Natural health care and alternative treatments are commonplace now. Ten years ago or so, the wellness movement might have been seen as somewhat pretentious or hipster.
Fruit, botanical, and superfood-infused herbal teas can be found in the break room of any modern workplace.
In some grocery stores, you can find an entire section devoted to tea. Indeed, we have advanced considerably. And green tea is one of the most well-liked substitutes.
It would be great if your cat could enjoy this nutritious and comforting snack as much as you do. Find out if cats can actually drink green tea before you start making a pot for them.
Is Green Tea Healthy for Cats?
I’ll admit that the idea of serving tea to a cat doesn’t immediately come to mind. Because of how toxic caffeine is to cats and other pets, I’ve always been careful that my cats don’t drink all of my tea when I’m not looking.
However, I recently learned from a friend that she occasionally gives her cat a small amount of caffeine-free green tea to increase the amount of natural antioxidants in their system.
Though it caught me off guard, I was familiar with the tale of cats and green tea.
As a result, I dived headfirst into a study of the subject. I should have known better (but I didn’t because she’s brilliant), but green tea has many health benefits for cats too.
This is due to polyphenols, natural antioxidant chemicals found in green tea.
These chemicals have several useful properties, including their ability to reduce inflammation and prevent cancer.
It may also be useful for senior cats because of its effect on cognitive health.
Why should cats drink green tea?
Green tea has wonderful benefits for both humans and felines. Green tea’s high antioxidant content aids in the elimination of waste and toxins.
In addition to preventing tumor growth, green tea’s active ingredients can also kill cancer cells.
This is merely the first step. The health benefits of green tea don’t end there. It can help lessen the likelihood that your cat will develop heart problems.
Their blood pressure can be maintained at healthy levels with the help of green tea. It’s even useful for keeping feline diabetics at bay. Cats, in case you were wondering, can develop diabetes just like people.
Below, we’ll enumerate a few more advantages:
- can aid in the elimination of lung toxins
- aids in maintaining a healthy metabolic rate
- Its fluoride content in nature makes it useful for preventing tooth decay and gum disease.
Cats as they age, however, may reap the greatest rewards. In addition, research shows that cats’ cognitive abilities can benefit greatly from green tea.
You should probably introduce your feline to the herbal green stuff if it isn’t already a fan. And why not make yourself a drink while you’re at it? Don’t forget that we can reap many of these benefits, too!
Hopefully, the cat will enjoy the flavor. It’s not for everyone, even cats. Even if they turn up their nose at the mere mention of the word, supplements can be used to increase cognitive function.
Animigo’s Brain Health is great for older pets because it helps keep their minds and bodies healthy.
How much green tea is good for your cat?
First, give a small bowl a try. While some felines may only take a sip or two, others may gulp it all down. Don’t serve them hot tea straight from the kettle, though.
They’ll set themselves on fire, and then they’ll never love you the same way again. In the future. Try boiling it and then letting it cool down. After that, have at it.
Which green teas are the best?
Green tea, like, oh, let’s say, “normal” tea, contains caffeine. Also, cats shouldn’t consume any caffeine at all. If you don’t want to stress out about how much caffeine your cat is consuming, you should seek out decaf options.
Organic brands are the best bet because you know they won’t contain any pesticides or other chemicals that could harm your cat.
You now have the knowledge necessary to give your cat tea, reap the potential health benefits, and properly prepare the tea. Enjoy!
Why Cats Should Not Consume Caffeine
Although we humans enjoy its stimulating effects, small animals like cats should avoid caffeine because of its extreme potency.
Hyperactivity, nausea, and vomiting are just some of the side effects of caffeine.
Caffeine can also increase heart rate and blood pressure in cats. As cat owners, we need to exercise extreme caution around this substance because it is highly toxic to cats.
How much caffeine is harmful or will cause symptoms in cats is unknown. You shouldn’t have any trouble gulping down a cup or two of tea.
However, it is best to err on the side of caution whenever possible when dealing with toxic substances. Since we’re on the subject, this also explains why cats shouldn’t eat chocolate or coffee.
How Much Caffeine Is in Green Tea?
Green tea has significantly less caffeine than other types of tea, including black tea, which is a major plus. If your cat has accidentally been drinking tiny amounts of green tea, you probably don’t need to worry.
You should only give your cat decaffeinated green tea because regular green tea still contains caffeine.
The problem is that the amount of caffeine in a cup of tea can vary widely between different brands and types of tea, sometimes by as much as 75 mg.
In addition, even caffeine-free tea may contain traces of the stimulant. Caffeine is extracted from the leaves through a specific process.
But under federal law, decaffeinated tea can be sold if it contains less than 2.5% of the caffeine found in regular tea.
It’s preferable to err on the side of caution, as I mentioned. I recommend switching to decaffeinated green tea and still giving your cat only very infrequent doses.
Should You Really Give Your Cat Green Tea?
Both sides of this debate have valid points. After learning about the health benefits, some cat owners choose to be proactive by giving their cats green tea.
Some people are content with the essentials, such as clean water and high-quality cat food.
Regardless of the circumstances, it is always enjoyable and a great way to bond with our feline friends to feed them treats and share bits of our foods.
I admit that on occasion I have spoiled mine with Spam, a small amount of sausage, and other scraps. Like many cat owners, I have a hard time refusing to feed my cat as long as I am confident that the food is safe.
I can’t remember the last time I drank green tea. After reading about the health benefits of this beverage while conducting research for this article, I’m considering resuming my nightly ritual of drinking a cup before bed.
Now you know the truth about the safety of green tea for cats. I’ll let you make up your own mind about whether or not your cat will join you for tea.
In Summary
The good news is that green tea (despite the caffeine) is not toxic or harmful. The good news is that green tea has some positive effects on feline health and wellness.
I’ll be the first to admit that giving a cat tea is a bit of a left-field practice. But my three cats will help themselves to any kind of tea in a heartbeat.