More and more people follow vegetarian or vegan diets, and some would like their pets to eat the same way. Vegetarian and vegan cat foods are now sold online and in some pet stores. But can cats be vegetarian? Here’s what you need to know before making any changes to your cat’s diet.
Cats Are Obligate Carnivores
Unlike dogs and people, cats are obligate carnivores. Their bodies are adapted to a diet of meat, and they need several nutrients that are found naturally only, or mainly, in animal tissue:
- taurine, an amino acid essential for the heart, eyes and reproduction; a lack of taurine can cause heart disease (dilated cardiomyopathy) and blindness;
- arachidonic acid, a fatty acid;
- preformed vitamin A: unlike people, cats can’t make vitamin A from beta-carotene in plants;
- vitamin B12 and niacin;
- a high level of good-quality protein.
A homemade vegetarian or vegan diet for a cat is very likely to be missing these nutrients and can cause serious, sometimes irreversible, health problems.
What About Commercial Vegan Cat Food?
Commercial vegetarian and vegan cat foods add synthetic versions of these nutrients. Some small studies, mostly based on owner surveys, have suggested that cats eating these diets may not be less healthy than cats on meat-based diets. However, the evidence is limited, some vegan pet foods tested in studies didn’t meet nutritional standards, and there’s little long-term research.
For these reasons, most vets and veterinary organizations, including the British Veterinary Association, advise against feeding cats a vegetarian or vegan diet.
If you’re considering a plant-based diet for your cat, talk to your vet first. Never switch your cat to a homemade vegetarian or vegan diet, and never feed your cat dog food or food made for people instead of cat food.
Possible Risks
- nutrient deficiencies, including taurine deficiency;
- urinary problems, as plant-based diets can make urine more alkaline, which increases the risk of certain crystals and stones;
- a cat refusing to eat, which can quickly become dangerous. Read more: why is my cat not eating?.
Making Ethical Choices for Your Cat
If you’re concerned about the environmental or ethical impact of your cat’s food, there are other options to consider: choose a complete and balanced food from a manufacturer that’s open about where its ingredients come from, look for foods that use by-products from the human food industry, which reduces waste, avoid overfeeding, and keep your cat at a healthy weight.
Read more: what to feed a cat.
