# cat veganism **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [September 12, 2003, 12:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cat-veganism/201087 "2003-09-12T00:17:46Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![DuhCow](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b38774/32.png) [@DuhCow](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DuhCow)\ **Post date:** [September 12, 2003, 12:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cat-veganism/201087/1 "2003-09-12T00:17:46Z")
is it healthy to raise a cat vegan? ---
**Author:** ![Road\_Rash](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/a8b319/32.png) [@Road\_Rash](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Road_Rash)\ **Post date:** [September 12, 2003, 12:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cat-veganism/201087/2 "2003-09-12T00:49:53Z")
Are you fuckin for real? I hope you are just asking this question out of curiosity, because if you are for real you are a very cruel, or horribly dim person. Assuming you are just curious, the answer is no. NO! NO! NO! It is difficult enough for a human to eat a healthy vegan diet. A cat is not a human. Felines are carnivores. Not omnivores like humans. It would be cruel and inhumane to make a cat a vegan. ---
**Author:** ![DuhCow](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b38774/32.png) [@DuhCow](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DuhCow)\ **Post date:** [September 12, 2003, 1:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cat-veganism/201087/3 "2003-09-12T01:13:11Z")
my roommate made me ask, though she know says your reply was biased. is there any sort of online source that can spell this out? not trhat i don’t trust your opinion ---
**Author:** ![DuhCow](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b38774/32.png) [@DuhCow](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DuhCow)\ **Post date:** [September 12, 2003, 1:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cat-veganism/201087/4 "2003-09-12T01:14:15Z")
\*now ---
**Author:** ![robby](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/robby/32/11048_2.png) [@robby](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/robby)\ **Post date:** [September 12, 2003, 1:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cat-veganism/201087/5 "2003-09-12T01:15:34Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by DuhCow \* > \*\*is it healthy to raise a cat vegan? \*\* Well, let’s see. Cats are [carnivores](http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?cmd=Retrieve&db=PubMed&list_uids=6380542&dopt=Abstract). ---
**Author:** ![Yeah](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/y/dbc845/32.png) [@Yeah](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Yeah)\ **Post date:** [September 12, 2003, 1:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cat-veganism/201087/6 "2003-09-12T01:35:57Z")
There’s nothing magic about meat. Your cat has needs for specific nutrients such as a variety of amino acids (in proportions roughly reflecting those found in meat), minerals (including trace elements), vitamins, essential fatty acids, and water. There is no reason you could not synthesize such a diet from non-animal sources. However, this would require significant knowledge on your part and would be costly. The following site doesn’t discuss synthesizing a diet suitable for cats but does point out some difficulties. Read the second paragraph under Carnivore beginning with “Felids are considered obligate carnivores…” [http://zcog.org/zcog%20frames/Mammal%20Nutrition/MammalNutrition.htm](http://zcog.org/zcog%20frames/Mammal%20Nutrition/MammalNutrition.htm) ---
**Author:** ![kanicbird](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/5f8ce5/32.png) [@kanicbird](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kanicbird)\ **Post date:** [September 12, 2003, 1:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cat-veganism/201087/7 "2003-09-12T01:41:06Z")
If the cat goes outdoors on it’s own regularly (like once a day) and are fairly fit, it may be possible. Cats are very smart in the manner that they know if they need something, if their diet is lacking and they have to opportuntiy they will hunt for the lackign nutrituion, and will get it from birds, mice and bugs. ---
**Author:** ![astro](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/9dc877/32.png) [@astro](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/astro)\ **Post date:** [September 12, 2003, 1:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cat-veganism/201087/8 "2003-09-12T01:42:45Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by DuhCow \* > \*\*my roommate made me ask, though she know says your reply was biased. is there any sort of online source that can spell this out? not trhat i don’t trust your opinion \*\* Biased?! With all due respect if your roomate has it in her tiny little head to try and raise a cat as a “vegan” you need to report her to the Humane Society so someone can take a poor cat away from her before she damages it with some other silly stunt. A cat will die a cruel and painful death if she tries this. The very best thing for a cat nutritionally is a small rodent which has the right balance of protein, minerals, roughage etc. Failing that some canned or bagged cat chow is a second best choice. Don’t let her hurt a cat! ---
**Author:** ![Q.E.D](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/q/51bf81/32.png) [@Q.E.D](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Q.E.D)\ **Post date:** [September 12, 2003, 1:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cat-veganism/201087/9 "2003-09-12T01:45:49Z")
Unlike many animals, cats cannot manufacture the amino acid taurine. Taurine is almost completely lacking in vegetarian and vegan diets, and is obtained almost exclusively from meat. Lack of taurine results in eventual blindness and cardiac failure. ---
**Author:** ![percypercy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/8baadc/32.png) [@percypercy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/percypercy)\ **Post date:** [September 12, 2003, 2:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cat-veganism/201087/10 "2003-09-12T02:18:33Z")
You can supposedly give cats a taurine supplement if you want to feed them a vegan diet though I’ve never tried this diet. My cats and I are largely carnivores. Here’s a site that talks about vegan diets for cats though. [http://www.drwoodley.com/cat-nutrition.html](http://www.drwoodley.com/cat-nutrition.html) ---
**Author:** ![Vision\_of\_Love](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/5f8ce5/32.png) [@Vision\_of\_Love](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Vision_of_Love)\ **Post date:** [September 12, 2003, 2:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cat-veganism/201087/11 "2003-09-12T02:26:09Z")
Guys, I think a simple “No” would’ve sufficed. ---
**Author:** ![sturmhauke](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e47c2d/32.png) [@sturmhauke](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/sturmhauke)\ **Post date:** [September 12, 2003, 2:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cat-veganism/201087/12 "2003-09-12T02:40:03Z")
percypercy: Considering taurine comes from meat, where do you think the supplemental taurine comes from? ---
**Author:** ![Spoons](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/spoons/32/3141_2.png) [@Spoons](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spoons)\ **Post date:** [September 12, 2003, 2:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cat-veganism/201087/13 "2003-09-12T02:46:36Z")
True, **icephoenix** , but the OP wanted an online cite. > [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by DuhCow \* > my roommate made me ask, though she know says your reply was biased. is there any sort of online source that can spell this out? Maybe I am biased. After all, I wouldn’t force a carnivore (like a cat) to eat plants any more than I would force a herbivore (like a horse) to eat meat. But perhaps your roommate would believe the [Vegetarian Society of the United Kingdom.](http://www.vegsoc.org/info/catfood.html) Here’s something on cat nutrition from their website: > [@](#): > > Although it is possible to keep dogs on a vegetarian diet satisfactorily, cats are more specialised and you are advised to consider carefully before changing your cat to a vegetarian diet… > > Cats require certain nutrients from meat that cannot be obtained in sufficient amounts from plant foods. These include taurine, arachidonic acid, vitamin A, and vitamin B12. In fairness, they do mention a nutritional supplement that you can add to the cat’s vegetarian food, but then they go on to say: > [@](#): > > Vegetarian cat owners should always be prepared to seek professional help by contacting either their veterinary officer or an animal nutritionist through the RSPCA. I don’t know if this means to check with a professional before you put your cat on a vegan diet, or to be ready to run off for an emergency vet visit when Kitty develops health problems as a result of the vegan diet, however. ---
**Author:** ![Q.E.D](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/q/51bf81/32.png) [@Q.E.D](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Q.E.D)\ **Post date:** [September 12, 2003, 2:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cat-veganism/201087/14 "2003-09-12T02:54:18Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by sturmhauke \* > \*\*percypercy: Considering taurine comes from meat, where do you think the supplemental taurine comes from? \*\* Amino acids are fairly simple, chemically, and most can be synthesized. But then there are the other nutritional requirements cited by **Spoons**. Cats evolved eating meat, and IMO forcing them to eat a vegetarian/vegan diet is cruel. ---
**Author:** ![sturmhauke](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e47c2d/32.png) [@sturmhauke](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/sturmhauke)\ **Post date:** [September 12, 2003, 2:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cat-veganism/201087/15 "2003-09-12T02:59:23Z")
Oh, and we don’t do simple “nos” around here, as they aren’t very informative. ---
**Author:** ![Baraqiyal](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/ecccb3/32.png) [@Baraqiyal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Baraqiyal)\ **Post date:** [September 12, 2003, 3:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cat-veganism/201087/16 "2003-09-12T03:03:11Z")
I’m surprised no one has linked to Cecil’s column yet: [http://www.straightdope.com/classics/a960426.html](http://www.straightdope.com/classics/a960426.html) ---
**Author:** ![richardb](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/96bed5/32.png) [@richardb](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/richardb)\ **Post date:** [September 12, 2003, 3:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cat-veganism/201087/17 "2003-09-12T03:18:23Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by DuhCow \* > \*\*my roommate made me ask, though she know says your reply was biased. is there any sort of online source that can spell this out? not trhat i don’t trust your opinion \*\* **Q.E.D.** is entirely correct in that felines require taurine, available only in meat. I must admit I have heard about “supplements,” but given the track record of those who claim to be vegan, I would be extremely dubious about those claims unless backed up aby a reputable scientific source. Speaking of reputable scientific sources, the National Academy of Sciences just released a "450-page report by an international team of experts [which] is the most comprehensive assessment available of the daily nutrient and calorie requirements for dogs and cats. Although it is intended primarily for scientists, pet-food manufacturers, and veterinarians, the report also includes tips on how to recognize when dogs and cats are overweight, and on what and how to feed the animals to keep them healthy." The full report costs $$, but here is a link to the report’s website, which includes portions of it: [http://dels.nas.edu/banr/petdoor.html](http://dels.nas.edu/banr/petdoor.html) And a link to an FAQ: [http://dels.nas.edu/banr/cd\_cat\_faq.html#q1](http://dels.nas.edu/banr/cd_cat_faq.html#q1) which states: > [@](#): > > Q: Does my cat need to have meat and/or fish products in her diet? > > A: Domestic cats are descended from strict meat-eaters, and their behavior reveals their carnivorous nature. When hunting, domestic cats will seek small prey such as mice, birds, and insects. They may even kill and eat a rabbit. They will stop eating a meal of commercial cat food and go off hunting if distracted by potential prey. The particular chemistry and structure of the cat’s gastrointestinal system is well-suited to digesting and absorbing nutrients from animal-based proteins and fats. Vegetarian diets can be result in harmful deficiencies of certain essential amino acids, fatty acids, and vitamins. Here is a link to a press release on the report, which in part says the same thing: [http://www4.nas.edu/news.nsf/isbn/0309086280?OpenDocument](http://www4.nas.edu/news.nsf/isbn/0309086280?OpenDocument) > [@](#): > > Cat’s are descended from carnivores, and their gastrointestinal system is well-suited to digesting and absorbing nutrients from animal-based proteins and fats. They should not be fed a vegetarian diet because it could result in harmful deficiencies of certain amino acids, fatty acids and vitamins, the report says. Although dogs may prefer animal-based food, they can survive on a vegetarian diet as long as it contains sufficient protein and other nutrients, the report notes. ---
**Author:** ![Biffy\_the\_Elephant\_Shrew](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/e47c2d/32.png) [@Biffy\_the\_Elephant\_Shrew](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Biffy_the_Elephant_Shrew)\ **Post date:** [September 12, 2003, 4:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cat-veganism/201087/18 "2003-09-12T04:23:49Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by sturmhauke \* > \*\*Considering taurine comes from meat, where do you think the supplemental taurine comes from? \*\* Vegan cat foods contain taurine derived from yeast. **Yeah** is correct; while cats require the nutrients present in meat, they can get along perfectly well given the same nutrients derived from non-animal sources. Personally, however, I think it would be better all around for the vegan types to get a rabbit instead. ---
**Author:** ![kanicbird](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/5f8ce5/32.png) [@kanicbird](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kanicbird)\ **Post date:** [September 12, 2003, 11:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cat-veganism/201087/19 "2003-09-12T11:04:27Z")
[quote[they can get along **perfectly well** given the same nutrients derived from non-animal sources.[/quote] (bold mine) It would seem from the above cites (all of them) that cats may be able to survive on non-animal nutrients, but that is a far cry from “get along perfectly well”. ---
**Author:** ![MC\_Master\_of\_Ceremonies](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/bb73d2/32.png) [@MC\_Master\_of\_Ceremonies](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MC_Master_of_Ceremonies)\ **Post date:** [September 12, 2003, 11:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cat-veganism/201087/20 "2003-09-12T11:42:05Z")
This has been asked before: putting a cat on a vegan diet, even one that has been designed for cats, can cause your cats nutriential and digestive system problems. In short cats are canivores and it’s cruel to try and force them onto a vegan diet, one they will likely supplement anyway by catching animals. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cat-veganism/201087.md?page=2)