Health of our Pets

[sonar]

I wasn't sure where to post this question. I went vegetarian for ethical reasons -- and now I'm learning about the great health benefits of not eating meat and now going raw. My question is about my two cats. I still feed them meet (canned/dry cat food) and feel that I'm violating my values about animal rights by purchasing meat for my cats. Does anyone know whether cats must eat meat and if not, is there veggie cat food?? Its not too big of an issue for me, but I really hate the thought of supporting the meat industry and their treatment of animals.
sonja.

[Arky]

Without even attempting (or wishing) to cross the boundaries of personal belief (yours or mine), I can only suggest to you that you look at two sources of reference wth regard to your question:

1) Nature - are feral cats and big cats (from which domesticated cats are indisputably descended) carnivores?

2) 'Pottenger's Cats' (apologies for the commercial link - in my defence, this is a charitable foundation). If you haven't read this book, you really need to, wherever you might wish to acquire it from.


Regards,

J.

[tracyinfo]

You can try this link - http://vegancats.com/

Blessings.

[sonar]

Great! I had no idea there were websites on this issue. I have some reading to do. thanks!
sonja.

[jenna rose]

I've always read conflicting things about it
"cats are obligate carnivores"
"cats can eat a veggie/vegan diet"

I, too, want to look more into it. One thing I can tell you (though it's not about veg*n cat food) is that canned cat food is basically 80% water and they don't get all the nutrients out of it like they would dry food. It's fine as an "every now and then" food but not a staple.

I just looked and found some interesting veg*n cat food links:

http://www.veganpet.com.au/cats1.htm
http://www.veggiepets.com/
http://possible-world.org/texts/vegan_cat_food.html
http://www.vegepet.com/forcats.html
http://happypets.addr.com/vegpets.htm

Hope those help! :)

[jenna rose]

Oh! I found some more:

http://www.all-creatures.org/articles/petfood-comm.html
http://www.vegparadise.com/otherbirds410.html
http://www.helpinganimals.com/h-vegcat-meals.html
http://www.animalawareness.org/pages/what_petfood.html

[Arky]

One thing I can tell you (though it's not about veg*n cat food) is that canned cat food is basically 80% water and they don't get all the nutrients out of it like they would dry food. It's fine as an "every now and then" food but not a staple

Do bear in mind, though, that dried cat food is associated with kidney problems, since cats often do not drink enough water to compensate for unnatural dehydrated foods.

There is also the question (and again, I don't say this in order to step on anyone's toes!) of whether one, philosophically, has the right to enforce one's own beliefs on the diet of another - I would not be amused if I had a pet cat that insisted that I eat next to no leafy greens or fruit, and instead ate a predominantly carnivourous diet, just because the cat believed it was the only appropriate dietary course.

It's a very tough philosophical question, for a vegan owner of a dog or cat, whether or not to deny them a carnivorous diet on grounds of supposed morality. Again, I urge you to read Pottenger's studies and draw your own conclusions.


J.

[jenna rose]

Yeah, my 4 cats and my dog are all on a Nutro brand of food. I haven't yet tried any veg*n types. I will, eventually (haven't found one that doesn't charge a lot for shipping), and if they like and seem to do better on it...yay! I know it's easier to switch dogs over to a veg*n diet, so I may try that first.

[Pleasant~Heights~Hippie]

I have a friend who is vegan and her pets eat both dry and wet vegan food as well as mashed potatoes, oatmeal, corn, stuff like that...their poop is a little bit softer than most but they are happy and healthy!

Peace~Vanessa :-)