People who don’t eat meat often rave about tofu. However, what about cats, which are strict carnivores? Do they like tofu, and can they eat it? Although tofu is safe for cats to consume, it offers no nutritional value and should be avoided.
Animal products provide the high levels of protein that are essential for a cat’s health and well-being.
In addition, the digestive process of cats may make them sick with diarrhea if they eat tofu. Examining cats and tofu together may reveal some unexpected similarities.
Can Cats Eat Tofu?
Cats can, in moderation, consume mildly flavored tofu. Tofu, a popular meat substitute, is made by rehydrating dried soybeans by soaking them in water, crushing them, and then boiling them. The mixture is then pressed into white, solid blocks of varying hardness.
Tofu, when prepared without seasoning, can be given on occasion to cats, but soy milk is not recommended due to the hormones and chemicals it may contain.
Some common seasonings for tofu include salt, garlic, onion, and sugar. Your cat’s health could be compromised by even a small amount of these toxic ingredients.
Nutritional Highlights of Tofu
Tofu is an excellent source of protein and other vital nutrients. You’ll find nine essential amino acids, plus iron, calcium, phosphorus, magnesium, copper, vitamin B1, and zinc.
Due to the higher fat content compared to the protein content, tofu is not a good choice for feline diets.
Tofu is generally better for you than cheese because it contains no lactose. Unfortunately, cats have trouble digesting its two sugars—raffinose and stachyose.
In addition, common seasonings for tofu, such as salt, garlic, and onions, are known toxin triggers for felines. Diarrhea, vomiting, abdominal pain, lethargy, and loss of appetite are just some of the symptoms your cat may experience.
Serving Tofu To Your Cat
You shouldn’t feed your cat more than twice a week, even if they like it. Keep in mind that it should be a treat.
When introducing something new, it’s best to see how they react by giving them only a taste. Some felines have a problem digesting tofu. First, offer a few taster blocks for people to try.
You can safely increase the frequency to twice a week if your cat shows no gastrointestinal symptoms such as diarrhea, vomiting, bloating, or other abdominal pain.
Since most store-bought tofus are seasoned and laced with additives that may be harmful to a cat’s digestive system, it is best to prepare tofu at home.
However, if you have faith in your source, you can proceed with sharing. Because it is a treat, you can give it to your pet in addition to his regular kibble or dry food.
Do I Have to Cook Tofu Before Feeding it To My Cat?
Tofu is made by first soaking and then grinding dried soybeans. After the soybeans have been boiled, gypsum is added to the liquid in order to make a solid paste.
The extract then solidifies after being sieved, and the result is tofu. Because of this, commercially produced tofu does not need to be cooked before being fed to cats.
You should check that the company providing your tofu has impeccable hygiene and strictly adheres to all applicable food safety regulations.
The tofu could have been tainted with bacteria if you and your pet start experiencing gastrointestinal issues like diarrhea. Don’t eat it or give it to your cat unless you’ve boiled it first if you have any doubts about the source.
How To Feed Tofu To Your Cat?
If you’re curious as to whether or not your cat can eat tofu, it’s best to ask your vet. Once he gives his approval, be sure to serve the appropriate amount and eat at the suggested intervals.
Tofu prepared by baking, steaming, boiling, or pan frying with water is safe for cats. Start with a small amount of tofu and watch her for any adverse reactions over the course of the next day.
You can sprinkle some on her food or use it as a treat on occasion if she doesn’t show any signs of intolerance or allergy to tofu.
When Is Tofu Okay For Cats To Eat?
It’s safe to feed tofu to cats. You shouldn’t freak out too much if you find out your cat nibbled on a tiny bit.
If your cat develops a taste for tofu, you should be careful to avoid preparing it with any spices or ingredients (such as garlic) that are harmful to felines.
In addition, cats should only be given small amounts of human food as treats. If your cat starts to prefer alternative foods like tofu, they may stop eating the food you bought them.
When Is Tofu Bad For Cats?
Because of their nature as obligate carnivores, cats can only survive on a diet that consists primarily of meat.
Although tofu is commonly used in human cuisine as a meat substitute, it will not provide your cat with the necessary nutrients because it is an incomplete protein.
Second, because of how cats’ bodies process tofu, eating too much of it can have negative effects on their health. These adverse reactions include, among others:
- Diarrhea
- Vomiting
- Abdominal distress
A small amount of tofu as a treat on occasion is probably fine, but you shouldn’t make it your cat’s primary source of protein.
Cats and Soy
Cats are notoriously prone to allergies. Food allergies account for about 10% of cases in felines, and soy-based tofu is certainly not an exception.
You should introduce tofu to your cat gradually while keeping an eye on their reaction, as it may trigger an allergic reaction. Chicken, corn, fish, and wheat are some other common allergens.
Cats with allergies often show symptoms like vomiting, diarrhea, loss of appetite, red, swollen ears, thinning hair, and itching in the back, neck, and head.
One study found that out of every 300 cats, 1 developed hypothyroidism due to soy consumption.
Can Cats Drink Soy-Based Drinks?
You may be tempted to give the cat soy milk in addition to tofu because both contain relatively little soy. However, you shouldn’t give your cat any soy-based beverages.
These beverages are lactose-free, but cats cannot tolerate the raffinose and stachyose found in them. In addition, your cat may experience gastrointestinal distress from these sugars in the form of gas, nausea, and vomiting.
Even though your cat clearly has a milk addiction, you shouldn’t feed it soy milk. It is not healthy for cats to consume either cow’s milk or soy milk.
What Do Cats Require in their Diet?
Protein is essential for cats because it is used to create energy and build muscle and bone. Enzyme activity necessitates the presence of certain micronutrients. All of their dietary needs can be met by a combination of canned and dry goods.
Vitamins and minerals found in tofu are useless for cats and should not be fed to them. Keep in mind that meat is the main source of nutrition for cats.
Cats shouldn’t eat too much tofu because they don’t have the enzymes necessary to break down the tofu sugars. The result of these sugars passing through the digestive system is probably going to be diarrhea.
Cats and Tofurky
Organic tofu and wheat protein are the main ingredients in Tofurky. Cats shouldn’t be given this food because it contains herbs and spices that are toxic to them, but it’s okay if your pet sneaks a bite. A single scuffle is not as lethal. However, conceal the remaining items from them.
Be Careful of Added Ingredients
Cats become anemic after consuming garlic, onions, scallions, or shallots. The symptoms of anemia in cats are weakness, fatigue, and listlessness.
Your cat will develop pale gums, weakness, and dark orange urine if exposed to many of these foods. If you notice any of these signs, it’s important to take your cat to the vet for diagnosis and treatment.
Conclusion
Tofu is a source of vegetable protein, which is not ideal for cats, so it should only be fed to them on rare occasions. If your cat has already tried tofu and shown an interest in it, you can gradually increase the frequency to twice weekly.
Make sure your pet doesn’t develop any potentially fatal symptoms of soybean intolerance by keeping an eye on it. Just because your pet enjoys tofu as a side dish doesn’t mean you should make it the main course.