Cats are naturally carnivores and eating something vegetarian is not at all their cup of tea. They would never choose wheat over meat. However, if your question is still the same, if cats can eat wheat, then we would like to say that yes, they can. It depends on how are feeding the wheat to the cats.
Cats can digest cooked food very well. So, when it comes to serving them wheat, it would be better if you cooked the wheat in some form and then fed it to them. Cats can eat whole grains; they are immune to them. They are also a great source of protein and vitamins for the cat.
If you have accidentally fed your cat wheat and want to know if it is okay to do so, please read through this to get some assurance, You didn’t do anything wrong when you gave cooked wheat to your feline friend. If your cat has eaten wheat accidentally, it’s alright. If you just want to know if you can add wheat to their daily diet, look no further than the following sections to get more information about the same.
Can cats eat wheat?
Yes. cats can eat wheat, provided if you have fed the right type of wheat. Cats have a very simple yet sensitive kind of digestive system. They can be immune to many things and reject many other things that go inside their stomach. Wheat is one of those things that they are quite resistant to. Out of the many things that can be allowed in a cat’s diet, cooked wheat is one of them.
For many cats, their staple diet includes milk and tortillas made from cooked wheat dough. So if the question is if cats like wheat, they do, but the problem is you cannot make your cat vegan or vegetarian. Cats are meat lovers and obligate carnivores, by nature. So, even if you are a vegetarian, you should ensure that your cat gets meat and meat-based foods daily to stay healthy and active throughout its lifespan.
Cats and meat go hand in hand. So do cats and wheat. If given a choice, cats would always prefer to eat meat over wheat. When it comes to adding something different to your cat’s food, you can try adding whole grains. You can try adding rice crackers and more of something plant-based than meat-based. When you include some plant-based foods like wheat and grains in your cat’s diet, your felines will benefit from the following factors:
- Reduced risk of obesity
- Ingestion of more plant-based proteins
- Healthy diet
- Shiny fur coat
- Easy stools/ defection
These are the benefits of giving your cat plant-based food with meat. We would not recommend you eliminate meat from the diet. If you do so, your cat may have its effects in a bad way. Ensure you check with the vet before adding a blend of animal and plant proteins to your cat’s diet. When you cut down animal proteins and include only plant-based proteins in your feline’s diet, your cat will head towards starvation by exhibiting the following symptoms:
- Anemia
- Loss of weight
- Hair loss
- Poor appetite
- Ignoring food
Is it safe for cats to eat wheat?
There is no possible harm in serving cats wheat, as they are not to be served anything more or less than a balanced and staple diet. Cats want a highly nutritious and balanced diet. Adding wheat to your cats’ food will only give them more energy to go about their day.
So adding this will be safe and nutritious for your cat. It will be more natural for them to consume something plant-based, rather than something meat-based. More often than not, cats can accept a blend of animal and plant protein diet, without any discomfort. Can you imagine your cat trying to eat something different than just animal meat? When you slowly introduce wheat to a cat’s diet, you can try innovative recipes with wheat, to give a pleasant surprise to your cats every day.
Please note that wheat-based foods should only be a part of your cat/s balanced diet. It cannot fully replace the entire diet of felines. Wheat doesn’t have all the nutrients that a cat needs to survive through the day. This is given only by meat. Also, before introducing something new like wheat, give a small amount of wheat-based dishes in the initial days, to see if your cats can handle them well without any allergies. Talking about allergies, certain cats will be allergic to wheat or wheat-based food. You will have to get your pet checked before feeding them such dishes. You will have many initial symptoms of poisoning due to wheat. Hence, keep an open eye on that. You can only feed your cats when you know the difference between cat-toxic and cat-friendly food.
Cat toxic food is when you make them eat all human foods. Everything that humans eat is not safe for the consumption of cats. You should know clearly if you are a cat owner. When it comes to food, you should be very strict about giving them a balanced diet, including the cats’ staple foods. You can treat your cat right or mourn over their death. As harsh as that sounds, that statement has a lot of meaning to it.
Final Word
Yes, it is okay for cats to eat wheat. when they are served with a variety of other whole grains. You can also feed cooked wheat to your cat. It is safe for cats to consume wheat, and it will mostly be more appropriate if the vet suggests you add wheat to your cat’s diet. Yes, you can feed your cat whole grains and wheat grains. You can also feed them rice, whole wheat bread crumbs, etc. All of these are safe for consumption and do not let your cats’ health deteriorate.