Vegan or vegetarian cat: is it possible?

Author: Laura McKinney
Date Of Creation: 5 August 2021
Update Date: 6 November 2024
Anonim
Can you feed your cat a vegan diet?
Video: Can you feed your cat a vegan diet?

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Many vegan or vegetarian people consider starting their pets on these diets. However, you must take into account that the cat is a strictly carnivorous animal, which is to say that such types of food are not suitable for him.

Even so, new pet food and cans of vegan cat food appear on the market every day. So, after all, is removing animal protein from the feline's diet a good option? Vegan or vegetarian cat: is it possible? That's what we're going to answer in this new PeritoAnimal article. Good reading.

Differences between vegetarian and vegan food

Initiation to vegan and vegetarian diets increases significantly among the population. People choose to remove different types of meat from their diet for different reasons, whether for health, to avoid animal suffering or even out of concern about possible contamination.[1]


Before we explore the main theme of this article, which will explain to you whether a vegan or vegetarian cat is possible, it is interesting to know how to differentiate between a vegan and a vegetarian diet, pointing out the basic characteristics of each:

vegetarian diet

According to the Brazilian Vegetarian Society, the vegetarian diet, by definition, is one that excludes the consumption of red meat, pork, chicken and fish, as well as animal derivatives such as milk, honey and eggs.[2] However, there are some variations of vegetarianism:

  • Ovolactovegetarianism: uses eggs, milk and dairy products in their food
  • Lactovegetarianism: uses milk and dairy products in their food
  • Ovo vegetarianism: uses eggs in your food
  • Strict vegetarianism: no animal products are used in this diet

vegan diet

The vegan diet, in turn, is more than a form of food, it is considered a Lifestyle.[3] According to The Vegan Society, vegans seek to exclude, whenever possible, the use of products that may cause the exploitation and cruelty to animals, and not only in food, removing all animal products and their derivatives from the diet, but also in clothing and other forms of consumption.


Can a cat be vegetarian or vegan on its own?

Not, a vegan or vegetarian cat does not choose these diets on its own. That's a decision his tutors make for him.

domestic cats are carnivorous animals. And while they may sometimes be attracted to a particular fruit or vegetable, they are not opportunistic omnivores, as are dogs or rats.

the own morphology of the feline predisposes it to carnivorous food: the taste buds of cats have a preference for amino acids, present in meat, fish, eggs or seafood. On the other hand, they reject monosaccharides and disaccharides present in fruit, vegetables, nuts or cereals. All these factors simply make them carnivores.


If cats are carnivores, can a vegan cat die?

cats have right nutritional needs[4], such as carbohydrates, fiber, fats, fatty acids, proteins, vitamins and amino acids. Some are more needed than others, but in the end, all are vital to your survival. if a cat suffers nutritional deficiencies, he can die.

Is there vegan food for cats?

Even though cats are carnivorous animals, currently there are different options for vegetarian or vegan food for cats on the market. AND how is this possible?

This type of food is specifically formulated with animal-free ingredients, but at the same time providing the feline with all the nutritional needs it needs. That is, a cat that daily consumes a vegan or vegetarian food that is labeled "nutritionally complete", according to the manufacturers, it will not suffer from health problems.

Supplements and additives are usually used that make this food more palatable, ie more appetizing. However, not all cats will accept it easily.

Disagreements about the vegan feed

there is a lot controversy on this subject and experts disagree about offering vegetarian or vegan pet food to cats. That's because, like dogs, felines are descendants of wild animals that historically have carnivorous behavior. And leaving aside animal protein in your diet can lead to a lack of important substances, such as elastin, collagen and keratin.

So if you're thinking about starting your feline on this type of diet, we recommend reviewing vegan cat food reviews before you buy it and supervising any options that are too cheap or unfamiliar. Also, talk to a veterinarian about this issue before offering the cat a vegetarian ration.

Is homemade vegan cat food good?

Offer a diet based on homemade vegan food for cats it's not recommended. Commercial pet foods are often formulated so that the cat will accept them in a positive way, which is not normally the case with vegan or vegetarian homemade diets. The morphology of felines itself leads them to reject some type of food. Check out fruits and vegetables prohibited for cats in this article.

Also, in case we want to prepare our cat's diet ourselves, we can create nutritional deficiencies unintentionally. Lack of calcium, taurine or certain vitamins is common, which can cause anemia and other conditions.

Veterinary monitoring for vegan or vegetarian cats

It is generally recommended that a healthy cat visit the vet every 6 or 12 months for a general checkup, but in the case of following a vegetarian or vegan diet, it is important to go more often, every 2 or 3 months.

The specialist will carry out a general observation and a blood test to promptly detect any health problems. Not going to a specialist can make our best friend unknowingly ill. Remember that cats are very private animals and usually don't show symptoms of illness until it's too late.

What can cats eat besides kibble? There are some fruits we can give them. See in this video the quantities and benefits of 7 fruits:

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