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Add to FavoritesThe question of whether it is safe to feed a vegan diet to a cat can often be confused with whether or not it is right to do so. Both these questions are entirely different, as one looks at the effects of certain foods on the cat's general health, and the other merely questions the decision made by the owner. In reality, feeding a cat any commercially prepared cat food - whether it is out of a tin, packet, pouch or whatever - is not natural anyway and does not replace a cat's natural instinct to hunt its prey and kill it for food. Therefore, whatever food is put in front of a cat will be consumed in the same manner regardless of whether it is vegan or meat-based.
Cats are obviously carnivores by nature, and it is with this thought in mind that most people object to them being fed a vegan diet. This doesn't, however, mean that they can't survive adequately well on a properly prepared vegan diet. Cats do not have any morals or beliefs, and why should they? But it has to be said that many animals do suffer and die every year to provide food for the pet food industry. The only way of knowing what is in the packaged pet food is to read the label, but can pet owners really be sure of the quality of food their pet is getting unless they make it from scratch themselves?
It is a known fact that cats, like all animals, need certain nutrients in order to live a happy and healthy life. They require an amino acid called taurine, which is found in the muscles of animals. This can actually be produced synthetically, and is already used in commercial cat food. Cats that are fed a vegan diet should take this as a supplement to prevent any deficiency which could lead to blindness or even death. As well as taurine, cats also require arochidonic acid and pre-formed vitamin A. If you buy a specially prepared vegan cat food, it should have all the relevant nutrients added to it to keep your cat in peak condition. If you are concerned, however, you can always contact your veterinary surgeon for some expert advice on the matter.
Many people will try to point out that cats which are not kept indoors may still hunt for mice and other small rodents outside, which rather ridicules their owner's decision to place them on a vegan diet. This is entirely the cat's choice, and they are after all merely exercising their instinct to hunt; although a well fed cat will probably be less likely to want to hunt for food anyway. A cat kept indoors, on the other hand, is being denied any choice of exercising its natural hunting instincts, but many owners would still agree that they only have their cat's best interests at heart.
The main point that has to be raised concerning a cat's diet is that a cat owner who considers a vegan diet for their cat is not doing it out of anything other than concern for the animal kingdom in general. No one would deliberately want to feed their cat anything which would harm them. It is equally as important to provide a cat with plenty of love and affection, along with a variety of cat toys to offer both mental and physical stimulation. A well cared for cat can live a long and happy life of up to around twenty years or more and, at the same time, provide its owner with many years of companionship.
Learn more about this author, Jane Grimshaw.
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No
That chipmunk your cat is ogling out the living room window is the perfect food. Any of the delicacies an outdoor cat may leave in bits and pieces on your doorstep provide the all necessary feline nutrients. Cats, unlike dogs, are obligate carnivores, not omnivores like our canine friends. And as such, their bodies are designed only for the intake of specific nutritional substances.
The feline digestive system has evolved to digest primarily proteinmeat, bones, and organs and small amounts of plant matter. Both cats and dogs have short gastrointestinal tracts so food passes through their bodies quickly, not allowing for proper absorption of sugars. While their stomachs are highly acidic, they do not produce the enzymes necessary to digest the grains so commonly found in store-bought cat food, much less the contents of a vegan diet.
Dr. Francis Pottenger, Jr. conducted a ten-year study on the effects of heat-processed food on cats between 1932 and 1942. The origin of the study was not, unfortunately, for the benefit of feline kind. He was, in fact, trying to account for the high mortality rate he was experiencing in his laboratory cats whose adrenal glands he was removing. However, as is the case with many things that go awry in labs, the results of his attempt to extend the lives of his study group offer invaluable information on how we should be feeding our cats.
Pottenger initially fed his lab cats a combination of cooked meat scraps and grains which, at the time, was considered to contain the ideal combination of nutrients for a domesticated cat or dog. His cats, however, had reproductive problems, skeletal deformities, and organ malfunction. He continued with this diet as more cats were delivered to his lab. This increase in the number of cats is what led to the Penicillin style aha moment. Because his source for cooked meat couldn't keep up with his demand, Pottenger began receiving raw meats from a local meat packing plant. Voila. The group he designated for the new raw diet began showing improvements in just a few months. They reproduced well, the kittens were healthier, and their life spans were longer. These results turned Pottenger's attention to a new study: the effect of cooked foods on animal health. For the next ten years, his findings were consistent. Cats fed raw meats were healthier by far than those fed a processed diet.
This information has been slow to translate into public knowledge. In the 1920's, prior to Pottenger's experiment, in order to keep the cost of pet foods down, companies mixed a high quantity of grains with meats into their foods and cooked it. This made pet foods easily available to the public even during the Depression. As the U.S. moved out of Depression Era economics, the pet food market did not. It's not been until recently that the notion of a raw food diet for pets has been a topic of conversation among pet owners.
A nod needs to be given to Oprah Winfrey in adding to this conversation. She introduced her vet, Dr. Marty Goldstein to her large fan base a few years ago. Goldstein is a proponent of a raw diet and natural health options for animals. According to Goldstein, both dogs and cats should have a dietary baseline of unadulterated protein, calcium, omega 3 essential fatty acids, as many fresh, raw foods as possible, and minimal or, ideally, no grains or grain by-products.
This brings us to a potential sticking point. Raw diets for cats and dogs aren't cheap. And while we may not be experiencing the kind of economics present in the 1930's, many of us, while enamored of our pets, are concerned that we can't afford raw pet food. It's costly enough to buy fresh fruits and vegetables for the human members of our family. A few things to keep in mind when assessing the cost of a raw diet for a pet are the amount of food needed when feeding raw versus the amount needed when feeding processed; a reduction in veterinary costs because of improved health, and the wide range of pricing available for raw foods. When eating a raw diet, more nutrients are present in a small amount of fish or beef than are in a half a cup of cat food. Also, because of the chewing action and the cat's digestive system being appropriately stimulated, not as much food is required for the cat to feel sated.
The higher nutritional value of raw food supports a cat's digestive system from their teeth to their intestines. There is a reduced risk of periodontal disease because the consumption of bones brushes and flosses their teeth; their immune systems are also supported by receiving the proper enzymes, vitamins, and minerals from their diet which reduces the risk of obesity and cancers. A more practical benefit of feeding your cat a raw diet is a reduction of stool quantity and odor and reduced urinary odor. They simply aren't being fed as many toxins, i.e. preservatives, fillers, ash, or artificial colors and flavors. Finally, there is an enormous amount of price variation in commercial raw food diets. The popular and reputable BARF diet offers either frozen, pre-packaged food the ingredients to duplicate their diet and costs approximately $25 for 48lbs. of patties. A cat would need only about 2-4 ounces of this daily. Other diets, such as Raw Advantage, Soho, and Paw Natural tend to be even less expensive. Consider checking out meats and bones at your local butcher, grocery store, or farmer's market. This is potentially an even less expensive alternative. If the food is properly frozen and handled, concerns about bacteria are equal to those we have about our human food. Store it properly; keep it clean; your cat will be fine.
We need not take up arms and hunt for our cats or allow them outside, exposing them to various elements that cause them as much harm as kibble preservatives. However, as responsible pet owners, we need to recognize that our cats are not us. They are meat-eaters that require us to look beyond our own ethics and choices in order to help them live healthy, long lives. I'm a strict vegetarian who owns both cats and a dog. As much as the idea of my cat devouring the aforementioned chipmunk horrifies me, it is, in fact, exactly what my cat needs.
Learn more about this author, Bonniel Rostok.
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