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veganism and pets?
- Thread starter Jabberwocky
- Start date
Dtergent
Bluelight Crew
I feed my dog raw ground beef, sometimes some veggies. YOu can't make your cat vegan. It's like telling you to live on sunlight and water like a plant.
If I were you, run a search on raw food for pets, there are some instructions on how to prepare food. I was considering buying him little chicks, but then he'd just kill them and not eat them.
If I were you, run a search on raw food for pets, there are some instructions on how to prepare food. I was considering buying him little chicks, but then he'd just kill them and not eat them.
Aishas Star
Bluelighter
Wow reading this thread makes my eyes hurt..
Phil, i agree with your concerns, though i am not a vegan, i find it hard to eat meat myself sometimes, but i still make my self do it on occasion.
Maybe a good option is to give your soon-to-be cats a separated diet. once or twice a week give them some good clean fish/meat, so that you can feed them a vegan diet most of the time, but on the odd occasion give them their natural diet. I don't know much about the subject but i think you'd have to not leave it longer then a week to give something different, say if you only did it every 2 weeks it might be a bit harsh on its stomach.
The other option is to enjoy your cats for who they are, your doing them a life saving favour, im sure they'll be happy with you as long as they have a full belly, a bowl of water. some toys and you.
Phil, i agree with your concerns, though i am not a vegan, i find it hard to eat meat myself sometimes, but i still make my self do it on occasion.
Maybe a good option is to give your soon-to-be cats a separated diet. once or twice a week give them some good clean fish/meat, so that you can feed them a vegan diet most of the time, but on the odd occasion give them their natural diet. I don't know much about the subject but i think you'd have to not leave it longer then a week to give something different, say if you only did it every 2 weeks it might be a bit harsh on its stomach.
The other option is to enjoy your cats for who they are, your doing them a life saving favour, im sure they'll be happy with you as long as they have a full belly, a bowl of water. some toys and you.
deroxor
Bluelighter
lostpunk5545
Bluelighter
MynameisnotDeja said:
But are you eating more chicken to substitute your lack of red meat?
DJDannyUhOh
Bluelighter
Eating meat is an instinct. Becoming vegan is a conscious decision we, only as humans, make and it involves emotions, not instincts. Feed your cat, and any pets for that matter, the proper diet it needs - whether it can be achieved with or without meat. Always put your pet's health above and beyond any idealistic crusade you choose to embark on.
"Don't kid yourself Jimmy. If a cow had the chance, he'd eat you and everyone you love."
- Troy McClure -
"Don't kid yourself Jimmy. If a cow had the chance, he'd eat you and everyone you love."
- Troy McClure -
DJDannyUhOh
Bluelighter
When it comes to cats, a vegan or even vegetarian diet may not be such a great idea (unlike what's explained in this thread) - as explained in this link:
http://www.vegsoc.org/info/catfood.html
Animals do not have a diet bias like we do. They require nutrition from sources that they've evolved to subsist on for centuries and sometimes it's unhealthy to alter that. Also, my gf is a tech at an animal hospital here in Chicago and her vets recommended this website:
http://www.aafponline.org/
It's The American Association of Feline Practitioners. You can contact them and they will pretty much tell you the same thing mentioned above.
In case the first link is down, here's some of it:
Cats - a vegetarian diet?
Although it is possible to keep dogs on a vegetarian diet satisfactorily, cats are more specialised and you are advised to consider carefully before changing your cat to a vegetarian diet.
Cats are natural carnivores and are unlikely to willingly forego meat from their diet. Cats fed on vegetarian diets are likely to look elsewhere for their preferred meat diet, and many cats will hunt and kill small rodents and birds.
Cats require certain nutrients from meat that cannot be obtained in sufficient amounts from plant foods. These include taurine, arachidonic acid, vitamin A, and vitamin B12.
Taurine
Taurine is an amino acid essential for cats but not for other mammals. In the prolonged absence of taurine, a cat's retina slowly degenerates and the cat suffers eye problems and can become irreversibly blind. This condition is called central retinal degeneration (CRD). Cow's milk is a poor source of taurine and there is none in plant foods. The only rich source is meat.
Arachidonic acid
Cats need a dietary source of essential fatty acids which they can then convert into other essential substances. A dietary source of the essential fatty acid, arachidonic acid, is not needed by humans as they can synthesise it from linoleic acid present in vegetable fat. However, cats lack the necessary enzymes to synthesise arachidonic acid and so a dietary source is essential. Fatty tissues and milk contain almost none and only small amounts occur in eggs. Meat is the only major source. Arachidonic acid deficiency takes some time to develop but its effect on the cat is profound.
Vitamin A
Cats cannot utilise the provitamin A of vegetables and therefore require preformed vitamin A (retinol) which occurs only in animal foods. There are only small quantities of vitamin A in eggs and dairy produce. The richest source is liver.
Vitamin B12
Cat's cannot synthesise their own vitamin B12 and a dietary source is necessary. Vitamin B12 is present only in animal products.
Niacin
Unlike other mammals, cats cannot synthesise useful quantities of this vitamin from protein and therefore require a good dietary supply. Eggs and dairy produce are very poor sources and the niacin in cereals is largely unavailable to cats. A diet based on cereals, milk and eggs will always be deficient in niacin for cats. Meat is a rich source.
Thiamin
Cats are very susceptible to deficiency of this vitamin, which is rapidly destroyed by heat. Eggs and dairy produce are poor sources, wholemeal cereals and pulses are fair sources, meat is a good source.
Protein
Cat's require large amounts of protein in their diet and this can be a problem on a vegetarian diet. Over 25% of a cat's diet should be a protein.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Whilst cats may enjoy certain plant foods, vegetarian diets high in fiber and polyunsaturated fatty acids may be detrimental to a cat's health. High fibre foods can fill the cat's digestive system without providing the necessary nutrients in sufficient concentrations. Excess polyunsaturated fatty acids in vegetable oils can lead to a vitamin E deficiency related illness.
If you do decide to give your cat a vegetarian diet, then a supplement is available from:
Katz Go Vegan, The Vegan Society, 7 Battle Road, St.Leonards on Sea, East Sussex, TN37 7AA
This is a powder which can be added to your cat's meals. If you do not feel it is appropriate to feed your cat a vegetarian diet, then you may find it preferable to use concentrated dry cat food rather than canned. Most major cat food manufacturers now produce concentrated dry foods which may be less offensive to handle for vegetarian cat owners as well as conferring health benefits for your cat in comparison with traditional canned food.
Vegetarian cat owners should always be prepared to seek professional help by contacting either their veterinary officer or an animal nutritionist through the RSPCA.
http://www.vegsoc.org/info/catfood.html
Animals do not have a diet bias like we do. They require nutrition from sources that they've evolved to subsist on for centuries and sometimes it's unhealthy to alter that. Also, my gf is a tech at an animal hospital here in Chicago and her vets recommended this website:
http://www.aafponline.org/
It's The American Association of Feline Practitioners. You can contact them and they will pretty much tell you the same thing mentioned above.
In case the first link is down, here's some of it:
Cats - a vegetarian diet?
Although it is possible to keep dogs on a vegetarian diet satisfactorily, cats are more specialised and you are advised to consider carefully before changing your cat to a vegetarian diet.
Cats are natural carnivores and are unlikely to willingly forego meat from their diet. Cats fed on vegetarian diets are likely to look elsewhere for their preferred meat diet, and many cats will hunt and kill small rodents and birds.
Cats require certain nutrients from meat that cannot be obtained in sufficient amounts from plant foods. These include taurine, arachidonic acid, vitamin A, and vitamin B12.
Taurine
Taurine is an amino acid essential for cats but not for other mammals. In the prolonged absence of taurine, a cat's retina slowly degenerates and the cat suffers eye problems and can become irreversibly blind. This condition is called central retinal degeneration (CRD). Cow's milk is a poor source of taurine and there is none in plant foods. The only rich source is meat.
Arachidonic acid
Cats need a dietary source of essential fatty acids which they can then convert into other essential substances. A dietary source of the essential fatty acid, arachidonic acid, is not needed by humans as they can synthesise it from linoleic acid present in vegetable fat. However, cats lack the necessary enzymes to synthesise arachidonic acid and so a dietary source is essential. Fatty tissues and milk contain almost none and only small amounts occur in eggs. Meat is the only major source. Arachidonic acid deficiency takes some time to develop but its effect on the cat is profound.
Vitamin A
Cats cannot utilise the provitamin A of vegetables and therefore require preformed vitamin A (retinol) which occurs only in animal foods. There are only small quantities of vitamin A in eggs and dairy produce. The richest source is liver.
Vitamin B12
Cat's cannot synthesise their own vitamin B12 and a dietary source is necessary. Vitamin B12 is present only in animal products.
Niacin
Unlike other mammals, cats cannot synthesise useful quantities of this vitamin from protein and therefore require a good dietary supply. Eggs and dairy produce are very poor sources and the niacin in cereals is largely unavailable to cats. A diet based on cereals, milk and eggs will always be deficient in niacin for cats. Meat is a rich source.
Thiamin
Cats are very susceptible to deficiency of this vitamin, which is rapidly destroyed by heat. Eggs and dairy produce are poor sources, wholemeal cereals and pulses are fair sources, meat is a good source.
Protein
Cat's require large amounts of protein in their diet and this can be a problem on a vegetarian diet. Over 25% of a cat's diet should be a protein.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Whilst cats may enjoy certain plant foods, vegetarian diets high in fiber and polyunsaturated fatty acids may be detrimental to a cat's health. High fibre foods can fill the cat's digestive system without providing the necessary nutrients in sufficient concentrations. Excess polyunsaturated fatty acids in vegetable oils can lead to a vitamin E deficiency related illness.
If you do decide to give your cat a vegetarian diet, then a supplement is available from:
Katz Go Vegan, The Vegan Society, 7 Battle Road, St.Leonards on Sea, East Sussex, TN37 7AA
This is a powder which can be added to your cat's meals. If you do not feel it is appropriate to feed your cat a vegetarian diet, then you may find it preferable to use concentrated dry cat food rather than canned. Most major cat food manufacturers now produce concentrated dry foods which may be less offensive to handle for vegetarian cat owners as well as conferring health benefits for your cat in comparison with traditional canned food.
Vegetarian cat owners should always be prepared to seek professional help by contacting either their veterinary officer or an animal nutritionist through the RSPCA.
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