Cats like to snatch whatever we eat and sometimes they eat things that they shouldn’t. But is cauliflower one of them? Can cats eat cauliflower?
We all know that cats are obligate carnivores and their main source of nutrition is animal protein but this doesn’t mean that they get no benefits from occasional vegetable or fruit treats. So can cats eat cauliflower? Does it have any benefits to cats? The answer is “YES”, cats can eat cauliflower and it actually has some benefits to cats. But just like all other human foods, too much cauliflower can have some unwanted effects on out little friends.
Is Cauliflower Harmful to Cats?
Cauliflower is not toxic to cats and cats can eat cauliflower safely as long as they don’t have any allergies to cauliflower. But toxicity is not what you should be concerned about. The issue with the cauliflower is if your cat eats too much of it, it may cause some serious diarrhea.
Cauliflower has a strong effect on cats’ digestion system and although this might be an advantage when your cat has constipation issues, too much of it may cause a stormy bowel movement.
What Are the Benefits of Cauliflower to Cats?
Cauliflower may not be as beneficial as some other fruits or vegetables but it definitely has its benefits as long as it is given in moderation and prepared the right way.
Cauliflower has many antioxidants in it as well as substances called “glucosinolates” that have cancer fighting properties. Also if your cat is having trouble in the bathroom, the rich fiber content of cauliflower may help.
How to Prepare Cauliflower for Cat Consumption
Boiling or steaming cauliflower after clearing the stems and the leaves is all you have to do. Actually stems and leaves do not have any toxic properties for cats either. The reason we are removing those is that they are harder to diges.
All vegetables lose some nutrition during the cooking process and this is natural considering that we are changing the structure of the vegetable by applying heat but steaming is a better way of preparation because the amount of nutrition that is lost is less.
Cooking the cauliflower is important because the raw cauliflower is harder to digest and as we all know, cats have delicate digestive systems.
A quick reminder: no matter what food you are preparing for your cat, do not include any salt or seasonings. These substances can be highly toxic for your cat such as chocolate and can cause serious heath issues.
Always consult to your veterinarian before introducing a new food to your cat’s diet and call your veterinarian immediately in case your cat starts acting strange after eating a food for the first few times.
How Much Cauliflower Can a Cat Eat?
The amount of cauliflower a cat can eat depends on many factors, the most important being the weight of the cat. The general rule while giving a cat something other than a commercial cat food is giving it not more than 10% of the daily calorie needs of the kitty.
Except for a few exceptions cats are not naturally drawn to cauliflower so limiting the amount of cauliflower your cat eats should not be an issue.
Conclusion On Can Cats Eat Cauliflower
Cauliflower has many benefits to cats with its anti-inflammatory and anti-cancer properties. It also has high fiber content which can help with constipation.
The cauliflower given to cats can be steamed or boiled however salt or seasonings should not be used because these substances can be toxic to cats.
Too much cauliflower can cause diarrhea which can lead into more serious health issues if not treated.
Although cauliflower is not harmful to cats, if you notice your cat acting strange, consult your veterinarian as it might be the signs of an underlying health issue.
