This food is not the ideal diet for your pet and there is no real reason for them to eat it. The biologically appropriate diet food for felines is meat. Tofu is a cheese-like food made from soybean. It is rich in protein and better than cheese for cats because it doesn’t contain lactose. However, it doesn’t contain enough nutrients that felines need to remain healthy.
Felines need animal-based protein because unlike proteins from vegetables, animal-based protein contains sufficient amino acids that felines need. Although tofu contains protein and fat that are the vital nutrients that cats need in their diet, your cat shouldn’t eat a lot because it doesn’t contain taurine that your pet needs.
How healthy are tofu and other soybean products for felines? Let’s find out.
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Table of Contents
Is Tofu Healthy For Cats?
Tofu is rich in fat and protein. However, cats need more protein and fat in their diet. So, why can’t we just conclude that cats can eat tofu as much as they want?
The general belief is that tofu is healthier than cheese for cats because of the absence of lactose in the soy-based food. Yes, it’s true. However, the food also contains two types of sugars that are not easily digested by felines: raffinose and stachyose.
Moreover, Tofu is commonly seasoned with salt, garlic, and onion. These seasonings are toxic for cats and your pet shouldn’t have them. If your cat eats tofu seasoned with any of these ingredients, she might exhibit symptoms such as vomiting, lethargy, diarrhea, loss of appetite, etc. Cat’s don’t need tofu, but if at all your cat eats it, ensure that the food is not seasoned with salt, garlic, or onion.
You may notice that your pet is intolerant to this soy-based food. So, you must be careful and watch out for symptoms such as bloating, stomach pain, vomiting, or diarrhea. It’s better to introduce tofu slowly into your cat’s diet so she can gradually get used to it.
Tofu is not the ideal diet for your pet and there is no real reason for them to eat it. The biologically appropriate diet food for felines is meat. It is rich in protein and better than cheese for cats because it doesn’t contain lactose. However, it doesn’t contain enough nutrients that felines need to remain healthy.
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What Is Tofu?
Tofu is made out of soybean pressed into white small blocks, finally looking like small squared cheese blocks. It’s originated in China, it’s popular in Asia but now it became popular in other parts of the world as well, also in the U.S and Europe, as many people looking for more healthy food with a no-meat option.
How Can I serve Tofu To My Cat?
If at all you will serve tofu to your cat, give it to her only twice a week as a treat. Your cat might be intolerant to this food, so you need to test whether your pet can eat tofu. Start by giving your pet smaller portions of tofu once a week. You can give her 1-2 small blocks to taste. If your pet shows no signs of stomach upset, vomiting, diarrhea, bloating, or any other GI problem, you can increase the amount to twice a week.
However, ensure that the tofu isn’t seasoned with garlic, salt, or onion. Most commercially available tofu are seasoned with these ingredients. So unless you are sure of the source, it’s better to serve your pet homemade tofu. That way, you can ensure that your pet doesn’t contain any of these ingredients that are toxic to felines. This soy-based food should be served as a snack or a side dish but never as the main dish. So, always serve tofu alongside kibble or dry food for your pet.
Further Reading: “Can Cats Eat Chicken Nuggets?“
Can Cats Drink Soy-Based Drinks?
No. Your pet shouldn’t take soy-based products. While soy drinks have no lactose, they have raffinose and stachyose which felines can’t digest. And when your pet ingests these sugars, they might have GI problems. Some symptoms of soy-milk intolerance are bloating, stomach upset, and even vomiting. So, you shouldn’t give your pet soy-based drinks.
The general notion is that cats love milk and need it. So, most cat parents always try to introduce soy-milk to their pet’s diet. Is this right? Of course not. Cats need a meat-based diet. Hence, the commercial kibble and dry food you feed your pet must be meat-based. It all boils down to this: Both cow milk and soy milk are nutritionally inappropriate food for cats and your cat shouldn’t drink any of them.
Your pet shouldn’t take soy-based products. While soy drinks have no lactose, they have raffinose and stachyose which felines can’t digest. And when your pet ingests these sugars, they might have GI problems. Some symptoms of soy-milk intolerance are bloating, stomach upset and even vomiting.
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Is Raw Tofu Safe To Eat?
Tofu is processed from raw soy. The dry soybean is usually soaked, after, it is crushed or ground. Later, it boiled, then gypsum is added to the liquid to solidify it. The mixture is sieved after. It is the solidified extract that becomes tofu. So, tofu isn’t raw food. But if you mean is it safe to eat commercially produced tofu without cooking, the answer is yes.
Always buy your tofu from trusted sources or brands only. Proper hygiene needs to be maintained while processing soy to the finished product. If tofu is not properly prepared under good hygiene, you may experience GI problems, diarrhea, or vomiting after ingesting it. Moreover, the food may be contaminated with bacteria that can make you and your pet sick. Most people feel it’s safer to boil, braise or bake tofu and cheese before eating. You can use any of these cooking methods to kill bacteria that may be present in the food.
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Final Thoughts
Cats should not eat tofu. Tofu is vegetable protein and is not the ideal diet for felines. However, if your cat already tasted Tofu and she likes it, it’s ok to give it 1-2 times a week as a treat. Nevertheless, if you feed your pet tofu, minimize the quantity you give to your pet. Never serve food seasoned with salt, garlic, or onion to cats. Besides, your pet may be intolerant to soy-based products.
Hence, introduce the food gradually into your pet’s diet and monitor your pet for symptoms of raffinose or stachyose intolerance. If your pet shows any symptoms of food illnesses, take her to see a vet. Stay away from grain-based kibble and provide animal-based food for your cat. Your cat’s nutrition is essential in maintaining a healthy lifestyle. Therefore, always ensure you give your pet the appropriate diet that will help her live a long and healthy life, and instead of feeding your pet plant-based foods, introduce more meat into their diet.
