By Dial A Vet Veterinary Team
Edamame is a popular snack in Australia, usually served steamed in the pod with a sprinkle of salt. Cats sometimes bat a pod off the table and chew it. Plain cooked edamame beans are not known to be poisonous to cats, so a single bean is rarely a worry. The pods, the seasoning and raw beans are where the risks lie.
Key takeaways
- Edamame are young soybeans. Plain cooked beans are not known to be toxic to cats.
- Raw soybeans contain trypsin inhibitors that interfere with protein digestion. Merck notes these are destroyed by heat.
- The pods are tough and fibrous. A cat that swallows pieces may vomit, and a large piece could rarely cause a blockage.
- Edamame is usually salted, and some recipes add garlic or chilli. Salt and garlic are both on the RSPCA avoid list for cats.
- Cats are obligate carnivores and do not need plant protein.
- If your cat ate garlic edamame or a lot of salted pods, call your vet or the Animal Poisons Helpline on 1300 869 738.
What is edamame?
Edamame are immature soybeans harvested while still green. They are usually boiled or steamed in the pod and eaten by squeezing the beans out. Frozen edamame from the supermarket is typically blanched before freezing.
Do cats benefit from soy?
Not as a snack. Cats have nutritional needs that are met by animal protein. Merck Veterinary Manual explains that cats need taurine, arachidonic acid and preformed vitamin A, which are found in animal tissue. Some commercial cat foods contain soy as an ingredient within a balanced recipe, but a few beans from your plate add nothing useful.
What can go wrong
Raw soybeans
Merck notes that raw soybeans contain trypsin inhibitors, which reduce protein digestion, and that these are inactivated by heat processing. Fresh raw edamame is uncommon in most kitchens, but keep raw beans and dried soybeans away from cats.
Pods
The pods are not eaten even by people. They are fibrous and hard to break down. Cats tend to swallow without chewing much, so a pod may be vomited back up. Rarely, an indigestible piece of plant material can contribute to a gut blockage, which needs prompt veterinary care.
Salt and seasoning
Restaurant and supermarket edamame is usually salted, and some versions are tossed with garlic, chilli or soy sauce. Pet Poison Helpline lists vomiting, diarrhoea, tremors and seizures among the signs of salt poisoning. Merck describes cats as particularly sensitive to garlic and onion. See garlic and cats.
Allergy and sensitivity
Soy is one of many possible triggers for food allergies in cats. If your cat has a diagnosed food allergy, avoid extras. See food allergies in cats.
Signs to watch for
After one or two plain beans, most cats show nothing. If something happens, it is usually:
- vomiting
- soft stools or diarrhoea
- reduced appetite for a day
After salty or garlicky edamame, also watch for:
- excessive thirst
- wobbliness or tremors
- lethargy or pale gums over the next few days
After swallowing pod pieces, watch for:
- repeated vomiting
- not eating
- a tense or painful belly
When it is an emergency
Call your vet or an emergency clinic straight away if your cat:
- ate edamame tossed with garlic, onion or soy sauce
- ate several salted pods and seems thirsty or wobbly
- vomits repeatedly or stops eating after swallowing a pod
- has tremors, collapse or pale gums
For poisoning advice, phone the Animal Poisons Helpline on 1300 869 738. Do not try to make your cat vomit at home. Salt and hydrogen peroxide can cause serious harm.
How vets assess a cat that ate edamame
Your vet will ask how many pods or beans your cat ate, how they were seasoned and when. For salt exposure, your vet may check blood sodium levels. For seasoning with garlic, blood tests over the next few days may be recommended. If a pod may be stuck, your vet may feel the belly and use imaging such as X-rays or ultrasound. Treatment is based on what the vet finds.
Better treat ideas
- A small piece of plain cooked chicken or fish, no bones.
- A spoonful of your cat's usual wet food.
- Commercial cat treats, within 10 to 15 percent of daily calories as Cornell suggests.
FAQ
Is edamame toxic to cats?
Plain cooked beans are not known to be toxic. Seasoning, pods and raw beans carry the risks.
Can cats eat edamame pods?
Avoid them. The pods are fibrous and may cause vomiting or, rarely, a blockage.
Is soy bad for cats?
Soy is used in some balanced commercial foods. As an extra snack it offers no benefit and may upset a sensitive cat.
My cat ate one salted edamame bean. What should I do?
One bean is very unlikely to cause harm. Offer fresh water and watch for any vomiting.
Talk with a vet
If your cat has eaten something from your plate and you are not sure whether to worry, a Dial A Vet veterinarian can help. Book a Dial A Vet consult.
References
- Merck Veterinary Manual. Nutritional Requirements of Small Animals.
- Pet Poison Helpline. Salt.
- Merck Veterinary Manual. Garlic and Onion (Allium spp) Toxicosis in Animals.
- RSPCA Knowledgebase. What should I feed my cat?.
- VCA Animal Hospitals. Ingestion of Foreign Bodies in Cats.
- Cornell Feline Health Center. Feeding Your Cat.
- Animal Poisons Helpline (Australia, 1300 869 738). Animal Poisons Helpline | 24/7 Pet Poisoning Advice.
Disclaimer: Educational only. This page does not replace an examination or advice from your own veterinarian. If you are worried about your pet right now, contact your local vet or nearest emergency animal hospital.