Cats can eat almost anything. The only thing they cannot digest is bones.
Turkey is safe for them to eat in general, but we look at this in closer detail in this article, analyzing how they can eat it, the health benefits and how to serve it. Let’s jump in.
What Is Turkey Meat?
Turkey is a member of the Galliformes order of birds. It’s one of the most popular meats consumed in the world. Turkey is also known as Meleagris gallopavo or just simply “the bird.” This small game bird has been eaten by humans since ancient times.
Turkey is considered an exotic food because it’s not native to North America. However, it was introduced into the United States in 1782. Today, turkeys are raised all over the country.
The average size of a mature turkey is between 15-20 pounds. There are several different breeds of turkeys that have been developed over time.
Can Cats Eat Turkey Meat?
Yes, cats can eat turkey. Turkey meat is very lean, which makes it easier on your cat’s digestion system. It contains less fat than other types of meat.
It’s recommended that you feed your cat a diet that consists of 30% protein. That means that each pound of meat should contain about 3 ounces. If you want to make sure your cat gets enough nutrients, you need to ensure that he eats his daily requirement of 8 ounces of dry food.
How To Serve Turkey For Your Cat
If you want to give your cat turkey, there are two options available: raw and cooked. Raw turkey is best-served whole and cut up into bite-sized pieces. Cooked turkey is either served in chunks or ground up and mixed with gravy.
However, if you choose to serve your cat raw turkey, you run the risk of feeding them spoiled meat or meat containing salmonella and other bacteria which can disrupt their digestive system and can cause diarrhea and vomiting.
Cooking will help prevent these problems from occurring, and it is recommended you only feed raw turkey in very limited portions.
As there is a lot of fat in turkey, you also need to be careful when serving it to your cat. You don’t want him to get fatty foods too often.
You could also deep-fry your turkey for your cat, but this adds harmful saturated and trans-fats to the meat, which can lead to obesity, heart problems, and many other health issues, so avoid doing this too often as well.
Avoid seasoning your turkey with salt and pepper when feeding your cat because it can upset their stomach. Salt can also make them thirsty and lead to increased urination. Instead, try adding cat-friendly herbs like parsley and thyme to add flavor.
When feeding your cat ground turkey, keep in mind that some brands may contain additives such as corn syrup solids, sugar, and artificial flavors. These ingredients can upset your cat’s stomach and cause diarrhea. It also has a higher fat content so search for a brand that’s 90% lean.
If you like to serve your cat deli turkey, keep in mind this type of meat increases the risk of cancer and heart disease. It contains a lot of sodium and nitrates and is heavily processed, so it contains chemical preservatives prone to listeria contamination. Limit their consumption of deli turkey as a result.
Turkey Bones
Another problem with turkey is the bones. Turkey bones can splinter your cat and cause gastrointestinal problems and other health consequences.
It’s important to keep your cat clear from the bones and get rid of them completely, so they don’t eat them when you’re looking the other way.
What Is The Best Way To Serve Turkey To My Cat?
There are several ways to serve turkey to your cat. You can either boil the turkey before giving it to your cat or cook it without boiling. There are pros and cons to both methods.
Boiled Turkey
This method involves cooking the turkey at high temperatures until it becomes tender. Boiling helps remove any excess moisture and makes the meat easier to digest.
However, it’s not recommended you boil the turkey more than once since it can affect its texture and taste.
Cooking Without Boiling
Cooking without boiling means you simply bake the turkey on a baking sheet. This method, however, is not time-consuming and doesn’t require you to heat the oven all day long.
It does take longer to cook compared to boiling, but if you have a large family as well as your cat to feed, this might be an ideal option for bigger birds.
Most importantly, the turkey needs to be fresh and lean when feeding your cat, served without skin and bones, and only using limited seasonings.
Health Benefits Of Turkey
Turkey is a great source of protein. It’s also rich in vitamin B12. Vitamin B12 helps improve blood circulation and keep your heart healthy. Vitamin B12 is also needed by your brain, nerves, red blood cells, and white blood cells.
Vitamin B12 is also found naturally in eggs, milk, cheese, yogurt, and liver. But, if your cat isn’t getting enough, you may need to supplement him with a B12 supplement.
The protein in turkey can help cats maintain muscle mass. Protein helps build muscles and keeps them strong. Turkey is also a good source of zinc, iron, phosphorus, calcium, and magnesium. These minerals play important roles in maintaining bone structure and teeth.
Vitamins B6 and 12 can also boost the immune system of your cat, and on top of this, it contains anti-cancer properties. It also helps with improving your cat’s mood and can help them if they have insomnia as a result of the tryptophan in the meat.
A study published in the Journal of Nutrition showed that eating turkey increases your chances of having fewer colds.
Another study published in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition showed that people who ate more chicken had lower levels of C-reactive protein (CRP). CRP is a marker for inflammation. This means it is not only good for cats but also humans.
How Much Should I Feed My Cat A Day?
The amount of food you should give your cat depends on how much he eats each day. Most cats eat between 2 to 3 cups of dry food per day. So, if you’re feeding your cat a cup of dry food every day, then you’ll need around 1 pound of turkey per week.
However, remember that cats tend to eat more during the winter months. Most cats will eat twice the amount of food during the colder months. So, if you feed your cat a cup of food daily, you’ll need about a few more pounds of turkey per month.
Final Thoughts
We hope after reading this article you have learned all there is to know about how safe it is to feed your cat turkey. We have provided some tips on how to choose the best type of turkey for your cat.
And we have also given you information on how to prepare it so that it’s both nutritious and tasty. Turkey can be extremely beneficial for cats so why not serve them up some and see how much they enjoy it at your next mealtime!
I’m Courtney Trent and I hope that I can answer some burning questions that you have about cats, as well as some questions that you’d never have thought to ask before.
I am aiming to shed new light on these amazing pets and hopefully change some people’s opinions on them. Also, let’s talk about wild cats - they’re just as awesome as domestic cats!
So, stay a while and learn more about domestic and wild cats from Windhaven Ocicats.
