Can Cats Eat Pumpkin Pie?
By Pettings · Sources checked Nov 2, 2026
No. Keep pumpkin pie away from cats. Pumpkin pie filling contains sugar, evaporated or sweetened condensed milk, eggs, and a spice mix of cinnamon, nutmeg, ginger and cloves, all baked in a crust made with butter or shortening.
Why Pumpkin Pie Is a Problem for Cats
The spices come first. Nutmeg is in nearly every pumpkin pie and in pumpkin pie spice blends. The ASPCA says nutmeg contains a chemical that can cause a wide range of problems when large amounts are eaten. A slice holds far less nutmeg than a spilled spice jar, but a cat is small. The ASPCA adds that small exposures to cinnamon may cause mild stomach upset, while larger exposures can cause significant irritation.
Dairy is next. Evaporated milk and condensed milk are concentrated milk, and the pie is often topped with whipped cream. The ASPCA explains that pets lack much lactase, so dairy can cause diarrhea. WSAVA lists milk and dairy products among foods to keep from cats.
Sugar adds calories a cat cannot even enjoy. A 2005 study in PLOS Genetics found that cats lack a working sweet taste receptor, so the sweetness means nothing to them. The crust is mostly flour and fat, and the ASPCA notes that the oils and fats in nuts can cause vomiting, diarrhea and potentially pancreatitis in some pets.
Tufts veterinary nutritionists suggest that a small spoonful of pumpkin pie filling can be a reasonable holiday treat for dogs. That advice is about dogs. For a cat, the dairy, sugar, spices and crust offer nothing a cat food does not, and many cats react to dairy.
Canned pumpkin pie filling is already sweetened and spiced, unlike plain canned pumpkin. Some pies use sweet potato or add pecans, and the ASPCA says nuts are high in fat.
Signs to Watch For
A cat that licks some filling may have vomiting or diarrhea later that day. The ASPCA lists vomiting, dry mouth, agitation, a fast heart rate, changes in pupil size and trouble walking among the signs of eating a large amount of nutmeg. Watch for any of these, and for a cat that hides or refuses food.
What to Do If Your Cat Ate Pumpkin Pie
If your cat ate more than a lick, or got into a pie spice jar, call your veterinarian or the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center at (888) 426-4435 right away. Do not try to make your cat vomit unless a vet tells you to. Keep the pie box or recipe so the vet can see the ingredients.
If your cat has diabetes, pancreatitis or another medical condition, talk to your veterinarian before sharing any holiday food.
Common Questions
Can cats eat pumpkin pie filling?
No. Canned pumpkin pie filling is already sweetened and spiced with nutmeg, cinnamon, ginger and cloves, and it often contains milk. The ASPCA says nutmeg can cause problems such as vomiting, agitation and a fast heart rate when large amounts are eaten. Do not confuse pie filling with plain canned pumpkin, which has nothing added. Read the can before you open it.
Can cats eat nutmeg?
No. The ASPCA says nutmeg contains a chemical that can cause a wide range of problems when large amounts are eaten, including vomiting, dry mouth, agitation, a fast heart rate, changes in the pupils and trouble walking. A lick of pie is unlikely to deliver that much, but a spilled spice jar can. Call your veterinarian if your cat got into nutmeg.
Can cats eat cinnamon?
Cinnamon is not something to give a cat on purpose. The ASPCA says small exposures may cause mild stomach upset, while larger amounts can cause significant irritation. It also warns that breathing in cinnamon powder can cause coughing and trouble breathing. Keep cinnamon, pumpkin spice blends and cinnamon sticks out of reach, and call your vet if your cat got into them.
Can cats eat whipped cream on pumpkin pie?
It is better not to share it. Whipped cream is heavy cream and sugar, so it is high in fat and still contains milk sugar. WSAVA lists dairy products among foods to keep from cats because many cats are lactose intolerant. A lick will usually cause nothing worse than soft stool, but a larger amount can upset your cat's stomach.
What happens if my cat eats pumpkin pie?
Most cats that lick a bit of pumpkin pie get, at most, an upset stomach from the milk, sugar and crust fat. The ASPCA says the dairy can cause diarrhea in pets. A large amount of nutmeg can cause agitation, vomiting and a fast heart rate. If your cat ate a slice or more, call your veterinarian or the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center.