Original foodie ideas for your four-legged friends this Christmas.

 Treat cats this Christmas with lean slithers of meat – chicken is fine, and they’ll devour any leftover turkey.

Mix it up with vegetables such as carrots, swedes, parsnips and sprouts – all very seasonal! – but ensure you do so in moderation.

Also ensure you don’t give your cats any of the following:

• Any seasoned meats, or meats cooked in or including gravy, goose fat or stuffing
• Onions, as they are highly toxic
• Cranberry sauce, as it is too sugary
• Chestnuts and bacon, as these contain too much fat
• Chocolate, as it’s toxic to both cats and dogs
• Potato, in any form, as it contains solanine, which is poisonous

For dogs, they can have boneless and skinless white meat, boiled or plain mashed potatoes (remembering not to add any butter or salt), and small amounts of veg, such as sprouts, green beans, carrots, courgettes, parsnips, cauliflower, peas and spinach.

Scrambled eggs works well as it contains vitamins, minerals and protein, and little bits of fruit will go down well, although watch the natural sugar content.

You should also ensure you avoid the following:

• Any meat with bones
• Gravy, as it’s too fatty and salty
• Herbs and spices, including stuffing
• Bulb veg, such as onions, shallots, chives, leek and garlic
• Chocolate as, again, this is toxic
• Mince pies, fruit cakes, raisins, grapes, sultanas, currants and Christmas pudding
• Pigs in blankets, as they are too high in salt and fat