How can you resist your beautiful furry pet looking at your food? But did you asked yourself ” can cats eat tofu”?
What is the easiest way to stop cat meowing and telling you she wants to eat what you are eating?
So many times we thought “it’s just a small treat, what could go wrong.” We are giving cats something that’s healthy for humans without thinking about how different our digestive system is from theirs.
You would probably think that food like tofu is very healthy, so why wouldn’t it be for your pet either?
Can cats eat tofu – we have answered this question in detail with a lot of useful information.
What is tofu and how it’s made?
Soybeans are crushed, soaked in water, and boiled. Then the mixture is separated into soy “milk” and pulp.
Magnesium chlorides, sulfates, and calcium are added to the soy milk to separate the curds from the whey. This is how tofu is made.
Tofu originated in Asia 2,000 years ago, from where it reached other continents.
Tofu cheese became famous in Europe, only in the second half of the last century. It became a popular dietary product in the years when the movement for a healthy lifestyle began.
Tofu nutritional highlights
Tofu contains:
- Nine essential amino acids
- Iron
- Calcium
- Phosphorous
- Magnesium,
- Copper,
- Zinc
- Vitamin B1
Tofu is rich in protein and a great choice for all those who need a quality amount of protein in their diet. An amazing fact – soy contains all amino-acids that the body needs. In only one portion of tofu cheese, you will find only 6 g of fat and 0 g of cholesterol.
We realized so far tofu is good for humans but can cats eat tofu is a tricky question.
Should cats eat tofu?
Technically, tofu is not toxic to cats, but it is also not food that is recommended for them. Tofu cannot give enough protein that cats need in their daily diet.
Is tofu bad for cats?
In addition, tofu has ingredients that are difficult for a cat to digest. A little bite of tofu is fine, but more than that, your pet will most likely have stomach problems. Cats lack the enzyme that digests the sugar in tofu. Tofu can cause diarrhea and vomiting in cats, not to mention the different types of tofu that got various additives and spices.
Salt, garlic, and onion in tofu are harmful to cats.
Cats are carnivores and you should always keep that in mind. Tofu is not meat, but an alternative to meat, therefore no veterinarian will not recommend it for your cat.
Vegan food is not made for your cat, so when you feed your cat vegan food it is the same when you feed a cow with meat.
Cats and cheese
The love of cats for milk and cheese is a kind of myth. How many times have we seen a cat in a book or in a movie drinking milk?
The truth is adult cats are lactose intolerant. Does that mean that a cat cannot eat milk products? Can cats eat cheese? Can cheese kill cats?
Experts will say yes they can, but the amount is important. You can give a cat a very small piece of cheese from time to time. Some cat owners use a piece of cheese to give their pet a medicine, but it is better to use meat instead of cheese. In case the cat has lactose intolerance or allergy, even a small amount of cheese will cause stomach problems.
Also in case the cat has a heart condition or needs to reduce its salt intake, cheese is not a good choice, but it is not going to kill your pet.
Lactose intolerance in cats It might sound strange, but for adult cats milk isn’t a natural food. Milk contains a carbohydrate called lactose, a disaccharide sugar. It consists of galactose and glucose. Thanks to the enzyme lactase kittens have an innate ability to break down lactose into simple sugars.
When the body stops producing lactase signs of lactose intolerance usually occur. When a cat is lactose intolerant undigested lactose draws a lot of water into the intestines and causes nausea, cramps, gas, diarrhea.
If a kitten shows symptoms like vomiting or diarrhea it has nothing to do with lactose intolerance, but with parasites. Worms are usually transferred to kittens via mother’s milk.
Cats and soy
Knowing tofu is made of soy you must be wondering can cats eat soy? Food allergies are very common in cats. About 10 percent of all cat allergies are caused by food. Foods that most often cause allergies in cats are chicken, corn, fish, wheat and soy.
A typical allergic reaction is including these symptoms:
- Itchy rash on the neck, back, or head
- Hair loss
- Inflamed and red ears
- Weight loss
- Diarrhea
- Vomiting
Soy can often be found as a source of plant protein in pet food. However, in addition to protein, many soy-derived products also contain flavonoid compounds (isoflavones). Isoflavones (2) are known to have biological activity with a detrimental effect on animal health.
According to study (3) hyperthyroidism in cats is associated with soy consumption.
Hyperthyroidism is currently the most common endocrine disease, affecting as many as one in 300 cats.
Cats and tofurky
Have you heard of tofurky?
Tofurky (4) is a vegan “turkey” made of organic tofu and wheat protein. Can cats eat tofurky? Since it is seasoned with spices and herbs you should not be giving it to your cat.
If it happens that cats take just a small slice don’t you worry, just take tofurkey away from your cat’s nose and sight.
Food that is toxic or dangerous to cats
Every owner wants to make sure his furry pet got the best food for its nutritional needs. You should always be careful with this list of food we are bringing below knowing exactly what food are poisonous to cats.
Garlic and onions
Onions, scallions, garlic, and shallots can cause anemia in your cat. These foods are poisonous if the cat has eaten them in large quantities. Also, exposure to concentrated forms of garlic, like in soup mix can be toxic. If cat got symptoms like weakness, pale gums, lethargy, and orange or dark urine take it to the vet immediately.
Raw meat, raw eggs, and bones
Eating raw meat or raw egg can lead to E. coli or salmonella poisoning in cats. Some of the symptoms that usually occur include diarrhea, vomiting, and lethargy. You can also get E.coli and salmonella from your pet, so it is dangerous for you too. Raw eggs contain an enzyme that leads to skin problems. Don’t give your cat raw bones as she can injure the digestive tract or even choke.
Caffeinated drinks and chocolate
We know that chocolate is very harmful even fatal to dogs, but is it poisonous for cats too?
Chocolate contains methylxanthines, a substance that causes diarrhea, high body temperature, vomiting and muscle tremors, abdominal discomfort, abnormal heart rhythm, and seizures increased thirst.
Caffeinated beverages also contain methylxanthines, so avoid them giving to your cat too. If your cat experiences any of the symptoms we mentioned above got to check it out with your vet.
Special Note: Darker chocolates are more dangerous than milk and white chocolate.
Yeast can be dangerous to cats
Yeast ferments carbohydrates in bread and produces carbon dioxide and ethanol. Imagine a cat behaving as if it was drunk – yeast can cause poisoning in cats and can be fatal to your pet.
Bread contains yeast, so it is also on the list of foods that a cat should not eat.
Dog food
The dog food is not good for your cat – are you surprised by this fact?
Giving your cat dog’s food occasionally is not going to harm her but giving it more often can cause malnutrition. Cats need taurine and vitamin A and you can’t find those nutrients in dog food.
What can happen if a cat eats dogs food:
- A lack of A vitamin may cause muscular degeneration, dull coat or even night blindness.
- A taurine deficiency may cause heart disease, unhealthy skin, vision degradation or lethargy.
- A lack of arachidonic acid may cause kidney and liver problems
If your cat loves dog food you may notice it started shedding more often. Cats’ fur quality depends on her nutrition and the dog’s food doesn’t have the nutrition cat’s fur needs.
Read Also: Can Cats Eat Plumbs
Bottom Line
A little bit of tofu should not do any harm to your cat, but it’s not advisable.
Tofu contains some ingredients that are hard for most cats to digest. If you found out your kitty likes the taste of tofu, always be sure that it hasn’t been cooked with any garlic or species that are toxic to cats.
Don’t panic if you find out that tofu actually isn’t good for your cat but you have already given it in the past.
There’s really no need for your cat to eat tofu. If you want to share something tasty with them, buy some cat treats and take tofu off your cat’s menu.
Can cats eat tofu, there is no simple answer, but we believe we managed to give you many valuable pieces of information.
