| We can understand why humans decided to | | | | synthesize niacin from protein. There are little |
| maintain a vegetarian diet because of various | | | | replacements as cats cannot use the B12 in |
| health reasons. We also know that human may | | | | cereals, and egg and dairy products are actually |
| possibly live a healthier lifestyle on a vegetarian | | | | poor sources for the vitamin. |
| diet, but is it the same for cats? Is there a need | | | | Source 3. Wysong, a premium pet food |
| to transform your cat's diet into a vegetarian one | | | | manufacturer, has a vegan cat food formula on |
| just because you are one? | | | | it's list, but guess what, they themselves warns |
| Like me, if the vegetarian cat diet issue has | | | | that the food does not meet feline protein |
| bothered you for a long time, I hope this little | | | | requirements. Wysong advises that the decision |
| research article can help you clear some doubts | | | | to feed a cat that is a natural carnivore an all |
| on whether a vegetarian cat diet is a healthy diet: | | | | vegetarian diet brings "inherent risk" with an |
| Source 1. Dr. Richard Pitcairn, author of "Dr. | | | | artificially imposed, imbalanced and deficient diet. |
| Pitcairn's Complete Guide to the Health of Dogs | | | | The vegan food formula the company offers is |
| and Cats," Rodale Press, notes that the | | | | to be used for specific purposes: |
| Vegetarian Society of the United Kingdom | | | | 1. For when a pet has food allergies, use the |
| reported that cats did well on meatless diets in | | | | vegan cat food as part of an elimination diet to |
| Great Britain. | | | | see what meat products your pet is allergic to. |
| Nevertheless, he warns that cats are true | | | | 2. Use the food as a base and add fresh meats |
| carnivores and have dietary needs that can only | | | | and organ meat. |
| be satisfied by ingesting animal tissue. He states | | | | Also, Wysong notes that since not 100% is |
| that unlike humans and dogs, cats cannot convert | | | | known about nutrition or nutrition of cats in |
| beta-carotene to vitamin A. They also need | | | | particular, calling a food 100% balanced cannot be |
| sufficient taurine, which is not found in plant | | | | truly accurate. One can extract from that |
| material. In short, Dr. Pitcairn does not feel that | | | | statement that how can we truly know what |
| meatless or near meatless diets supplemented | | | | other nutrients may be missing from a cat's diet |
| with taurine are healthy for cats. | | | | that is meatless and how can we be sure we are |
| Source 2. The Vegetarian Society, a UK | | | | supplementing sufficiently? |
| organization founded in 1847, warns against | | | | At the moment of time, the decision of most cat |
| feeding cats a vegetarian diet. The society | | | | owners to go with a vegetarian diet is really more |
| explains that cats are natural carnivores and are | | | | of an ethical choice than of a health-based one. If |
| likely to find their meat elsewhere by hunting | | | | you are thinking along the line of ethics, maybe |
| rodents and birds. They also reminds cat owners | | | | you can consider the reasons why you are |
| that cats require nutrients that are found only in | | | | forcing your cat to eat a diet that goes against its |
| meat. These nutrients include: taurine, arachidonic | | | | nature and possibly put its health at risk. If you |
| acid, vitamin A, vitamin B12, niacin, thiamin and | | | | decide to stick with a vegetarian diet for your |
| protein. | | | | cat, do consult your veterinarian regularly and |
| Explaining that meat is the only major source of | | | | bring him for an extra checkup annually. |
| arachidonic acid, and cats lacking the ability to | | | | |