# Did your pets eat turkey for Thanksgiving? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [November 25, 2016, 6:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/did-your-pets-eat-turkey-for-thanksgiving/772951 "2016-11-25T06:26:05Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![cochrane](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cochrane/32/10441_2.png) [@cochrane](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cochrane)\ **Post date:** [November 25, 2016, 7:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/did-your-pets-eat-turkey-for-thanksgiving/772951/21 "2016-11-25T19:39:55Z")
> [@NeonMadman](#): > > I’ve never researched it, but our vet has told us that turkey is not good for dogs to eat. That’s why you see canned dog food made from chicken, but not usually turkey. It’s a moot point in our house this year, though, since the death of our Sheltie, Lady, last month; we are now petless for the first time in 30 years or so. That’s why I only give my dog turkey twice a year. I’ve never been one to give my dogs people food, as I know most of it isn’t healthy for them. And it cuts down on begging and dogs stealing food. If they don’t get any, they don’t crave it over dog food. But I’m a softie when it comes to holidays. I just have to share with my four-legged friends. ---
**Author:** ![Miss\_Mapp](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/miss_mapp/32/369_2.png) [@Miss\_Mapp](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Miss_Mapp)\ **Post date:** [November 25, 2016, 7:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/did-your-pets-eat-turkey-for-thanksgiving/772951/22 "2016-11-25T19:44:58Z")
Just a little bit. ---
**Author:** ![psychobunny](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/54ee81/32.png) [@psychobunny](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/psychobunny)\ **Post date:** [November 25, 2016, 7:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/did-your-pets-eat-turkey-for-thanksgiving/772951/23 "2016-11-25T19:50:58Z")
The kittehs got a few scraps of turkey as a treat before their usual dinner. They didn’t like it as kittens but as grown cats they adore it. ---
**Author:** ![Rhiannon8404](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rhiannon8404/32/17929_2.png) [@Rhiannon8404](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rhiannon8404)\ **Post date:** [November 25, 2016, 7:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/did-your-pets-eat-turkey-for-thanksgiving/772951/24 "2016-11-25T19:52:02Z")
> [@NeonMadman](#): > > I’ve never researched it, but our vet has told us that turkey is not good for dogs to eat. That’s why you see canned dog food made from chicken, but not usually turkey. It’s a moot point in our house this year, though, since the death of our Sheltie, Lady, last month; we are now petless for the first time in 30 years or so. I’m sorry about Lady. ☹ Lots of brands have turkey recipes for both canned and dry dogs foods. It is usually the higher ticket brands like Blue Buffalo, Wellness, etc. Among proponents of raw food diets for dogs, turkey is one of the staples given to dogs because it is cheap and nutritious. I have never heard anyone say turkey was not good for dogs, other than when referencing cooked turkey skin or giving them the bones. ---
**Author:** ![kayT](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kayt/32/3633_2.png) [@kayT](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kayT)\ **Post date:** [November 25, 2016, 8:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/did-your-pets-eat-turkey-for-thanksgiving/772951/25 "2016-11-25T20:05:25Z")
> [@Chronos](#): > > I’m not into cannibalism, either, but that doesn’t stop me from eating pigs and cows. Cannibalism does not consist in eating members of the same class as oneself. Not sure where you got this idea but everywhere I consulted said cannibalism is humans eating humans, and by extension chickens eating chickens etc. ---
**Author:** ![panache45](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/panache45/32/64_2.png) [@panache45](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/panache45)\ **Post date:** [November 25, 2016, 9:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/did-your-pets-eat-turkey-for-thanksgiving/772951/26 "2016-11-25T21:51:28Z")
> [@kayT](#): > > Not sure where you got this idea but everywhere I consulted said cannibalism is humans eating humans, and by extension chickens eating chickens etc. But not chickens eating turkeys. That was his point. ---
**Author:** ![Chimera](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/8e8cbc/32.png) [@Chimera](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chimera)\ **Post date:** [November 25, 2016, 9:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/did-your-pets-eat-turkey-for-thanksgiving/772951/27 "2016-11-25T21:53:49Z")
One of my cats likes Turkey. The other won’t touch human food for some reason. I always bring some home from the family dinner. ---
**Author:** ![Chimera](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/8e8cbc/32.png) [@Chimera](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chimera)\ **Post date:** [November 25, 2016, 9:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/did-your-pets-eat-turkey-for-thanksgiving/772951/28 "2016-11-25T21:54:51Z")
Once upon a time my mother took me to task for feeding turkey to my cats. “Mom, its a BIRD.” ---
**Author:** ![Anny\_Middon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/bc79bd/32.png) [@Anny\_Middon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Anny_Middon)\ **Post date:** [November 25, 2016, 10:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/did-your-pets-eat-turkey-for-thanksgiving/772951/29 "2016-11-25T22:19:49Z")
> [@ENugent](#): > > I accidentally fed our cat the last can of turkey cat food in the house on Wednesday night, so he got chicken. I don’t think he cared - they both had gravy, and that’s what’s important. Our cats are into gravy, too. They got Fancy Feast Gravy Lovers Turkey food. For many years they ate only Science Diet food. But then Rita got sick (still don’t know what she had) and I had to entice her to eat, so I tried a variety of grocery store brands. She seemed to like the Fancy Feast best, so that’s what they get now. They are 16 and I figure they might as well eat what they like. The only problem with the gravy foods is that they tend to lick up all the gravy and leave the dry meat morsels in the bowl. I wish someone sold a nutritious cat food that was only gravy. ---
**Author:** ![snoe](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/43a26b/32.png) [@snoe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/snoe)\ **Post date:** [November 25, 2016, 11:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/did-your-pets-eat-turkey-for-thanksgiving/772951/30 "2016-11-25T23:31:45Z")
My sister’s dog got to lick the serving plate after we finished putting away the leftovers. He about died of anticipation. My one cat had some of my turkey lunch today (Friday) - the cat who disdains human food got none. ---
**Author:** ![raventhief](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/raventhief/32/4_2.png) [@raventhief](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/raventhief)\ **Post date:** [November 26, 2016, 1:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/did-your-pets-eat-turkey-for-thanksgiving/772951/31 "2016-11-26T01:35:21Z")
My doggies got ham 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![panache45](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/panache45/32/64_2.png) [@panache45](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/panache45)\ **Post date:** [November 26, 2016, 2:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/did-your-pets-eat-turkey-for-thanksgiving/772951/32 "2016-11-26T02:15:43Z")
> [@Anny\_Middon](#): > > The only problem with the gravy foods is that they tend to lick up all the gravy and leave the dry meat morsels in the bowl. I wish someone sold a nutritious cat food that was only gravy. I get around this by mashing up the morsels with a fork and mixing them with the gravy. ---
**Author:** ![RivkahChaya](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rivkahchaya/32/8919_2.png) [@RivkahChaya](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RivkahChaya)\ **Post date:** [November 26, 2016, 2:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/did-your-pets-eat-turkey-for-thanksgiving/772951/33 "2016-11-26T02:38:02Z")
> [@NeonMadman](#): > > I’ve never researched it, but our vet has told us that turkey is not good for dogs to eat. That’s why you see canned dog food made from chicken, but not usually turkey. It’s a moot point in our house this year, though, since the death of our Sheltie, Lady, last month; we are now petless for the first time in 30 years or so. Some small dogs are allergic to poultry, is what I’ve heard, but for big dogs, it’s fine. When our dog was in her final illness (she was 15 & 1/2, which was really old for a big dog), the vet said that the easiest thing for her to digest would be pan-browned ground turkey, and white rice. She did eat it, and she wasn’t eating much. She would also eat canned salmon, because of the strong smell, which the vet said was OK once a day. Our cats did not get tofurky, but they did get mashed potatoes with butter and Parmesan cheese, which they loved. ---
**Author:** ![kayT](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kayt/32/3633_2.png) [@kayT](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kayT)\ **Post date:** [November 26, 2016, 3:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/did-your-pets-eat-turkey-for-thanksgiving/772951/34 "2016-11-26T03:32:38Z")
I think if I gave my cats mashed potatoes with butter and cheese they would never leave my side. Just stand there with those moony pleading eyes… ---
**Author:** ![CalMeacham](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/calmeacham/32/35_2.png) [@CalMeacham](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CalMeacham)\ **Post date:** [November 26, 2016, 5:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/did-your-pets-eat-turkey-for-thanksgiving/772951/35 "2016-11-26T05:05:22Z")
Hestia used to constantly beg for any chicken or turkey. Now she comes by when we’re eating but doesn’t ask. If we give her something, she usually just sniffs at it and doesn’t eat anything. Sometimes she still does eat. Yesterday she didn’t. Hermes turns his nose up at all “people food”. He eats canned food, kibble, and “treats”, especially Temptations. ---
**Author:** ![appleaday](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/41988e/32.png) [@appleaday](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/appleaday)\ **Post date:** [November 26, 2016, 5:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/did-your-pets-eat-turkey-for-thanksgiving/772951/36 "2016-11-26T05:26:16Z")
Of course the kitties got some turkey – they would never let me hear the end of it if I didn’t give them some! It was canned turkey and giblets cat food, but they also got bites of people-food turkey. ---
**Author:** ![Jophiel](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jophiel/32/66_2.png) [@Jophiel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jophiel)\ **Post date:** [November 26, 2016, 5:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/did-your-pets-eat-turkey-for-thanksgiving/772951/37 "2016-11-26T05:44:36Z")
No, the cat is on special food to fight a urinary tract infection (so no canned turkey dinner) and she’s the sort who, if you hold out a piece of turkey for her, will lick it once, rub her face on it and then walk away leaving you holding a piece of turkey you wouldn’t now want to eat. ---
**Author:** ![ruadh](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/d2c977/32.png) [@ruadh](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ruadh)\ **Post date:** [November 26, 2016, 11:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/did-your-pets-eat-turkey-for-thanksgiving/772951/38 "2016-11-26T11:24:13Z")
I rotate turkey, chicken and rabbit among my cats. Thursday was turkey day. Purely coincidence. I didn’t even notice until afterwards, when my mom asked me if I’d given them turkey for Thanksgiving and I looked at the empty box. They didn’t seem to notice anything different about it. But then, they are Irish cats. ---
**Author:** ![SeaDragonTattoo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/df705f/32.png) [@SeaDragonTattoo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SeaDragonTattoo)\ **Post date:** [November 26, 2016, 11:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/did-your-pets-eat-turkey-for-thanksgiving/772951/39 "2016-11-26T11:52:10Z")
The one who sometimes eats bits of people food got some tiny pieces of duck. I work Thanksgivings, but always take the Friday after off, stay home and cook. Duck instead of turkey. ---
**Author:** ![NeonMadman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/58f4c7/32.png) [@NeonMadman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/NeonMadman)\ **Post date:** [November 26, 2016, 5:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/did-your-pets-eat-turkey-for-thanksgiving/772951/40 "2016-11-26T17:10:11Z")
> [@kayT](#): > > Not sure where you got this idea but everywhere I consulted said cannibalism is humans eating humans, and by extension chickens eating chickens etc. I used to call my dachshund a cannibal when he would scarf down a leftover hot dog that I had given him. 😃 [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/did-your-pets-eat-turkey-for-thanksgiving/772951.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/did-your-pets-eat-turkey-for-thanksgiving/772951.md?page=3)