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As cat parents, we want to spoil our furry feline babies and occasionally indulge them with a nice piece of waffle.
Other times they gaze and guilt us into dropping a few chunks their way.
But is it good for cats to eat waffles?
The shortest and simplest answer would be no.
Stated our nutritional needs differ from our cats’ dietary needs.
Some foods we commonly consume can wreak havoc in our cats’ digestive systems.
The list of foods cats are not allowed to eat is relatively long and includes foods like grapes, raisins, chocolate, onions, garlic, and alcoholic drinks.
Although waffles are not commonly named on this list, most veterinarians and feline nutritionists agree waffles are not best suited for our feline companions.
What Are Waffles Made Of?
In most cases, waffles are made only of simple ingredients such as flour, milk, eggs, butter, and baking powder.
The main issue is that two of those ingredients, the milk, and the butter, are classified as dairy products.
Unfortunately, most adult cats cannot properly digest dairy products.
The eggs can be a problem in some instances because some cats are allergic to the protein found in egg white.
Milk, butter, and eggs are also rich in fats.
The flour and the baking powder are generally considered safe.
Are Waffles A Good Food Choice For Cats?
Simply put, cats can safely eat several small chunks of waffles.
However, regularly feeding your cat this delicious baked delicacy is not recommended.
Feeding cats too many waffles may result in stomach upset manifested with gastrointestinal issues such as vomiting, gassiness, diarrhea, or watery stool.
If you cannot resist your cat’s begging to have some waffles, give her tiny amounts at first and see how her digestive system handles this treat.
You can gradually increase the amount or frequency if there are no issues.
Just be careful and avoid exceeding the safe limit.
Why Does My cat Love Waffles So Much?
Cats have different preferences regarding dietary flavors, and early-stage kitten diets may influence the type of food they prefer as adults.
Cat owners introducing waffles to kittens may notice their cats enjoy eating waffles.
One possible explanation for this behavior may be related to the food textures some cats enjoy.
The crispy texture or chewy center of the waffle might be what your cat loves; however, cats should not be eating waffles either way.
Can I Give My Cat Blueberry Waffles?
Unlike human beings, cats cannot experience the taste of blueberries.
Blueberries definitely have a pleasant taste on waffles but are very toxic to cats, and as a cat owner, you should ensure that your cat does not eat them.
Some of the gastrointestinal problems experienced by cats after eating blueberries include; vomiting, diarrhea, and stomach aches.
Can My Cat Eat Vegan Waffles?
Absolutely Yes! Vegan waffles are the only “safe waffles” that cats can eat, though not in large quantities.
Vegan waffles are made with non-diary ingredients and gluten-free flour, making them a good cat treat once in a while.
As long as the vegan waffles have no sugar or toxic ingredients, your cat can have a bite of this healthy dessert.
Why Should Cats Not Regularly Eat Waffles?
There are several reasons why waffles should not be on your cat’s daily menu.
Cats Prefer Carnivorous Diets
Classified as obligate carnivores, cats require only meat and meat products to thrive, survive, and prosper.
Therefore, it is safe to assume that waffles and other baked products are not part of the feline’s natural diet.
Most Adult Cats Are Lactose Intolerant
They can process milk, but as they mature into adulthood, they tend to become lactose intolerant.
Lactose intolerance indicates that the cat’s body does not produce enough lactase enzyme necessary for breaking down the lactose sugar.
Consequently, lactose-intolerant cats cannot process baked foods containing milk.
Most Adult Cats Are Lactose Intolerant
Depending on age, body weight, and activity level, the average adult cat needs 200-300 calories daily to maintain optimal body weight.
A single piece of waffle contains around 150 calories, which is almost one-half of the cat’s daily calorie intake needed.
A problem occurs when the cat parent does not extract the waffle’s calories from the daily calorie intake.
Regardless of the waffle treat, it feeds the cat healthy meals.
Even that would be fine, as long as it happens on occasion.
If the cat eats both waffles and reasonable amounts of the usual meals regularly, she will start putting on weight.
Such cats are prone to obesity and at higher risk of suffering from obesity-related health issues such as arthritis, diabetes, liver disorders, and kidney failure.
Conclusion
Although many human foods are safe for cats, a good general rule is that human foods should not make up more than 15% of your cat’s diet.
Non-processed foods, like most fruits and vegetables, are suitable for cats, but processed foods, like waffles, are usually not.
Despite the waffles’ extreme palatability, they are not part of the cat’s natural diet and are therefore considered a poor breakfast choice for your carnivorous feline friend.
In a nutshell, a tiny waffle piece, here and there, is not likely to harm your cat.
Last but not least, all cat parents know that cats love waffles.
A smidgen of waffle can be more than helpful in one case – getting a finicky cat to take its medicine.
Purrfect n’ Pawesome is the brainchild of Amanda, who has been into researching and writing about pets to help other pet parents in nurturing their adorable pets. Currently, she runs Purrfect n’ Pawesome along with her team of experienced and dedicated pet experts. Along with being an awesome writer and entrepreneur, Amanda is a cat mom to two innocently spoiled cats, Balanca and Scruffy.
She has been writing about pet care and nurturing and wants to share her readers’ experiences, learnings, and knowledge.
Over the years, she had the opportunity to work with various pet owners having multiple breeds, and that exposure gave her experience and the lessons of a lifetime.
Her family, her entire universe revolves around her two cats, who give her endless support and inspiration to move ahead with her objectives in life. Amanda is a live example of a balanced approach to all parenthood questions we all face in life.
