Cats are obligate carnivores, meaning they need meat in their diet to survive. Unlike dogs, cats cannot thrive on a vegetarian or vegan diet due to their nutritional requirements. However, there are some commercial cat foods marketed as “vegetarian” or “vegan” that contain plant-based protein sources.
Can cats eat a vegetarian diet?
Cats require certain nutrients found only in animal products, such as taurine, vitamin A, arachidonic acid, and preformed vitamin A. Taurine is an amino acid essential for eye and heart health that is found naturally in meat. Cats cannot synthesize enough taurine on their own and require it from their diet. Deficiency in taurine can lead to blindness, heart failure, and even death.
Vitamin A is another essential nutrient for cats found only in animal sources. Plant sources contain carotenoids that must be converted to retinol (active vitamin A) in the body. Cats lack the ability to make this conversion, so they need preformed vitamin A from animal tissues.
Arachidonic acid is a fatty acid cats need to maintain optimal health and vision. It is found predominantly in animal fat sources.
For these reasons, vegetarian and vegan cat foods must be heavily fortified with synthetic taurine, vitamin A, arachidonic acid, and other nutrients essential for felines. Simply feeding your cat vegetables, grains, and other plant products can lead to severe malnutrition and serious health consequences.
Are there any vegetarian cat foods on the market?
There are a handful of commercial cat foods labeled as “vegetarian” or “vegan” available. However, it is important to read the ingredients carefully, as some may still contain animal derivatives.
Some examples of vegetarian cat foods include:
- Ami Cat Vegan
- Benevo Vegan
- Evolution Diet Vegetarian Formula
- V-Dog Vegan Kibble Mix
These foods do not contain any meat, fish, poultry, or animal by-products. Instead, they are formulated with soy, corn, wheat, rice, peas, and supplementary taurine, vitamins, and minerals.
It’s important to note that vegetarian and vegan cat foods are considered “incomplete” diets. They should not be fed long-term without supervision from a veterinarian. Cats’ nutritional requirements are complex, and homemade vegetarian food is unlikely to meet all of those needs appropriately.
Are vegetarian diets safe for cats?
There is ongoing debate around whether vegetarian and vegan diets can be safe for cats when formulated properly. Here are some of the potential risks and benefits:
Potential risks
- Increased risk of taurine deficiency if not adequately supplemented
- Possible cardiac problems if taurine deficient
- Potential blindness if deficient in taurine or vitamin A
- Higher carbohydrate load may increase diabetes risk
- More frequent urination from plant protein sources
- Reduced protein absorption compared to animal sources
- Increased stool volume when fed more fiber
- High ash content may lead to urinary tract problems
- Unknown long-term health effects
Potential benefits
- Avoids potential allergens for cats with sensitivities
- May reduce intake of environmental contaminants found in meat
- Can help manage certain urinary tract conditions
- May support weight loss in obese cats if also portion-controlled
There are anecdotal reports from veterinarians and owners feeding vegetarian diets to cats for years without apparent health problems. However, controlled studies are still lacking.
Are there any health conditions suitable for a vegetarian cat diet?
There are a few feline health conditions where a vegetarian diet may be appropriate under a vet’s supervision. These include:
- Allergies to animal proteins – Vegetarian foods eliminate common allergens like chicken, fish, beef, dairy, etc.
- Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) – Some cats with IBD see improvement in symptoms on vegetarian diets.
- Chronic renal failure – Reducing phosphorus intake from meat may benefit cats in kidney failure.
- Bladder stones or crystals – The urine pH of vegetarian diets may help dissolve some stones.
- Obesity – Vegetarian diets can encourage weight loss if portion-controlled.
- Cancer – There is limited evidence that vegetarian diets may fight cancer cells.
In these cases, a vet should closely monitor the cat’s health on the diet. Lifelong supplementation of nutrients like taurine is necessary as well.
What precautions are needed with vegetarian cat diets?
Here are some precautions owners should take for cats eating vegetarian cat foods:
- Have your vet approve and prescribe the diet.
- Select an AAFCO approved commercial food formulated for cats.
- Do not attempt homemade vegetarian foods, which risk severe malnutrition.
- Supplement taurine daily according to veterinary guidelines.
- Monitor urinary pH regularly.
- Provide abundant fresh water.
- Feed twice daily as vegetarian diets digest faster.
- Monitor weight closely to ensure adequate calorie intake.
- Conduct frequent lab work to check vitamin/mineral status.
- Watch closely for signs of nutrient deficiency.
Vegetarian diets for cats should only be undertaken with proper precautions and supervision. Owners should also be prepared to transition back to a traditional diet at the first sign of health problems.
Can kittens eat a vegetarian diet?
Kittens should not eat a vegetarian diet under any circumstances. Kittens need even higher amounts of essential fatty acids, amino acids, vitamins, and minerals to support their growth and development that would be very difficult to meet with plant foods alone.
Feeding growing kittens a vegetarian diet risks severe malnutrition, stunted growth, eye problems, cardiovascular disease, neuropathies, and death. Kittens require meat-based diets to thrive.
How to transition a cat to a vegetarian diet
Transitioning a cat to a vegetarian diet should always be done gradually under veterinary supervision. Here are some tips for making the switch:
- Find a complete and balanced vegetarian cat food to transition to.
- Get the approval and supervision of your vet.
- Transition over 2-3 weeks by mixing in increasing amounts of the new food.
- Start with 75% old food, 25% new food.
- Gradually decrease old food while increasing new food.
- Monitor stool quality – some digestive upset is normal at first.
- Watch for signs of reduced appetite, weight loss, lethargy, or illness.
- Report any concerns to your vet immediately.
- Implement lifelong taurine supplementation per vet instructions.
- Conduct frequent lab work to monitor health status.
Transitioning also allows time to identify potential food allergies or intolerances. Go very slowly to allow the cat’s digestive system to adjust.
Conclusion
While vegetarian and vegan cat foods exist on the market, there is still debate on whether these diets can adequately meet feline nutritional needs long-term. Cats are obligate carnivores requiring certain nutrients only found in animal sources.
However, with proper supplementation and veterinary monitoring, some proponents argue vegetarian diets may be suitable in select cases. But cat owners should be aware of the potential health risks involved.
Kittens and pregnant/lactating cats should never eat a vegetarian diet. Any cat showing signs of nutrient deficiency also requires an immediate transition back to a meat-based diet. Overall, vegetarian diets for cats remain controversial and should be approached cautiously under veterinary supervision.