Thanksgiving Leftovers and Your Cat: A Host's Safety Checklist
I'm not a veterinarian. This page is general safety and shopping information from a cat owner in Central Florida, not a diagnosis or treatment plan. Contact your veterinarian about your cat's needs or a suspected exposure.
Thanksgiving is Thursday, November 26, 2026. The meal itself lasts an hour. The leftovers sit on counters, in serving dishes, and in the kitchen trash for the rest of the weekend, and that is when a cat has the most chances to help itself. This page is a host's checklist for the food, the scraps, and the trash. For trees, cords, tinsel, lilies, and poinsettias later in the season, see our cat-safe holiday tree and gift guide.
Every food-safety statement below comes from one source: the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center's people foods to avoid feeding your pets page. Where ASPCA names a species, we quote it rather than paraphrase. 1
What guests should not share
Most leftover mistakes start with a kind guest offering a bite. Before dinner, tell everyone the cats don't get table food, and point out the items on this list. ASPCA's people-foods page lists these among the foods to avoid feeding pets: 1
- Anything made with onion, garlic, or chives. That includes stuffing, gravy, green bean casserole, and many sides. See the next section for ASPCA's exact wording on cats.
- Chocolate, coffee, and caffeine, including chocolate desserts. ASPCA says these contain methylxanthines, which “can cause vomiting and diarrhea, panting, excessive thirst and urination, hyperactivity, abnormal heart rhythm, tremors, seizures and even death,” and that “The darker (higher cacao percentage) the chocolate, or the higher the caffeine content, the greater the risk for toxicity.”
- Alcohol and raw yeast dough. ASPCA says alcohol “can cause vomiting, diarrhea, incoordination, depression, difficulty breathing, tremors, changes in blood pH, coma and even death,” and that yeast dough “can rise and cause gas to accumulate in your pet's digestive system,” which can become “a life-threatening emergency.” Don't leave rising rolls or a drink where a cat can reach them.
- Milk and dairy, such as whipped cream or a cheese board. ASPCA says pets don't have significant amounts of lactase, so “milk and other dairy-based products can cause diarrhea or other digestive upset.”
- Nuts, including pecans in pie. ASPCA says nuts “contain high amounts of oils and fats” that “can cause vomiting and diarrhea, and potentially pancreatitis in some pets.”
- Salty snacks and very salty food. ASPCA says excessive salt intake can cause increased thirst and urination and abnormal blood electrolytes, and that signs of salt toxicity “can include vomiting, diarrhea, depression, tremors, seizures and even death.”
- Anything sweetened with xylitol, such as some sugar-free desserts or gum in a guest's bag. ASPCA says xylitol “can cause low blood sugar (hypoglycemia) and potentially liver damage depending on the amount ingested.”
- Raw meat and raw eggs while you cook. ASPCA says they “can contain bacteria such as Salmonella and E. coli that can be harmful to pets and humans alike.”
ASPCA's page also lists grapes and raisins. Its explanation of the kidney risk is written about dogs: “Since dogs are not able to process tartaric acid, exposure to grapes/raisins can lead to kidney damage.” We are not extending that statement to cats. Keep the bowl off the buffet edge anyway, along with everything else on this list. 1
Onion, garlic, and chives: what ASPCA says about cats
This is the one food section where ASPCA calls out cats directly. Its exact wording: 1
“Onion, garlic and chives are members of the Allium species of vegetables. Allium species can cause gastrointestinal irritation and red blood cell damage, which can lead to anemia (low red blood cells). Although cats are more susceptible, dogs are also at risk depending on the amount ingested.”
On Thanksgiving, these ingredients are rarely on their own. They're cooked into stuffing, gravy, casseroles, and pan drippings. A plate of “plain” turkey scraps can still have gravy or drippings on it. The practical rule is simple: no plate scraps for the cat.
Bones and string
ASPCA says “Dogs/cats might sustain injury or obstruction to the gastrointestinal tract when ingesting bones, which could be serious and require surgery.” 1
- Strip the carcass and bag the bones before the table is cleared, not after dessert.
- Roast twine, the pop-up timer, foil, and the meat-soaked wrapping from the bird all smell like food. Put them straight into a lidded can, not an open bag on the counter.
- Don't leave a carving board or roasting pan to “soak” on the stove or in an open sink.
If you think your cat swallowed a bone, string, or wrapping, don't wait to see whether it passes. Call your veterinarian.
Trash and counters
ASPCA's holiday tips say pets “know where they can find some sneaky leftovers,” and recommend that you “take out the trash or secure the lids on any garbage cans” holding food or other holiday hazards. 2
- Take the kitchen bag out the same night. A full bag of scraps is a bigger temptation than any single plate.
- Use a can with a lid that locks, or keep the can behind a closed pantry or cabinet door. A swing-top lid or an open bin does not stop a determined cat.
- Clear the counters before you sit down to dessert. Move serving dishes into the refrigerator or a closed oven, or cover them with latching lids.
- Give the cats a quiet room with water, litter, and their own food during the busiest part of the meal. It keeps them away from the kitchen, open doors, and guests who might share.
- Ask guests to keep bags and coats off the floor. Gum, mints, and snacks in a purse can contain xylitol or chocolate.
Lidded cans and food covers
As an Amazon Associate we earn from qualifying purchases. Product links marked “(paid link)” go to Amazon. We have not personally tested these products. Listings, colors, and availability change, so check the current page before you buy. No lid is a guarantee. Watch how your own cat reacts to a new can, and keep using the other steps on this page.
simplehuman 40 L slim step can with slide lock (CW1361)
simplehuman says this slim plastic step can has a slide lock that “helps keep trash in and pets and curious children out,” a Lid Shox slow-close lid, and fits its Code K custom liners. 3 The Amazon listing gives a 40-liter (10.6-gallon) capacity, a step pedal, a stay-open lid, built-in wheels, and a 5-year warranty. Its UPC matches simplehuman's black CW1361. The slide lock only works when it is engaged, so make locking it part of clearing the table.
See the simplehuman 40 L slim step can with slide lock on Amazon (paid link). Fetched listing title on November 11, 2026: “simplehuman 40 Liter / 10.6 Gallon Slim Kitchen Step Trash Can With Secure Slide Lock, Black Plastic.”
iTouchless 13-gallon sensor can with PetGuard lid lock
iTouchless describes this stainless-steel motion-sensor can as having a PetGuard lid lock that prevents pets from opening the lid. It takes standard 13-gallon bags, includes an AbsorbX carbon odor filter, and runs on 4 D batteries (not included) or an optional AC adapter (sold separately). The manufacturer lists it at 12.7 in L × 10.8 in W × 27.2 in H (35.6 in with the lid open). 4 A sensor lid opens when something moves near it. iTouchless says the lock is what keeps pets out, so engage it whenever the kitchen is empty.
See the iTouchless 13-gallon sensor trash can with PetGuard lock on Amazon (paid link). Fetched listing title on November 11, 2026: “iTouchless 13 Gallon / 50 Liter Sensor Dog Proof Trash Can with Odor Filter.”
Rubbermaid Brilliance latching food storage containers (14 pieces)
Rubbermaid describes its Brilliance line as having an airtight, leak-proof seal and latching lids. The Amazon listing for this set says the lids use secure latches, the containers are BPA-free Tritan plastic, and they are microwave-safe (reheat only), freezer-safe, and top-rack dishwasher-safe. The set includes two 0.5-cup, two 1.3-cup, two 3.2-cup, and one 9.6-cup containers with lids, 14 pieces in all. Latched leftovers are a better choice than a plate under plastic wrap on the counter, but the refrigerator is still the best place for them.
See Rubbermaid Brilliance food storage containers, 14 pieces, on Amazon (paid link). Fetched listing title on November 11, 2026: “Rubbermaid Brilliance Plastic Food Storage Containers, 14-Count.”
If your cat gets into the leftovers
- Move your cat away from the food or trash, and keep the packaging or a photo of the dish.
- Note what and how much. ASPCA asks that if you suspect your pet has eaten any of the foods on its list, you “note the amount ingested and contact your veterinarian or poison control.” 1
- Call. ASPCA Animal Poison Control is (888) 426-4435, available 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. ASPCA states: “A consultation fee may apply.” 5 For breathing trouble, collapse, or seizures, go straight to an emergency veterinary hospital.
- Don't treat it at home unless a veterinarian or poison control tells you what to do. This page doesn't give treatment advice.
Save your veterinarian's number and the nearest emergency hospital's details in your phone before guests arrive. Then, when December comes, see our holiday tree and gift guide.
Sources
- ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center — People Foods to Avoid Feeding Your Pets.
- ASPCA — Holiday Safety Tips.
- simplehuman — 40L Slim Step Can (CW1361).
- iTouchless — 13 Gallon Stainless Steel Sensor Trash Can with PetGuard Lid Lock (DZT13PL).
- ASPCA — Animal Poison Control.