You know that you can occasionally treat your cat to some human food, and it wouldn’t harm them. But have you ever wondered if cats can be fed some seaweed? You may be surprised to learn that while seaweed has health nutrients for humans, it can also be a great supplement to your cat’s diet.
The range of health benefits and nutrients that it can provide can attest to that. Unlike most human food that can be fed to cats but not provide them with much nutrition, seaweed is actually quite beneficial to them.
Can my cat drink almond milk?
Can Cats Eat Seaweed?
Cats can safely eat a lot of human foods. But the catch is that they don’t get any nutritional benefits from most of them. However, seaweed is one of the few human foods that cats can eat, which they can get a bunch of nutritional benefits from.
So yes, cats can eat seaweed. Feeding seaweed to your cat is actually advisable. There are a lot of nutrients in seaweed that help soothe your cat’s tummy and can even act as antacid to prevent any discomfort for your cat. Even if your cat is otherwise healthy, these nutrients will still provide your cat with a soothed stomach.
Eating seaweed also helps prevent worms and deworms your cat. Apart from these internal health benefits, seaweed has also been observed to keep cats’ coats healthy and looking good. Some allergies can also be addressed with the help of seaweed.
On a larger scale, consuming seaweed can help keep your cat safe from cancer. The nutrients in seaweed can balance your cat’s bodily pH, attack free radicals before they can harm your cat and prevent cancer cells from metastasizing.
They can also keep your cat’s blood glucose levels low and keep cancer cells from multiplying. All types of seaweed: red, brown, and green alike, each help prevent cancer in cats in their own ways.
Type of Seaweed Good For Your Cat
1. Acadian Sea Kelp
Kelp, also known as brown algae, is a kind of seaweed that grows in cold water. It contains a lot of nutrients like protein, iron, calcium, magnesium, and more. The richness of kelp in these nutrients are actually relevant enough that kelp is often used as an ingredient in cat supplements.
These beneficial elements help boost your pet’s immunity, and they’re all found in kelp. While safe, there is still an ideal dosage for kelp, and you must consult your vet to inquire of this proper amount before offering kelp to your cat.
2. Dulse
Dulse is a green algae that can easily be digested by your cat. It’s rich in minerals, including cesium which helps prevent cancer and can actually help your cat’s digestive health. Apart from that, dulse also has iron, Vitamin B12, and beta-carotene. You can add this to your cat’s daily diet by drying it out, turning it into a fine powder, and adding it to your cat’s food.
3. Irish Moss
This alga is available in a variety of colors: green, red, purple, and brown. It’s most associated with organ support, particularly a cat’s lungs, bladder, and kidney. It also has calcium chloride in it, which is good for the heart.
4. Nori
Nori is dried or roasted seaweed that is rich in vitamins, minerals, carbohydrates, and other nutrients. It also has amino acids in it like Taurine, which is particularly helpful for cats since it is an amino acid that their bodies cannot synthesize.
Taurine is especially helpful for a cat’s heart and retinal health. You can add this to your cat’s diet by sprinkling some nori powder on your cat’s food.
5. Kombu
This is also known as horsetail kelp and is rich in high protein, iodine, and glutamic acid. This type of seaweed has higher mineral salt content than other sea vegetables and can be fed to cats roasted, marinated, or sautéed. It primarily benefits stomach, liver, and kidney functions.
6. Wakame
It contains fucoxanthin, which is known to help burn fatty tissues in cats. Apart from being anti-cancer, Wakame also helps prevent diabetes in cats through metabolism regulation. It is rich in Omega-3 fatty acids, vitamins, minerals, and nutrients.
It is known to be used in Asian traditional medicines that purify the blood, support reproductive organs, and the gastrointestinal system.
7. Sea Lettuce
While this seaweed has less mineral content than its counterparts, it is instead rich in iron. Like Dulse, it has cesium that helps remove carcinogens from your cat’s digestive tract. It tastes like an oyster so it shouldn’t be hard to make this appeal to your cat, and their bodies can easily digest it as well.
8. Blue Green Algae
This is best fed to your cat to increase and improve brain activity. It has glycogen, beta carotene and trace minerals apart from the usual vitamins and nutrients.
Health Benefits of Feeding Your Cat Seaweed
While seaweed has some properties that can aid in managing your cat’s blood glucose levels, you shouldn’t solely rely on it to prevent or treat your cat’s diabetes. If your cat is showing any signs of insulin related health problems, it’s still best to consult a vet for proper diagnosis and medication.
While seaweed has a lot of medical benefits, it should still be taken in moderation. It shouldn’t take the place of your cat’s main diet and should only be given as a supplement to their already existing diet of wet or dry food.
If you do decide to give your cat small amounts of seaweed, make sure to give them fresh, human grade seaweed. Seaweed is good as an occasional treat, but don’t allow them to consume it in huge amounts at a time.
So Can Cats Safely Eat Seaweed?
So long as you keep it in moderation, seaweed can be an awesome new addition to your cat’s diet. Seaweed has numerous health benefits that come with it but just make sure to consult your vet on the advisable amount that is safe for your cat to eat.
