Can Cats Eat Pumpkin? Yes, Plain Pumpkin in Small Spoonfuls

Why plain pumpkin is safe for cats

Pumpkin is a winter squash with fiber, beta-carotene, vitamin A and potassium, and nothing that poisons cats. Its soft texture mixes easily into wet food, and some cats enjoy licking it from a spoon. Pet Poison Helpline confirms that pumpkin itself is not toxic to pets.

Cats rely on nutrients found only in animal products, as Cornell's Feline Health Center puts it, so plant foods play a very small role. Pumpkin's main effect is on the stool through its fiber, which is exactly why it should be offered in small amounts rather than as food.

Pie filling, pumpkin spice and canned mistakes

Check the label carefully. Plain canned pumpkin has one ingredient. Pumpkin pie filling, often in a similar can, adds sugar and spices such as cinnamon, nutmeg, cloves and allspice. Pet Poison Helpline notes that cloves and allspice contain eugenol, which can harm a cat's liver, and nutmeg can cause disorientation and a racing heart in larger amounts.

VCA warns that pumpkin pies, lattes and sweetened pumpkin treats often contain preservatives and sugar substitutes that can upset a cat's stomach. Some canned pumpkin is also salted. If your cat ate a large amount of spiced pie filling or a product with xylitol, call your vet, ASPCA Animal Poison Control at (888) 426-4435 or Pet Poison Helpline at (855) 764-7661; a fee may apply.

How to serve pumpkin to your cat

Use canned pure pumpkin puree with no salt or spice, or bake or steam fresh pumpkin until very soft, then remove the skin, seeds and stringy pulp and mash it. Stir a small amount into your cat's usual wet food, where it is less likely to be refused.

Freeze leftover puree in an ice cube tray in tiny portions, since an opened can only lasts about five days in the fridge. Do not offer raw pumpkin, rind or stems, and do not let your cat chew a carved jack-o'-lantern, which molds quickly.

If you share a safe morsel, offering it from a shallow cat bowl or hiding it in a puzzle feeder keeps the amount small.

How much pumpkin to give

For an average 8 to 12 lb cat, about half a teaspoon to one teaspoon of plain pumpkin, mixed into food, a few times a week is plenty. Smaller cats should have less. Count it within the 10 to 15 percent of daily calories set aside for treats.

Too much fiber can cause loose stool or, in a cat that is not drinking enough, make constipation worse. Pumpkin is not a treatment. If your cat is constipated, straining or has diarrhea, call your vet rather than adding more pumpkin, because the cause needs to be found.

Pumpkin seeds and kittens

Pumpkin seeds are not toxic, but whole seeds can be a choking hazard and can cause a blockage if a cat eats several. If you want to offer them, roast plain seeds with no salt or oil, crush them finely and give just a pinch. Most cats are not interested, which is fine.

Kittens can have a tiny lick of plain pumpkin once they are eating solid kitten food well. Their stomachs are sensitive, so a quarter teaspoon is enough to try. Kitten food should remain the main diet.

Signs of trouble and when to call the vet

Too much pumpkin usually causes soft stool, gas or vomiting within a day. Offer fresh water, stop the pumpkin and watch the litter box.

Call your vet the same day if your cat is straining in the litter box with little or nothing coming out, especially a male cat straining to pee, which can be an emergency. Also call if diarrhea lasts more than 24 hours, vomiting repeats, or your cat stops eating or hides.

This page is general information, not veterinary advice, and it cannot replace an examination by the vet who knows your pet.