Food safety

Can Cats Eat Pumpkin?

Safe — Pumpkin for cats.

Safe

Why: Plain cooked pumpkin or plain canned pumpkin puree is a gentle source of fibre that vets often suggest for mild constipation or loose stools. It is low in calories and easy to digest. Use plain pumpkin only — never pumpkin pie filling, which has sugar and spices.

Safe serving: About 1 teaspoon for a small cat, up to 1 tablespoon for a larger cat, mixed into food a few times a week. Treats should stay under 10% of daily calories.

If your cat ate pumpkin: No action needed for plain pumpkin. If your cat ate pumpkin pie filling, watch for an upset stomach from the sugar and spices, and call your vet if vomiting or diarrhoea lasts more than a day.

Related: Carrots, Bananas

Why this verdict

Plain cooked pumpkin or plain canned pumpkin puree is a gentle source of fibre that vets often suggest for mild constipation or loose stools. It is low in calories and easy to digest. Use plain pumpkin only — never pumpkin pie filling, which has sugar and spices.

Safe serving

About 1 teaspoon for a small cat, up to 1 tablespoon for a larger cat, mixed into food a few times a week. Treats should stay under 10% of daily calories.

If your cat ate pumpkin

No action needed for plain pumpkin. If your cat ate pumpkin pie filling, watch for an upset stomach from the sugar and spices, and call your vet if vomiting or diarrhoea lasts more than a day.

Related foods

Carrots, Bananas

Check another food

Back to the Food-Safety Checker to check all 90 foods, or see the beginner feeding guide and the feeding estimator.

Before you use the result

Use the result as a starting point for observation and planning. Cats vary by age, body condition, temperament, medical history, and household setup.

Sources: ASPCA Animal Poison Control — People Foods to Avoid Feeding Your Pets, the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center, and the Cornell Feline Health Center — Feeding Your Cat. Chocolate toxicity figures are approximate values from the Merck Veterinary Manual. If your cat ate something on the toxic list, call your veterinarian or ASPCA Animal Poison Control at (888) 426-4435.