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

[devolute]

I don't mean to stir up argument, but I do want to say that I think that the answer is that we're human, and we're not perfect. Theory is one thing, making actual choices is another. If I were given the choice between saving a family member or 10 strangers, I don't know what I would do. Their lives are objectively equal in value, but I'm not a perfect person.

I also think that when you're dealing with a rescue cat, that cat is already alive, and giving it a good home is something I think is important. If it's not going to me, it's going to go to someone else who is maybe less concerned with animal rights and keeping pets well-cared for. I'm not supporting any industry by adopting that cat, and while I am supporting the meat industry when I buy its food, someone else would have done so, anyway. So I guess I could kill the cat, or let it be killed, and theoretically save other animals lives (it's not thousands, by the way), but I don't think that's the most humane thing, either. I don't think there's a solution until people can be more responsible and get their pets spayed/neutered and breeding stops. In the meantime, what can we do? Maybe I am acting selfishly, but I really don't think I'm in the wrong for getting a pet.

I do think your logic is sound, and I don't mean to say that I think you're wrong in any way. I know it's a touchy issue. I just think we all make choices based off of what we think is right at the time, and emotions, and we can't always make objective decisions based on solely on our morals, and I don't think it makes us bad people.

[ryansmithxvx]

explain to me how it's not thousands, because the facts do not support your opinion

[devolute]

Explain to me how it is thousands (sources?). I don't have facts, only estimates and things I've heard/read (I remember reading 10 animals per year per cat, but I can't find any sources to support or negate that claim at the moment). I think it's a hard thing to estimate, but I doubt one housecat consumes the equivilent of 'thousands' of animals. So right now I guess this point is moot.

I don't think this is really a discussion worth having, my only point was that we can't always live 100% to our theoretical morals, and that there's nothing wrong with being human. It means more to me to save a cat's life and to have its companionship to add to my own selfish happiness than to save this theoretical population of animals to which we can't even put a number. It's fine that you think that's wrong, I just don't like being attacked/criticized for my choices when I was only asking for help on how to make those choices more positive.

[ryansmithxvx]

ok, you have to stop calculating exactly what that *particular* cat consumes in worth and remember that there is always waste, animals who die and don't get used, etc. for every worth of animal consumed, it didn't just require one actual animal. it requires several. they don't use all of the entire animal. that's what fact i'm talking about. waste and excess.