I am very much the person who includes the pets in holidays, so obviously Thanksgiving with cats is no different. If we’re all getting a Thanksgiving dinner, the cat is getting one too. This year I am keeping it very simple and doing Merrick Turkey Day Feast for both my cat and dog.

It already has turkey, sweet potato, carrots, and green beans for my dog and Merrick Bone Broth for my cat so it basically does all the work for me and feels a little more festive than their normal dinner.

I’m also not someone who likes feeding pets directly from the table, especially on Thanksgiving. There is way too much happening between the butter, seasonings, gravy, onions, garlic, and everyone thinking they can sneak the cat “just one little piece.” I would rather make their own Thanksgiving dinner for my cat and know exactly what they’re getting. I will probably serve the Turkey Day Feast on one of our smaller plates for my dog and add a few of their regular treats around it and for the cat her bone broth on top of her kibble. If I have some plain, unseasoned turkey I will set that aside for my cat before cooking, I might add a tiny bit of that too.

Plus I will absolutely make everyone wait while I take a photo of it.

I also like feeding the pets around the same time we sit down for dinner. It keeps them occupied and lets them be part of our pet-friendly Thanksgiving without having a cat circling the table for the next hour looking for the easiest person to manipulate.

If you’re hosting, I would put their food and water somewhere a little quieter too. Thanksgiving can be a lot if you have people coming in and out, kids running around, music on, and food everywhere. Giving them their normal space to disappear to when they’re over it makes things easier for everyone. Nothing groundbreaking over here, it is just a very unnecessary but cute cat Thanksgiving dinner.

• Merrick Turkey Day Feast for the dog
• Merrick Bone Broth for the cat
• Small plate or favorite bowl
• A few regular treats
• Plain turkey for cats if I have some set aside
• Fresh water
• Take 12 photos before they can eat

Will the cat understand that I made them a Thanksgiving dinner? No. Will I be doing it anyway? Obviously that is a yes.