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 discussed 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 AAFCO Dog and Cat Food Nutrient Profiles. Eric Weisman at Evolution Diet argues that feral cats eating a natural diet don't live nearly as long as domestic cats, and that there have been no reports of adverse lab tests among the thousands of cats eating Evolution vegan cat food.

Cats don't naturally like grains and plants. Even so, some vegetarian pet owners want their cat to have a meat-free diet, and it can still contain the protein cats need. If you're determined, there are ways to make it work, and there are even commercial formulas available. Evolution makes vegan cat food in both forms: wet (*Est. $2.39 for a 13-oz. can) and dry (*Est. $20 for a 5-lb. bag).

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. For those cat owners interested in making their own vegan cat foods at home, Vegepet sells a variety of food supplements and other products.