Can You Feed Cats A Vegan Diet?
For those seeking environmentally-friendly or animal-friendly alternatives to conventional cat food, plant-based diets are one possibility. But is it feasible to feed cats a vegan diet? Although many veterinarians maintain that cats are obligate carnivores, some research has found that there are few health differences between vegan and non-vegan cats. However, no large-scale study has examined the topic.
In this survey, researchers asked 1,369 cat guardians to weigh in about their cats’ health. Of these, 127 respondents (9%) fed their cats a vegan diet. The majority of respondents (85%) stated that the most crucial factor influencing their choice of companion animal diet was “health and nutrition.”
The guardians provided information on seven general indicators of illness, as well as their veterinary assessments and other health-related information. The results were controlled for a cat’s age, sex, primary location (outdoor vs. indoor), and neutering status, which the authors note can also affect health outcomes in addition to diet.
Due to the limited number of vegan cats, none of the results were statistically significant. However, the researchers flagged several interesting trends. For example, vegan cats were slightly less likely to require more than two veterinary visits per year. They also had a slightly lower risk of needing medication and fewer health disorders per unwell cat. Guardians of vegan cats were less likely to perceive their animals as having a more severe illness.
Regarding veterinary assessments, vegan cats were marginally less likely to be considered unwell by veterinarians. They also had a lower risk of being classified as having a severe illness.
Finally, guardians were asked about the prevalence of 22 specific health disorders within the previous year. Meat-based cats had a higher likelihood of experiencing 15 disorders, while vegan cats had a higher likelihood of experiencing seven. However, apart from kidney disease (which was higher in vegan cats), the differences between the diet groups were not statistically significant.
Again, because most of these results weren’t statistically significant, it’s important to remember they are not conclusive. The researchers acknowledge several other limitations to their study. For example, guardians’ expectations of their chosen diet could influence their perspective and lead to bias in the results. Nevertheless, the researchers took steps to minimize these biases through the survey design.
To accurately assess the health effects of different diets, it is important to create controlled feeding environments and use objective measures such as laboratory tests and veterinary assessments. However, conducting such studies would require a substantial amount of funding. Animal advocates can call for resources to be invested in controlled dietary studies, using this study as evidence — although the results weren’t conclusive, they suggest that vegan cat diets deserve more attention.
Finally, the researchers stress that animal guardians need to make sure their animals are being fed a balanced and appropriate diet for their age and health condition. Various studies have identified nutritional deficiencies in both meat-based and plant-based diets. Therefore, consumers should carefully review their cat food for nutritional adequacy and consult a veterinary professional for additional insight.