![vegan cat](https://cdn.zmescience.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/cat-vegan.jpg)
Cats, with their intrinsic hunting instinct, are known to crave meat. Actually, all their intestinal physiology is adapted to a fully carnivorous diet.
Like the popularity of meat-free diets grows in humans, many cat owners may be considering offering the same diet to their pets. But what happens when our four-legged friends feast exclusively on plant-based meals?
The vegan cat movement
As you browse the aisles of your local pet store, you’ll notice a changing landscape in the cat food section. Meat, once the primary source of protein, now competes with a wave of alternative options like plants and mushrooms. In many ways, this reflects the many food options humans have. But these changes are sparking debate: Is vegan the way forward for cats, or is it just a passing trend? Or worse: will a cat that becomes vegan suffer from health problems?
Veterinary professionals have often expressed their concerns. They believe that vegan diets – lacking meat, eggs and dairy – may not meet the unique nutritional needs of cats. However, until now, very few studies have explored this issue in depth.
To try to shed some light on this topic, Andrew Knight from the University of Winchester, UK, and his team took a closer look at this topic. They collected survey responses from 1,369 cat owners. Each participant reported on their cat’s health and diet, specifying that the feline had been following their respective diet – vegan or meat-based – for at least a year.
Around 9% of participants revealed that they served a vegan menu to their cats. But this is where things get intriguing.
Vegan or meat: which diet wins?
![vegan cat](https://cdn.zmescience.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/couch-2599676_1280.jpg)
After adjusting for external factors, such as age or whether the cat had been neutered, the results painted an interesting picture. Vegan cat owners reported fewer vet visits, fewer medications, and more approvals from their veterinarians. When looking at a range of 22 specific disorders, researchers found that 42% of feline owners on a meat-based diet reported at least one health problem, while for cat owners on a vegan diet, that number was 37%.
There is a catch, however: none of these differences are statistically significant. In other words, the health improvements reported in vegan cats were, at best, marginal compared to completely carnivorous felines. And an important caveat is that the researchers did not analyze the nutrient content of either diet, because all results were self-reported by the owners themselves.
What does this mean for your feline?
Although the improvements seen from switching to a vegan diet during cats were small, at least one thing seems clear: a vegan diet won’t harm your cat. The results were reported in the journal PLOS ONE.
This is not the only study that reaches this conclusion. A recent review of 2023 of 16 studies on the impact of vegan diets on the health of cats and dogs concluded that “there is little evidence of adverse effects occurring in dogs and cats following a vegan diet.”
However, their main conclusion is that there simply isn’t enough quality research focused on the effects of these alternative diets. Some veterinarians are concerned that a strictly plant-based diet may lead to deficiencies in certain amino acids such as taurine and vitamins such as B12 (cobalamin) and B9 (folate). Guardians who are adamant about feeding their cats a vegan diet may want to consider supplementing with these micronutrients. The review authors also advise taking a cautious approach, recommending using only commercial products rather than homemade foods.
While the debate continues, remember that every cat is unique. Whether you’re considering changing your cat’s diet or are simply curious about the latest trends, it’s always essential to consult your veterinarian.
Ultimately, we all want what’s best for our feline companions, whether that’s Tofu or tuna is a tale that is still being written.