Yes, cats can eat tortillas but only as a snack once in a while. Cats are predominantly carnivorous, meaning they are not genetically inclined to eat foods made from plant and plant-based products. Eating too many tortillas frequently could, therefore, spark a series of gastrointestinal issues due to poor digestion.
Because they are domesticated and are used to eating foods that humans eat, cats are thought to be omnivores. They, however, are carnivores which means that they are engineered to eat, digest, and gain nutrition from meat. However, when you have a feline around, they are likely to show interest in everything you eat, especially if it smells great.
Tortillas are made from either corn or wheat flour. Both these ingredients are plant-based which makes them indigestible to cats. Now, in small portions, there may not be any real or noticeable side effects to your cats, but feeding high quantities of the same to your feline may cause several painful and sometimes even fatal effects on the cats. The main reason why cats do not exhibit major issues after eating tortillas is that it is cooked and this breaks down the indigestible cellulose to a level that cats can handle. Even then, it remains indigestible to the felines.
Are tortillas safe for cats?
The fact that cats can eat tortillas does not exactly mean that they are entirely safe for cats. Tortillas, even though soft, are mostly dry foods, and cats that are used to wet feed may have a hard time chewing and swallowing the tortillas. For this reason, they may present a choking hazard, and you need to be careful when offering your cat a piece.
In addition, apart from the flour, the tortillas also have other ingredients that may or may not be safe for cats. Some of them may not just be bad for your cats, they can be harmful if taken frequently and in large quantities. Here is a breakdown of some of the ingredients in tortillas that may be bad for your kitty.
- Salt
Salt, believe it or not, is one of the most toxic substances to cats. It contains sodium which messes up many physiological functions in a cat’s body, leading to sodium poisoning. In essence, the sodium in salt, once absorbed by the cat’s body, messes up the electrolyte balance which causes a negative effect on the cat’s nervous system.
If your cat is affected by any of the following symptoms, you may need to see a doctor. They may exhibit diarrhea, vomiting, a decline in appetite, extreme thirst and urinating too frequently, lethargy, tremors and seizures, poor coordination, and going comatose. In most instances, these effects can be reversed by a vet, but you need to act quickly.
- Baking soda
Baking soda may not be entirely toxic to cats in general, but it may be a point of concern if your cat is allergic to the substance. Some cats have an acute allergy to it, and it can be quite problematic.
Baking soda may present near-similar effects on cats as salt does, largely because it causes an electrolyte imbalance in their bodies. If your cat has a baking soda allergy, you may notice a number of symptoms which include vomiting, diarrhea, lethargy and depression, tremors, seizures, shortness of breath, disorientation, cardiac arrhythmia, muscle weakness or paralysis, extreme thirst, urine color change, anemia.
If you notice any of these, your cat could be allergic to baking soda and will require medical attention from the vet.
- Starch
Unlike human beings, cats do not have the enzyme called salivary amylase which is responsible for the breakdown and digestion of starch. The breakdown of starch should begin in the mouth, but cats cannot digest it, meaning that it reaches their stomachs the same way it went in.
This may not pose a major threat if your cat has just a couple of bites of tortilla, but if they consume too much, they may experience a series of digestive troubles that include excess gas, abdominal bloating, and a painful abdomen.
Here is a tabled representation of tortilla ingredients that may have an adverse effect on your cats as well as their effects.
Ingredient |
Possible effects |
Salt |
Diarrhea, vomiting, poor appetite, extreme thirst and urinating too frequently, lethargy, tremors and seizures, poor coordination, and going comatose |
Baking soda |
Vomiting, diarrhea, lethargy and depression, tremors, seizures, shortness of breath, disorientation, cardiac arrhythmia, muscle weakness or paralysis, extreme thirst, urine color change, anemia |
Starch |
Excess gas, abdominal bloating, painful abdomen |
Do Tortillas Have Any Nutritional Benefit to Cats?
As earlier mentioned, cats are predominantly carnivorous. This means that they lack many important digestive enzymes to handle most plant-based foods. Tortillas contain wheat or corn flour, and both are indigestible to cats.
For these two reasons, cats cannot be able to draw much (if any at all) nutritional benefit to cats. This is why tortillas should be offered in intervals that are few and far between, and only as a snack and not a meal or meal replacement.
How Should I Feed Tortillas To My Cat?
If you have to feed your cat tortillas, you can use any of the methods outlined below;
- Offer it plain
You can offer the tortilla exactly as it is. Cut it up into small pieces that are easy to bite and chew to reduce the chances that your cat may choke on a large piece.
- Mix it up with a little meat
To add a protein kick to the tortilla, you can mix it with pieces of beef, lamb, turkey, chicken, pork, or any other type of meat that is available to you.
- Wet it with some bone broth
If your cat finds the tortilla too dry, you can wet it with bone broth, preferably unsalted.
Conclusion
When having tacos or quesadillas at home, it is okay to give a bit of tortilla to your cats. You should, however, refrain from overindulging them as the goal is to share a snack as opposed to feeding them the tortilla as a meal. If they exhibit some kind of reaction, however, be sure to have them seen by a vet.
FAQs
Are saturated fats in tortillas bad for cats?
No, cats have a high tolerance for saturated fat and cholesterol so it may not have an adverse effect on them.
Can my kitten have tortillas?
No, their stomachs are still very sensitive and they may have more severe reactions than adult cats.