Many vegans and vegetarians consider starting their animals on this same type of diet. However, it must be taken into account beforehand that the cat is a strictly carnivorous animal, so from the outset it does not seem to be the most indicated option.
Still in the market we can find feed and cans of vegan food for cats. So is it a good option? Can a cat be vegan or vegetarian? In this new article on our site we answer your questions, taking into account several scientific studies, keep reading:
Differences between vegetarian and vegan diets
Initiation to vegan and vegetarian diets is increasing notably, even among the younger population [1], either by animal suffering, he alth or due to pollution.
Before delving into this article, it will be interesting to know how to correctly differentiate between a vegan and a vegetarian diet, pointing out the basic characteristics of both:
- Vegetarian diet: excludes the consumption of meat and fish, as well as all derivatives of animal origin, such as milk, honey and eggs. There are some exceptions, such as "api-vegetarians" who do consume honey, "ovo-vegetarians" who consume eggs, and "lacto-vegetarians" who consume milk. There are also combinations, such as "ovo-lacto-vegetarian".
- Vegan Diet: The vegan diet is more than just a way of eating, it is considered a lifestyle. Vegans reject any food of plant origin, the use of products derived from animals and carry out, as far as possible, a sustainable lifestyle, respectful of animals and the environment in general.
Can a cat be vegetarian or vegan by itself?
As we mentioned in the introduction, domestic cats are carnivorous animals And although they may sometimes be attracted to a specific fruit or vegetable They are not opportunistic omnivores, as is the case with dogs or rats. [two]
The very morphology of the feline predisposes him to carnivorous feeding: the taste buds of cats have a preference foramino acids , present in meat, fish, eggs or shellfish. On the contrary, they reject monosaccharides and disaccharides, present in fruit, vegetables, nuts or cereals. [two]
Because of all these factors, a cat cannot be vegetarian or vegan by itself, it is a choice made by its owners by the.
If cats are carnivorous, can a vegan cat die?
Cats have certain nutritional requirements [3]such as They are carbohydrates, fiber, fats, fatty acids, proteins, vitamins and amino acids. Some are more necessary than others, but at the end of the day, they are all vital to your survival. In the case of nutritional deficiencies, a cat could die.
Is there vegan food for cats?
Even knowing that cats are carnivorous animals, we can easily find vegetarian feed and vegan feed for cats on the market, how is it possible?
This type of food is specifically formulated with ingredients free of animal origin but at the same time they provide the feline with all the nutritional needs it requires. In other words, a cat that consumes daily a vegan or vegetarian food that is labeled as "nutritionally complete" will not suffer from he alth problems.
Supplements and additives are generally used to make this food more palatable, that is, more palatable. However, not all cats will accept it in a positive way. Therefore, if you are considering starting your feline on this type of diet, we recommend you assess the opinions of vegan food for cats before purchasing it and supervise any cheap vegan food carefully, since it may not be nutritionally complete.
Is homemade vegan cat food good?
As we have explained, commercial feed is usually formulated so that the cat accepts it in a positive way, something that does not usually happen with homemade vegan or vegetarian diets. Their own morphology pushes them to reject this type of food [2]
Furthermore, if we want to prepare our cat's diet ourselves, we can unintentionally create nutritional deficiencies. Deficiencies of calcium, taurine or certain vitamins are common, which can cause anemia and other pathologies.
Veterinary monitoring
It is generally recommended that a he althy cat visit the vet every 6 to 12 months for a general check-up, but in the case of following vegetarian or vegan diets, it is important to go more frequently,every 2 or 3 months.
The specialist will carry out a general observation and a blood test to detect any he alth problem early. Not going to the specialist can cause our best friend to get sick without knowing it. Remember that cats are very secretive animals and do not usually show symptoms of illness until it is too late.
