Vegetarian Diets for Cats

Cats and a vegetarian diet

While it may seem absurd to feed a cat a vegetarian diet after all we've reported here about the importance of meat protein and the unimportance of grains in a cat's diet, there are some arguments for a vegetarian diet, as long as it's properly balanced and meets the AAFCO (Association of American Feed Control Officials) Dog and Cat Food Nutrient Profiles.

Cats also don't naturally like grains and plants. Even so, some vegetarian pet owners want their cat to have a meat-free diet. If you're determined, there are ways to make it work, and there are even commercial formulas available. Evolution makes both wet (*est. $1.85 for a 13-ounce can) and dry (*Est. $30 for a 10-pound bag) vegan cat foods, and Evanger's offers a Vegetarian Dinner variety (*est. $1.60 for a 13.2-ounce can). Vegepet sells a variety of food supplements and other products for those who want to make vegan cat foods at home.

If you're considering a vegetarian diet for a dog or cat, make sure all the required nutrients are present, and then watch your pet carefully for changes in energy, coat luster, eye clarity, stool texture and overall affect. Dietary deficiencies don't show up instantly, so observe your pet for several weeks before deciding whether or not the new diet is acceptable.