing, or spices.
• Skip the skin and grease. The ASPCA says fatty foods can cause vomiting, diarrhea, and pancreatitis, a painful swelling of the pancreas. The sources we read do not name turkey skin, but it is fatty.
• Cut it small and let it cool.

How much turkey can a cat have?

The sources do not give an exact amount of turkey. Cornell says treats should not be more than 10 to 15 percent of your cat’s daily calories. A few small bites now and then fits well inside that limit.

Other kinds of turkey

Can cats eat raw turkey?

No. The ASPCA says raw or undercooked turkey may carry Salmonella. Cornell does not recommend raw meat as a food or treat for cats, because it can spread toxoplasmosis and other infections. The FDA tested 196 raw dog and cat food samples. It found Salmonella in 15 and Listeria in 32. The germs can also make people sick when they touch the food or the bowl.

Can cats eat ground turkey?

Yes, if it is plain and cooked all the way through. Cook it without oil, salt, onion, or garlic, and let it cool. Raw ground turkey is not a good idea. The FDA tracked a Salmonella outbreak to a raw ground turkey pet food. It sickened 90 people in 26 states, and the first known cases were two children in a home with a dog fed the product. Wash your hands and clean surfaces after you handle raw meat.

The ASPCA says onion and garlic can cause red blood cell damage and anemia, and cats are more sensitive to them than dogs. That includes onion or garlic in meatballs or burgers.

Can cats eat turkey bacon?

It is best to skip it. The sources we read do not mention turkey bacon by name. But the ASPCA warns that fatty foods can cause vomiting, diarrhea, and pancreatitis, and that too much salt can cause serious illness. Turkey bacon is fatty and often salty, so check the label. If your cat steals a bite, watch for vomiting or diarrhea. Call your vet if it does not pass quickly or your cat seems unwell.

What if my cat ate turkey that was not safe?

• Bones: Call your vet right away if your cat chokes, gags, drools, or can’t swallow.
• Raw turkey: Watch for vomiting, diarrhea, or low energy. Call your vet if signs appear or last.
• Seasoned or fatty turkey: Call your vet or a poison hotline, especially if onion or garlic was in it.

Other treats to try

Plain cooked egg is another small treat, covered in our guide to whether cats can eat eggs. For the full list of dangerous foods, see foods that are toxic to cats.