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A fluffy ginger Maine Coon kitten licks a spoonful of orange pumpkin pie filling held over a mixing bowl on a counter. 22 / 23

The Pumpkin Pie Filling Was Left on the Counter for One Minute

AI imagemaine coon kittenthanksgivingpumpkin pie

Caught in the act, tongue out, eyes wide: there's no denying what happened here. A fluffy ginger Maine Coon kitten with tufted ears and a striped, shaggy coat leans over a glass mixing bowl, licking a heaping spoonful of bright orange pumpkin pie filling. Her big eyes look up as if to ask whether anyone noticed. Around her, the counter tells the story of holiday baking in progress: cinnamon sticks, a wooden spoon, a few cranberries, a dish towel, a set of car keys, and a pie crust waiting on a plate, with a red plaid jacket tossed on a chair nearby.

Kittens grow fast and have very specific nutritional needs, including higher levels of protein, fat, and certain nutrients like taurine compared with adult cats. That's why a complete, balanced kitten food is the foundation of a healthy diet, with treats making up only a small portion. Sweet, spiced foods like pie filling don't offer much nutrition and can upset a kitten's stomach, especially if they contain sugar, dairy, or spices like nutmeg. A small taste of plain canned pumpkin, without added sugar or spices, is sometimes offered to cats, but ask your vet first. Larger breeds like Maine Coons may need specially formulated food as they grow.

This little ginger baker is clearly confident in her taste-testing skills. The pie might be missing a spoonful, but no one could stay upset at that face for long.

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