Pumpkin Carving Night Left a Mess on the Counter. Then Came the Inspector.
Pumpkin carving night has left the kitchen counter in glorious disarray. Slimy pulp, orange chunks and dozens of pale seeds are scattered everywhere, and a hollowed pumpkin sits off to one side next to a knife. Right in the middle of it all, a silver tabby kitten has crept up to investigate. She crouches low with her ears pricked and her nose pressed nearly to the seeds, whiskers fanned forward, clearly fascinated by the strange new smells. A dish towel lies crumpled nearby, and a gray evening sky shows through the kitchen window.
Plain cooked pumpkin is sometimes offered to cats in small amounts, but raw pulp, stringy innards and seeds are not ideal snacks. Raw pumpkin can be hard to digest, and the seeds and stringy bits could cause stomach upset. Carved pumpkins that sit out for a few days also start to mold, which is not safe for pets. The biggest danger during carving, though, is usually the tools: sharp knives and scoops left on the counter can hurt a curious kitten. Keeping pets off the work surface and cleaning up promptly avoids accidents. If your kitten eats something questionable and seems unwell, talk to your vet.
This little investigator is having the time of her life, but the counter may need a good wipe-down before the jack-o'-lantern is lit.
