Seaweed and cats may sound like an odd combination, but there are actually lots of hidden benefits that come with giving your cat some seaweed but read this article first to find out more and to ensure that you do it safely.
You might be shocked to find that seaweed is a nutritious supplement to your cat’s diet.
While cats may comfortably consume several forms of human food, they normally do not receive any nutritional advantages from it.
Seaweed, on the other hand, is one of the few human foods that may really help your cat thrive.
Precautions To Take
When giving it to your cat, like with any other food, moderation is key. Many cats enjoy the flavor of seaweed, but make sure you don’t offer them old seaweed that is out of date.
You must also make sure that the seaweed that you are giving to your cat is high-quality and human-grade.
This type of seaweed can easily be found in food stores and if you go to one that specializes in healthy foods, then you will find lots of variations that are suitable for your cat.
Always double-check all the ingredients in what you are about to feed to your cat and if you see any additional preservatives or spices, you should not give it to them as it can be harmful to them especially if you feed it to them regularly.
One of the best ways to introduce seaweed into your cat’s diet is by doing it in small amounts.
You can do this by cutting it up into small pieces and mixing it in with their usual cat food.
If your cat happily eats it and is not showing any adverse reactions, then you know that you can continue with it.
You should never replace their meal with seaweed, it should be treated as a supplement because it cannot provide everything that your cat needs to be healthy, and having too much of it will make them ill.
Benefits Of Eating Seaweed For Cats
It is recommended by some vets to feed seaweed to your cat as it is one of those superfoods that contain components like chelated minerals that may help relax your cat’s stomach and even function as an antacid to alleviate any pain in their gut.
Even if your cat is otherwise healthy, the minerals present in seaweed can offer them a lot of health benefits.
Omega-3 and omega-6 fatty acids are among the minerals present in seaweed. Seaweed also has therapeutic properties such as anti-inflammatory action.
Animal caregivers have been using seaweed, particularly kelp, for a long time.
Early owners found that their agricultural animals had nicer coats, higher infection tolerance, and a more robust reproductive system.
Best Types Of Seaweed For Your Cat
Dulse
Dulse is a type of green algae that is said to taste like bacon and is very easy for your cat to digest.
It contains lots of nutrients including cesium which can help combat cancer.
It also contains magnesium, calcium, and iron which are all essential for protecting tissues and joints, keeping your cat pleasant and strong even as they age.
Acadian Sea Kelp
Also known as brown algae, this kelp is a type of species of seaweed that is found in cold water.
There are lots of nutrients and vitamins that can be found in Acadian sea kelp such as calcium, protein, and iron which all have great benefits for the health of your cat.
There are actually a lot of cat supplements that have Acadian sea kelp as one of the ingredients because they can also help strengthen your cat’s immune system.
Irish Moss
Despite its name, Irish Moss isn’t a moss but a type of algae that can come in many colors such as brown, red, and green.
Irish Moss is great for regulating blood sugar levels and reducing cancer risks as well as supporting the bladder, kidney, and lungs of your cat.
Nori
Nori is a kind of seaweed that is commonly roasted or dried.
They are high in carbs, minerals, proteins, vitamins, amino acids, and taurine, which is beneficial to your cat’s heart.
While it is totally okay and even recommended for your cat to consume nori, you should not feed your cat sushi.
It is suggested that you avoid feeding your cat certain types of raw foods, and raw fish is no exception.
Wakame
The nutritional component of wakame provides the advantages. It’s high in vitamins and minerals including folate, B2, and manganese.
It has been used for generations for its medicinal and restorative benefits, including the ability to promote cardiovascular health, increase energy levels, and provide the body with omega-3 fatty acids.
Wakame contains something called fucoxanthin which is great for helping your pet to burn fatty tissue.
It is also said that this seaweed can fight cancer and can even prevent diabetes due to its ability to regulate your cat’s metabolism.
Sea Lettuce
Sea lettuce is high in nutrients and vitamins that your body needs.
Sea lettuce is high in potassium, iron, magnesium, calcium, and iodine, in addition to being a good source of vegetable protein.
These vitamins and minerals help your cat’s digestive system and is said to taste like oyster which is an added tasty bonus!
Kombu
Kombu is horseshoe kelp that contains amino acids that can help your cat digest certain starchy foods.
Feeding this seaweed to your cat also has the ability to help fight cancer because inflammation and chronic stress are risk factors for cancer development, and because kombu and other sea vegetables have anti-inflammatory properties, scientists are looking at sea vegetables as cancer-fighting nutrients.
Summary
Seaweed is almost like a superfood for your cat as it has so many benefits that help their digestion, fights cancer, gives them a shiny coat, and act as an anti-inflammatory which is just to name a few.
You also don’t have to go to your nearest beach and trawl the rocks for it either as many health food stores will have seaweed that is not made with any added preservatives and spices which are the best ones to give to your cat.
It is also a good idea to refer to the list above of the best types of seaweeds to give to them for best results and to avoid any potential illnesses.
I’m Courtney Trent and I hope that I can answer some burning questions that you have about cats, as well as some questions that you’d never have thought to ask before.
I am aiming to shed new light on these amazing pets and hopefully change some people’s opinions on them. Also, let’s talk about wild cats - they’re just as awesome as domestic cats!
So, stay a while and learn more about domestic and wild cats from Windhaven Ocicats.
