Couscous, a type of pasta that comes in the shape of tiny balls, is used in a wide variety of dishes. Given its diminutive size, it’s tempting to consider giving it to your cat as a treat. But should they?
While most of us humans couldn’t survive on nothing but meat, cats actually thrive on a meat-only diet. This is due to the fact that they are obligate carnivores.
Some people eat meat because they enjoy the taste, and others eat it because they believe it is what humans are “supposed to eat.” However, a closer examination of the digestive system reveals that it is primarily equipped to process plant foods, such as fruits and vegetables.
A cat, on the other hand, has a different digestive system and does not have yards of intestines; instead, their bodies are designed to quickly digest meat and expel it after they have extracted all of the nutrients they need from it.
Their bodies are designed to make more efficient use of the protein found in meat.
Can I Give My Cat Couscous? Answer: Not Recommended
Cats aren’t in any way evolved to consume grains like couscous.
The unfortunate reality is that grains are used as filler in many commercial cat foods, so unless you are feeding your cat a premium diet, it may already be accustomed to eating grains.
In this sense, couscous may be able to tide your cat over until their next regular meal if you run out of cat food.
However, if you have cats, you probably shouldn’t feed them couscous.
Not Really Special
Despite its exotic name and appearance as though it were made from special ingredients, couscous is really just pasta and is neither good nor bad for your cat.
It’s not the healthiest option, but it’s small enough that you can experiment with feeding it to your cat without worrying about any negative effects. Putting a mountain of couscous in their serving dish is inappropriate.
Keep Kitty Healthy
If you want your furry friend to stay healthy, you need to provide them with what they require, which is animal protein.
Their digestive system reflects their diet as carnivores. They aren’t designed to handle complex foods like couscous, and it’s not likely they’d come across any couscous out in the wild.
It’s something a wild cat wouldn’t eat because it’s been heavily processed and cooked by man.
Neither the grains nor the plants used to make them would be consumed by these people. Lions don’t graze on the grass like the animals they chase, they just run through it.
Little Has Changed
Some cat owners argue that their pets have been domesticated for so long that they have developed a taste for human food.
However, digestively speaking, they are still very similar to their big cat relatives who thrive in the wild on a diet of meat alone.
Cats have been wild for a much longer time period than they have been domesticated, and as a result, they have retained many of their wild characteristics. Domesticated cats and kittens often stalk and pounce on their cat toys.
If they were used to domestic life, they wouldn’t have to hunt for food anymore because it would be provided for them on a daily basis.
Choosing Good Foods
If you are feeding your cat a high-quality, meat-based cat food, such as Friskies or Wellness, there is no need to feed them any additional grains such as couscous. This will only cause confusion within their system and disrupt their operations.
As much as we might tire of feeding our pets the same thing every day, they actually do better when they have some idea of what they can expect from their next meal.