Cats can eat pumpkin safely when it is plain, cooked, and without any added spices, sugar, or seasonings. Plain canned pumpkin or cooked fresh pumpkin (not pumpkin pie filling or spiced pumpkin products) can be a healthy treat for cats. Pumpkin offers benefits such as aiding digestion, relieving constipation, preventing hairballs, calming diarrhea, and providing essential nutrients like vitamins A, C, K, potassium, and fiber. However, pumpkin stems, skin, raw seeds, and any pumpkin with added spices or sugars should be avoided, as some parts or additives can be harmful or cause digestive issues. To feed pumpkin to cats safely, start with small amounts like a half to one teaspoon mixed in with their regular food or given directly. Pumpkin seeds can be fed in small crushed quantities without salt or spices to reduce choking risk. Pumpkin pie or pumpkin pie filling is not safe due to spices and sugars. In summary, cooked plain pumpkin is a safe and nutritious occasional treat for cats and can be beneficial especially for gastrointestinal health, but it should be given sparingly and without any additives.
