Is canned pumpkin safe for cats?

Yes, in small amounts. Plain canned pumpkin is safe and is one of the few people-food add-ons that can actually help with mild feline constipation. A teaspoon a couple of times a week adds soluble fiber that holds water in the stool, softening it. The critical caveat: it has to be plain canned pumpkin, not pumpkin pie filling, which contains sugar and spices (sometimes nutmeg) that aren’t safe for cats. Pumpkin is a tool, not a fix. If your cat needs daily pumpkin to poop normally, there’s a deeper issue worth investigating.

When to call a vet: chronic constipation needing daily intervention deserves a vet workup. Megacolon and other conditions get worse if they’re managed at home indefinitely.