Vegan pet food triggers meaty debate

[ms_maree]

Vets have advised against non-meat and non-dairy diets for domestic pets despite the increasing popularity of a vegan product designed to cover cats' and dogs' dietary needs.

Comments

[bex]

I agree with the vet. If you can't deal with feeding your pet an appropriate diet, you shouldn't have that pet. There are so many different animals you can keep as a companion; choose one that suits your lifestyle. It's not fair to the animal, otherwise.

Now I have to go check on my cockroach farm because geckos don't care how much 'roaches make me squirm, they want their dinners crunchy and wriggly.

[mastadge]

Agreed. I may choose to be vegetarian or vegan or some variant thereof for any of various reasons, and I may have ethical and environmental and other misgivings about the treatment of livestock and factory farming and so forth, but my pets get (what is to my understanding of their needs) the best diet I know how (and can afford) to give them.

[txvoodoo]

Yup. I've had all kinds of pets, and you feed them what they've evolved to need. My snake got live things, my chameleons got fruit and insects (as much as that grossed me out), my birds got appropriate seeds, and my dogs get things with meat.

They are not humans.

[mirhanda]

I agree with this as well. If you want a vegetarian pet, get a pet that is a vegetarian. Don't force that on a carnivore.

[mschaos]

considering the rate of diabetes in cats has increased dramatically over the years do to more grain based diets, it IS harmful to them.

cats ARE carnivores - they eat other animals in the wild. for them to thrive they need animal protein

[bex]

This. Trying to keep a cat on a vegetarian/vegan diet should be considered abuse.

[icanseenow]

I don't quite see how cheap meat cat food is much better for them then expensive non-meat cat food that got all the enzymes a cat need.

I mean, if we're talking "this is not their natural food!" don't we just need to give them fresh animals, if we can't let them hunt theirselves?

I had a cat and I fed it meat but as a vegan I felt very very bad about it. Saving one animal and then spending money on the meat industry for that animal does feel shit.

[muggy_wump]

Dogs are omnivores.

[layweed]

Dogs have something of an easier time transitioning to vegetarian food options than cats do, but I still don't think it's a wise thing to do.

[layweed]

OH SHIT HERE WE GO. BUCKLE YOUR SEAT BELTS.

At any rate, I will never EVER EVER consider giving my cat any sort of vegan or vegetarian diet. I don't care how/what you feel about eating animals YOURSELF, but please, do not apply the same standards to your pets. Pets who really don't have a choice when it comes to dietary needs.

[mlledesade]

Agreed!

[13chapters]

Feel the same. And I am a vegetarian. As a human, I can avoid meat and still keep my body going. My kitty gets meat.

[crysania4]

I'm in total agreement with the vet and it makes me really peeved when people force their carnivores to eat vegan or vegetarian food. It's not healthy for them. There are plenty of herbivores that are great pets (like rabbits) so sorry vegans, if you can't feed your pet properly, then get a pet that fits with your lifestyle.

[mirhanda]

+1

Also, that baby in your icon is adorable. I always look forward to seeing him or her. Such a cutie pie!

[crysania4]

Thank you! That's my Dahlia. She's such a good little model for a whole ton of silly photos.

[mirhanda]

I just want to hug and pet her forever! So cute :D