Can Cats Eat Seaweed? It Can Be Healthy for Them – In the Right Amounts

Regardless of the old saying, your cat only has one life to live – and you want that life to be happy and healthy. Because of that, you’re likely conscious about what you feed them. Commercial pet food? Raw diet? A combination of the two? There’s a lot to consider to get your feline friends eating the right blend of protein, fat, and essential nutrients.

If you found this blog, you’re probably also wondering “can cats eat seaweed?” which unravels the ball of thread even further. Though we always recommend that you check with your veterinarian or pet nutritionist before feeding your cat anything, here’s some basic information to help cat owners learn more about feeding cats all-natural seaweed.

Benefits of Using Seaweed in Cat Food

Any ingredient included in your cat’s diet should do the most good with the least harm. As a rule of thumb, this is ideal for their wellbeing – and your pocket book. As a nutrient-dense superfood, seaweed delivers a variety of nutrients and bioactive compounds that enrich the lives of your cats in ways both big and small:

• Good gut health – Seaweed is a great way to promote healthy gut activity in most mammals. The prebiotics found in seaweed provide the live bacterial cultures found in feline GI tracts with the nourishment they need to control bad bacteria. As a result, felines that are fed prebiotics receive help with their digestion, nutrient absorption and immune system.
• Improved coat sheen – When cats have the right sheen and appearance to their fur, our pets are just more pet-able. Cats that have a nice sheen to their coat are getting a steady supply of fat in their diet. Yet there’s a balance. It’s all too easy for our feline friends to become overweight from an overly fatty diet. Using the omega-3 fatty acids in seaweed can help cats keep silky, smooth coats – without their risk of packing on extra pounds.
• Reduce free radical damage – Like humans, cats struggle with the damage of free radicals and oxidative stress. It’s just part of living. Though you can’t avoid the impact of free radicals, you can prevent them from doing too much damage. When cats consume antioxidants, their cells are much better at repairing themselves and fighting off the worst effects. This makes cats more resilient against disease and defers the negative impacts of aging.

A Little Seaweed Goes a Long Way

One key consideration when feeding cats seaweed is that their bodies don’t require a lot of this aquatic ingredient to receive the full benefits. What’s even more important to keep in mind is that cats can be sensitive to high levels of iodine, which is abundant in seaweed. And unlike dogs, cats are quick to develop hyperthyroidism, where their thyroids generate an excess of hormones that can cause a number of health issues.

Though that doesn’t mean you should avoid seaweed, it does mean you should be frugal with the amount that you use. Often, you’ll get better results with seaweed infused treats or dental supplements for cats rather than food infused with seaweed. As long as you’re following cat nutrition guidelines, a little bit of seaweed can help you cats make the most of the life they have.

Asking “Can cats eat seaweed?” is only the first step. Reach out to our team and we can tell you what you need to know about using all-natural seaweed as a feline feed supplement.

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