Time to loosen your belt buckle, 'cause Thanksgiving is right around the corner! While Thanksgiving dinner is for the whole family, there are “pawlenty” of pitfalls when it comes to fixing your feline friend a plate. 

What foods can cats have on Thanksgiving? And which Thanksgiving foods are toxic to cats? Here's a comprehensive look at which Thanksgiving foods are safe for cats and which ones might harm your purring pal. 

Before we dig in to Thanksgiving foods for cats, here are a few pointers to keep in mind no matter what you plan to feed your feline on Turkey Day:

Here's an overview of the Thanksgiving foods that cats can safely eat:

Let's take a closer look at each food, including how much you can safely feed your cat and the "pawtential" health benefits.

Turkey is safe for cats and a common ingredient in many adult cat foods. Turkey is low in fat and sodium, which can reduce a cat's risk of obesity, diabetes, and heart disease. It's safe to give your cat some unseasoned turkey meat on Thanksgiving — just be sure to hold the skin and stuffing.

Ham is safe to feed your cat in small amounts, but it shouldn't replace their regular food. Ham contains high amounts of salt and fat, which can contribute to health conditions like obesity and high blood pressure. That said, it's safe to give your cat an unseasoned sliver of ham as a special treat on Thanksgiving.

You should avoid anything other than plain gravy, as gray is sometimes seasoned with toxic ingredients like onions and garlic. Gravy is also high in sodium and fat, which can cause your cat to gain weight. A few drops of unseasoned gravy are unlikely to harm your cat's health.

Cranberries are safe to feed cats in moderation. They're a good source of vitamin C and fiber. Cranberries also have anti-inflammatory properties and are loaded with antioxidants. However, you shouldn't feed your cat much cranberry sauce, as it's high in sugar.

Cats can eat unseasoned corn on Thanksgiving, and it's a common ingredient in many cat foods. It's considered healthy for cats, as it helps with digestion and has vitamins and minerals like carotenoids, vitamin E, and magnesium. You can also feed your cat cornbread, but only in small quantities, as it's high in sugar and fat.

Cooked, unseasoned carrots are safe to feed cats. Carrots provide many of the same health benefits for cats as they do for humans. They're high in fiber, which improves digestion. Carrots are also high in vitamins and minerals like vitamin C and thiamine. Avoid giving your cat more than a small amount of glazed carrots, as they're coated in butter and brown sugar, which could upset your cat's tummy. 

Unseasoned broccoli is safe to feed your cat on Thanksgiving. It's healthy for cats, as it's high in fiber, which improves digestion. Plus, it has a high water content, helping your cat stay hydrated. As with any vegetable, you should feed your cat broccoli in moderation. 

A Southern favorite, okra is safe to feed your cat at Thanksgiving. In fact, okra is healthy for cats and contains vitamin C, potassium, B vitamins, and folic acid. If you're cooking fried okra, ensure the okra isn't seasoned with anything toxic to cats, like onions or shallots. It's a good idea to remove the breading altogether if you're planning to give a piece to your cat.

Many forms of cooked, unseasoned potatoes are safe for cats, including mashed and roasted potatoes. Again, if you're planning to give your cat a taste of your Turkey Day potatoes, skip the seasoning (especially garlic). Cats can't digest raw potatoes, so ensure they're fully cooked before feeding.

Just like potatoes, cooked sweet potatoes are safe for cats to eat on Thanksgiving. Sweet potatoes are chock full of fiber, which can help resolve digestive issues and help your cat feel full for longer. If you want to share some sweet potato with your cat, ensure it's fully cooked and unseasoned. Avoid giving your cat any sweet potato pie or souffle (we'll discuss why in the next section).

Is your cat one of the rare Thanksgiving guests who love Brussels sprouts? Good news! Fully cooked, unseasoned Brussels sprouts are safe for cats in moderation. They're also high in fiber and vitamin C. Give your cat a small nibble of cooked Brussels sprouts before adding harmful extras like onions, garlic, or cheese.

Here's an overview of which Thanksgiving foods are toxic or not advised for cats:

Let's take a look at why these Thanksgiving foods are harmful to cats.

You shouldn't give your cat stuffing or dressing at Thanksgiving. Stuffing is usually seasoned with onions, garlic, and scallions. These all belong to the allium family, which contains compounds that break down red blood cells. Ingesting onion, garlic, or scallions can lead to serious health conditions in cats, like hemolytic anemia.

You shouldn't feed your cat deviled eggs at Thanksgiving. While plain, cooked eggs are a good source of protein for cats, some of the ingredients in deviled eggs can upset your cat's stomach, such as mustard and mayonnaise. Some recipes also use ingredients that are toxic to cats, like onions and scallions.

You shouldn't feed your cat candied yams or sweet potato souffle at Thanksgiving. Candied yams have far too high a sugar content and are likely to cause vomiting or diarrhea. Ingredients commonly used in candied yams, like nutmeg and cinnamon, can be toxic in large doses. For example, nutmeg poisoning is caused by myristicin, a narcotic that's toxic to cats, resulting in high blood pressure, disorientation, and even seizures. 

While cats can eat raw and cooked pumpkin, you shouldn't feed them pumpkin pie on Thanksgiving. Pumpkin pie is high in sugar, which could upset your cat's stomach. Similar to candied yams, pumpkin pie often contains nutmeg and cinnamon, which is toxic to cats. 

Mac and cheese is not safe to feed your cat at Thanksgiving due to the amount of dairy products used to make it. Cats are lactose intolerant, and eating mac and cheese can lead to vomiting and diarrhea. Plus, mac and cheese is high in fat and salt, which could raise your cat's blood pressure. 

While unseasoned green beans are safe for cats, you should avoid feeding them green bean casserole. Green bean casseroles usually contain fried onions, which are toxic to cats. Green bean casserole may also be topped with cheese, which will cause digestive issues. Garlic, which is toxic to cats, is sometimes added for flavor as well.

Looking for safe ways to get your feline friend involved in your Thanksgiving feast? Here are some ways to safely treat your cat this Thanksgiving: