Hybrid diets for cats?

[devolute]

I know this has been discussed to death, but I have some questions about cat food... I haven't been able to find any information from people who have fed their kitties on a combination diet of vegan and meat-based cat food. Is this a bad idea? I know cats are obligate carnivores, but does that mean they shouldn't be eating anything plant-based?

Comments

[lostvirtue]

I feed my cats pet promise.... http://www.petpromiseinc.com/ Our local co-op sells it and I've also seen it at other co-ops/natural food stores

They seem to the be the one brand I can find that doesn't factory farm and is all produced in the US.

I have two cats and I only spend about 16 bucks a month on cat food give or take... and I have also considered doing a half and half diet - and maybe I still will, but I've looked around and this seems to be the best "meat" brand and my cats really like it.

[ryansmithxvx]

so, since they don't factory farm their animals, there are more animals needing to be killed that wouldn't have already. just creating further demand in new areas for non-human death.

[lostvirtue]

I'm didn't comment here to argue about what I feed my cats, .... but - I don't believe a vegan diet is healthy for cats and unless I kill them they will be eating some other animal to stay healthy. If I let them outside, I am certain they will kill it themselves.

I'm not "creating" anything - I did not bring them into existence, both my cats are rescue.

I have never seen any long term studies on vegan cats and every single vet I've ever spoken with does not recommend a vegan/vegetarian diet.

[ryansmithxvx]

you don't believe it's healthy? well, i'm glad facts don't get in the way of what you believe!

[lostvirtue]

What FACTS are you talking about exactly?

[ryansmithxvx]

the FACT (see, i can use caps lock/shift, too!) that domesticated cats are fed entirely vegan diets by humans and live healthy lives on aforementioned diets. those facts.

[lostvirtue]

Can you show me any studies or research on this besides someone's word of mouth or information on a vegan cat food site?

[ryansmithxvx]

read the book 'obligate carnivore' for starters. the people who run vegancats.com wrote it. it has a lot of information in there.

additionally, i've met tons of entirely vegan cats. some of them even male!

cats live on vegan diets all over. that's the fact i'm talking about.

[lostvirtue]

Just because cats can survive on a vegan diet doesn't mean they live as long or as healthy.

I've had multiple vets advise me on this, and as far as I know there is no research on this.

I've actually tried to feed a cat a mixed diet of vegan food and "meat" food and it would pick around the vegan food and not eat it.

And yes, there is history of male cats having urinary track problems with it and one of my cats has a history of this. (though only once, and it was it was treated)

You've met tons of vegan cats? That's amazing, ... maybe you live somewhere wonderful but I hardly have met any vegans at all... much less vegan cats.

I guess I've read a lot of contradictory information, certainly you can understand why someone might be concerned with the mixture of data out there.

I'll continue to look into this, but I suggest you may want to take a slightly different tone if you actually want to inform people.

[lostvirtue]

oh and from that book

'Gillen makes the point that at the very least vegans should try vegan cat food and see if their cats like it. He ends the book asking people to at least meet him halfway - feed your cat meals that have at least some vegan food mixed with the other food."

I don't know why I keep commenting, I guess I'm bored.

[devolute]

You seem pretty good at criticizing other peoples FACTS and yet provide none of your own other than what you believe. Feeding a cat a vegan diet (especially male cats) is considered by many to be animal cruelty. It is a fact that they are obligate carnivores

Re: I don't know why I keep commenting, I guess I'm bored.

[ryansmithxvx]

out of the dozens of cats i've seen vegans attempt to raise on vegan diets, there is a great success rate. additionally, the information is out there on how to rear a cat as vegan to the greatest chance of success. sometimes, it just may not work. then, we seek alternative solutions. however, we ought to try veganism first. one cat's life value is not superior to the life values of multiple other animals. how can we support that disbalance

[dorisp]

Some cats can and some cannot - especially male cats. They get crystals and get blocked and die no matter how vigilant you are - I know because I'm tried a vegan diet with my cat 3 times and all times have lead to hospital emergency care.

[ryansmithxvx]

i'm aware that the success rate for a male cat is lower. sometimes, it's a lot lot lot of work to get things right for a male cat on a vegan diet. what about allowing your cat to hunt outside? i just find that purchasing objectified animals from a store to be a loss, not a win.

[dorisp]

My cat is a whiny baby. If I put him outside, he sits at the doors and yowls till I let him back in. I rescued him at a very young age and he's imprinted on me like woah.

:/

[weeona]

They don't use factory farmed meat, but they do use captive animal testing (PP is owned by Purina... sigh