Moss water containing sea moss is essentially a nutrient-rich marine algae. It carries a vast number of vitamins, minerals, antioxidants, and other healthy nutrients that can effectively improve the health of animals. But is moss water safe for cats? Can cats have moss water? Let’s find out.
In short, yes! Moss water is safe for cats. It is non-toxic to them, and cats can undoubtedly enjoy moss water! It will improve the overall health of your cat, leading to benefits such as improved immune system response to diseases, improved energy levels, and so much more!
The only thing that you need to make sure of is that you shouldn’t feed your cat too much Irish moss. Excess of anything is bad, and the same goes for Irish moss as well. In case you overfeed your cat, it will become severely sick.
To help you understand this better, let’s move toward the basics and discuss what moss water actually is, how safe it is for your cat, and why your cat should have it.
What Is Irish Moss Water?
Irish moss is scientifically known as Chondrus crispus. It is essentially a type of seaweed containing water and is usually found on the Atlantic coasts. It is also harvested in the wild and sold with “wildcrafted sea moss” labeled on the packaging.
Irish moss is widely known due to its gelatin like properties. It can also be considered a gelatin substitute with high concentrations of carrageen. Ideally, it is used as a dietary supplement in multiple forms but can also be used for cooking purposes.
These include:
- Irish moss water
- Powdered forms
- Capsule
- Gel form
- Dried form
Irish moss is flavorless in nature which is why it can be in either form. But, for cats, a watered form of Irish moss is the most suitable since they will easily consume it.
Is Moss Water Safe For My Cat?
Moss water is safe for your cat due to the widely known medicinal benefits of seaweeds, including Irish moss. They are non-toxic for cats and other pets as well.
When served in the raw form, Irish moss carries the most nutritional value for you and your pets.
It is rich in nutrients and comprises of the following nutrients:
- Polysaccharides
- Amino Acids
- Iodine
- Iron
- Bromine
- Calcium
- Potassium
- Magnesium
- Vitamin B
- Vitamin C
- Vitamin E
As you can tell from the nutrient composition of moss water, it is certainly safe for cats and has no elements that can harm your pet. However, there’s a catch to this.
It is considered safe only if you get it from an original source in its actual form. If you get an industrial made variation of the Irish moss or sea moss, it might not carry the same amount of nutrients for your pet.
The industrial made variation is intended to be used for other purposes, such as a binding gel. It is harmful to your pet and may lead to allergies and physical discomfort in your cat. Due to this, when buying moss water, you need to source the actual algae itself.
This will help lower the chances of your cat getting sick from the toxins in the industrial and commercially processed Irish moss.
Now that you have an idea of what moss water and Irish moss are let’s talk about why you should give your cat Irish moss.
Why Should I Give It To My Cat?
Ideally, Irish moss can be a lifesaver for your pet when it is used as an alternative medicine. It can speed up the recovery process of cats suffering from health complications, including Urinary Tract infections and Bronchial issues.
Similarly, it can alleviate mucus related irritations in the body. As a result, it helps lower the symptoms of respiratory issues, stomach related problems, prostate and thyroid problems. Here’s a detailed insight into this.
Benefits of Irish Moss For Your Cat:
Irish moss, as you already know, is significantly beneficial for your cat. Here are some of the major benefits your cat can receive from Irish moss;
- Promotes the healthy gut bacteria in your cat. It allows better gastrointestinal movements, thus removing harmful bacteria from your cat’s intestine.
- Irish moss serves as an anti-inflammatory agent. It helps lower the inflammation and swelling in your pet’s body.
- It provides your cat with vital minerals and vitamins in higher concentrations. Irish moss makes sure your pet’s diet is balanced and has all of the required nutrients for day to day activities.
- Irish moss’ healing properties help manage prostate issues and alleviate the symptoms.
- It also helps manage thyroid disorders better compared to other alternative medicines.
- When fed as a snack, Irish moss can lead to increased energy levels.
- Help improve the skin conditions of your pet.
- Other benefits include better kidney health, bone health, and tissue health.
Are There Any Side Effects To Feeding Moss Water To Cats?
Unfortunately, just like any other food or snack, you need to keep the serving sizes and intensity small. Overfeeding anything will lead to problems and can cause numerous health complications.
For starters, Irish moss has iodine in it. Although it is not harmful if you serve them small amounts, but if you feed them too much of it, it will make your cat sick. This is specifically true for pregnant cats and may lead to pregnancy issues.
In the same way, if your pet’s diet has foods that have the same nutrients as Irish moss, it will be wise to cut back on it. You can either keep feeding your pet your regular diet or remove the other snack having the same nutrients as Irish moss. Otherwise, it will lead to a nutrient imbalance.
When feeding your pet moss water, make sure it is made from raw and naturally sourced Irish moss instead of commercially or industrially sourced moss. It may have harmful toxins that will put your pet friend in severe discomfort and physical pain.
In addition to this, if your pet is on any sort of medication, it is wise to consult with your local vet first.
Due to the medicinal properties of Irish moss, it may interact with the other medicines you are giving your cat. Feeding your pet moss water along with other medications may result in reactions –thus affecting the health of your cat.
Although if your cat suffers from any side effects, they will go away within 24 – 48 hours when you remove moss water from your pet’s diet. However, if the condition of your cat worsens, you need to get in touch with your local vet. A proper checkup will help diagnose what’s wrong with your cat.
Conclusion: Is Moss Water Safe For Cats?
Moss water is sourced from seaweeds and is also referred to as Irish moss. It is rich in nutrients and contains a wide number of healthy vitamins, antioxidants, and other minerals such as polysaccharides, amino acids, iodine, iron, bromine, calcium, potassium, and magnesium.
These are significantly beneficial for your cat and will lead to an overall improvement in their health, such as a better immune system. However, you need to make sure you do not feed your cat moss water too often, or you will end up making your cat sick.