There’s no issue with cats eating plain farina. Other than the taste of it, really. Most cats, if not all, aren’t that interested in grains and food that comes from grains. Worst-case scenario, your cat will take longer than normal to digest it!
Your cat can have a little bit of farina, as long as it likes it. Truth be told, they will probably stay away from it, as its taste is nowhere near close to what they usually eat. Cats love meat and savory things, farina is far away from that category.
Any cat that sees or smells farina may get closer to see what that meal is about – and they may probably smell it too! But that has more to do with a cat’s inquisitive nature than with a cat’s supposed love for farina, though.
Nine times out of ten, the cat that walked near farina will walk away nonchalantly without tasting it once.
Is farina good for cats?
Even though farina is advertised as a great protein source for vegetarians and vegans, there’s nothing in it that will benefit a cat in the short- or long-term. Farina doesn’t have the right protein for a cat, nor is a cat’s digestive system made to handle large amounts of farina.
Is farina bad for cats? Not necessarily. If your cat has some farina, there’s no need to rush to the vet. Does that mean farina is good for cats? Not even close! This type of food is nowhere near the top of the list when it comes to good cat food and other alternatives.
If you’re looking for a great protein source for your cat, try cat food. If cat food isn’t available, beef will do for a while. Is no steak available either? A plate of chicken will get you out of a tough spot. Vegan protein sources are not apt for cats nor are they good for them.
What’s the problem with cats eating farina?
By itself, farina isn’t necessarily bad for your cat. If your cat took a bite out of plain farina, you shouldn’t worry about it. The issue comes with recipes that feature farina as an ingredient. Most of them have milk, sugar, and other harmful ingredients.
A quick Google search will show you that most farina recipes are cooked similarly to polenta or farofa. The first is heavily mixed with milk and the latter, with spices. Both things are a no-go for cats!
Other farina recipes feature chocolate, brown sugar, and nuts, among other things. As you can probably guess, they are all bad things for your cats. Chocolate alone is enough to ruin your cat’s day and make everyone take an emergency trip to the vet!
So, if you’re using a recipe to make farina more tasty and interesting, your cat shouldn’t have any of that. On the other hand, if you’re cooking plain farina, your cat probably won’t go anywhere near it – so there’s nothing to worry about there!