Can cats eat tamales? If you have ever wondered whether or not your cat can eat tamales, you’re not alone. Whether on Twitter, Reddit, or in person, you’ll see people asking this question every year around the holidays when tamales are in season.
You might even ask yourself this question while your cat is begging at the dinner table or when she sees the Mexican spread come out on Christmas Day or New Year’s Eve!
Can Cats Eat Tamales? New Research Reveals Surprising Answer
If you love to eat tamales and have cats, you’ve probably wondered whether it’s possible to enjoy both simultaneously. After all, this delicious Mexican food is packed with protein, carbs, and meat, so it seems like an excellent meal for your feline friend to eat! While some people think cats can’t eat tamales because of their spicy filling and corn husk wrapping, new research suggests this isn’t the case!
What are tamales?
Tamales are a delicacy made with corn-based dough wrapped around a filling and then usually wrapped in leaves. The tamale can be filled with meat, cheese, chili, or beans. The fillings are generally moistened to cook inside of their packaging. Although tamales can be eaten any time of year, they’re trendy during winter celebrations.
This is partly because tamales provide a hearty meal and because it’s believed that eating tamales at Christmastime helps ward off cold weather throughout the rest of winter. Mexican families often celebrate Christmas with multiple generations of family members gathering to help prepare and eat massive quantities of food—which makes sense given that traditional preparations involve hours of work.
Why do you think they may be suitable for your cat?
Tamales may be suitable for your cat because they are effortless to eat. This makes them ideal for cats that struggle with chewing and swallowing regular cat food. Also, tamales are made with meat and vegetables, containing all the nutrients cats need to be healthy.
The only problem is that they can also have a lot of extra ingredients that cats don’t need or may even make them sick if eaten regularly. It is important to read food labels carefully before giving your cat any human food to ensure it won’t harm them.
How do you make them safe to serve your cat?
For humans, tamales are usually prepared to be enjoyed safely by those of us with weak stomachs. People often make tamales into small bite-sized pieces to avoid choking hazards and other issues. Since cats have much smaller mouths than humans, you can take an extra step to prepare them.
First, follow all instructions to ensure you’re safely preparing your tamale. If you’re not sure what that means or if you have any questions about it, feel free to contact me before proceeding with making your meal for your pet cat.
What are the benefits of letting your cat eat tamales once in a while?
Now that we’ve established that tamales are, in fact, safe for your cat to eat, let’s take a look at why you should consider giving them to your feline friend every once in a while. A study by PetMD suggests that occasionally letting your cat eat tamales can provide health benefits.
This study suggests eating tamale pie may offer benefits to cats, including Improved digestive functions, protection against heart diseases, and increased energy levels. This is because tamale pie contains many essential nutrients such as zinc, potassium, and Vitamin B6. Before you go ahead and feed your pet some tamale pie, you need to check with your vet first to make sure they are okay with it.
Tamales are traditional Mexican food usually eaten around Christmas, but many Mexican families also enjoy them year-round.
Since you’re reading this article, you probably know that tamales are delicious and popular with humans; but do you know if they’re safe to feed your cat? Here are some basic facts about tamales and their nutritional content to decide if they suit your cat.
How does your cat react to tamales?
While it’s not a bad idea to feed your cat a tiny bit of tamale, it should not be something you always do. Though tamales are full of great flavor and can hit a craving for anyone, your cat won’t be as thrilled with them. One problem with feeding cats tamales is that they do not have much meat in them and may cause an upset stomach or gastrointestinal issues if eaten regularly.
If you’re worried about feeding your cat meat, you can feed them tamales without any meat at all. There is also an option for vegetarians made from cornmeal called nixtamalized corn dough which can be found at many local stores.
Are there benefits in feeding your cat tamales?
The short answer is yes. Eating tamales benefits cats in some ways and doesn’t come with many risks. Cats require protein and carbohydrates, two ingredients that can be found in tamales if they’re prepared correctly. Healthy fats are another essential part of a cat’s diet and are commonly found in corn masa (the dough used to make tamales), although some commercial brands contain fillers that are not healthy for your pet.
However, it is essential to note that overeating corn can cause an upset stomach or even pancreatitis in cats, so it should only be included as a tiny part of their diet. If you want your feline friend to benefit from these delicious treats, use them sparingly as a tasty snack.
What kind of precautions should I take while feeding my cat?
As we know, many ingredients go into tamales, some of which could potentially harm our cats. One of these potentially dangerous ingredients is too much salt. Because your cat doesn’t have a high level of thirst like humans, they rely on their sense of taste and smell to determine if water is needed.
Because tamales contain so much salt and other additives, it can be difficult for your cat’s body to tell when it needs water or not. This can result in your cat experiencing an electrolyte imbalance, which can cause cardiac arrest or even death.
How much time should I dedicate to feeding my cat a whole tamale?
Depending on a cat’s weight, you should expect it to take up to an hour for your cat to eat a whole tamale. You might have a hungry cat if it eats a little faster than that! Another tip: if your cat seems to like it can’t get enough of tamales, try breaking them into smaller pieces.
They will probably gobble them up as quickly as larger pieces, and at least you won’t have any sticky messes left over.
How many tamales can I feed my cat at once?
A single tamale is a safe serving size for most adult cats. If you have a tiny breed or are unsure of your cat’s tolerance for spicy foods, give her just half of a tamale instead of an entire one.
While most pet owners don’t need to be concerned about how many tamales they feed their pets at once, it’s wise to watch over your cat if she shows discomfort. Some signs of illness caused by too much spice include panting, vomiting, and diarrhea. If you see any of these symptoms during or after feeding your cat tamales, take her to a veterinarian immediately.
How do I cook the tamale for my cat?
Place a corn husk in a bowl of hot water for about 30 minutes. Once soft, unwrap and lay flat on a plate. Cut open lengthwise with scissors or an X-Acto knife (you can also snip it with your fingers). Remove any fatty pieces of pork and chicken if used.
Add chicken broth and shredded beef—plus any other ingredients you’d like to add—to one-half of the husk. Fold over in half (or twice, if needed) and tie shut with butcher’s twine or strip off a few corn leaves for decoration. Microwave for 1 minute on high; let sit until cool enough to handle before serving!
Can I put anything else on it? Like cheese, cream, salsa, or anything else?
Absolutely, yes. Be careful; some things you might think are okay for cats can be very harmful or even poisonous. Regarding sweets, try not to give your cat anything too sugary.
Stick with treats made specifically for cats instead. Additionally, tamales are extremely fattening when eaten alone, so don’t give your cat a whole plate of them on their own!