"We have a responsibility to imitate the natural food chain of the animals — in terms of both animal welfare and professional integrity," Aalborg Zoo says.
There’s been a handful of studies now, finding that house cats can often (but not always) thrive on a fully plant-based diet as long as it’s properly formulated. Can’t help but wonder how many other animals who we assumed are “obligate carnivores,” maybe, like, aren’t?
That’s not really the argument, though. Cats are obviously, objectively, and indisputably carnivores. The question is whether they are obligate carnivores. If they can live healthily without detriment on a plant based diet, then they are not obligate carnivores. If they cannot survive healthily on a plant based diet then they literally require meat to live, in which case they are an obligate carnivore.
The moral, ethical, and health discussion around feeding cats (both house- and big-) a plant based diet is beyond my scope, but arguing whether the cat is going to go for the tuna or the spinach isn’t the point. They’ll clearly go for the tuna. The question is whether they need that tuna to survive, or if they could live (healthy and happily) without it, if they could get their nutrients from, and be effectively tricked by, a plant based substitute.
Dude, people like you are everywhere. “My dogs a vegetarian”, “my cats a vagan”, “my cockapoo is a 2 spirted trans Afghan wolf hound”. Its always something, rather than just letting the pet be a pet. We hate it when asshole bullies, get bully dogs that they then train to be asshole just like them. But when it comes to other people pushing their nonsense onto pets, all of sudden we have to respect it.
Cats are carnivores. Thats the end of the discussion. Thats what they are. Just because they can survive on something, doesnt mean its what they should be eating. Some humans say they are vegan, and “survive”. They look fucking ill as fuck, but they are surviving. And without science, in the form of special meals and supplements, they would be fucking dead. Wanna know why? Cos human beings arent vegan. We can survive without meat, but its not how our diet is supposed to go.
All that said, I too hate the farming industry and how it keeps and treats animals. But we need more to be done on that front, than going out to eat at a restaurant just to moan at some minimum wage waiter about how meat, and its disgusting that theres no vegan options.
I’m not a vegan; I’m not a vegetarian. I’m far too broke and dependent on other people to be so picky as to choose what I get to eat. My dogs are also not on a vegetarian diet, neither is the cat.
I am not making an argument for or against veganism, and especially not for or against a vegan diet for pets. I was explaining what the difference was between a carnivore and an obligate carnivore is. I’m also not the originator of this thread, in case you missed that, too.
Normally I’d try to be nicer and more respectful, so as not to further inflame a situation, but honestly, the transphobic dig at “people like me” screams of someone who isn’t worth my time or respect. Be better. You can get your point across without needing to disrespect trans people and indigenous people. 'sfucked up
“People like you” People pushing their own shit on to pets.
But please, tell me more about how I am transphobic for calling out shitty owners who insist their dogs are LGBT just to get attention? I am all fucking ears.
No it isn’t, unless it’s done improperly. What objectively is animal abuse is feeding the ground up body parts of animals to anyone, including other animals.
Commercially produced vegan cat food can be nutritionally complete, but they are full of synthetic nutrients (because cats cannot synthesize things like taurine or folic acid). It is unnatural (and imo cruel) to force them to live off a fully synthetic diet. Many salmon have had to die for my cat to live a long and happy life. I am okay with that.
Yes, with an extremely customised, unnatural diet, a cat may survive a vegan diet. They rarely thrive. But the point is that they’re unable to do so naturally, most cats will not understand why their food isn’t what they’re naturally and instinctually supposed to eat, which causes them stress.
Cats have an instinct to chew on grass for digestive purposes, but that’s about it when it comes to eating plants. Getting a proper vegan diet for a cat is extremely hard to do and unnecessarily stressful for cats.
Cat food in most cases already is discarded meat not fit for human consumption. You’re not exactly saving a lot of animals by forcing a cat on an unnatural diet.
If you’re vegan, feed your cat meat. If you don’t want to do that, don’t get a cat.
There’s been a handful of studies now, finding that house cats can often (but not always) thrive on a fully plant-based diet as long as it’s properly formulated. Can’t help but wonder how many other animals who we assumed are “obligate carnivores,” maybe, like, aren’t?
Oh God not this again lmao
Put down a plate of plant and plate of meat. And then tell me with a straight face that the cat isnt a carnivore.
That’s not really the argument, though. Cats are obviously, objectively, and indisputably carnivores. The question is whether they are obligate carnivores. If they can live healthily without detriment on a plant based diet, then they are not obligate carnivores. If they cannot survive healthily on a plant based diet then they literally require meat to live, in which case they are an obligate carnivore.
The moral, ethical, and health discussion around feeding cats (both house- and big-) a plant based diet is beyond my scope, but arguing whether the cat is going to go for the tuna or the spinach isn’t the point. They’ll clearly go for the tuna. The question is whether they need that tuna to survive, or if they could live (healthy and happily) without it, if they could get their nutrients from, and be effectively tricked by, a plant based substitute.
Dude, people like you are everywhere. “My dogs a vegetarian”, “my cats a vagan”, “my cockapoo is a 2 spirted trans Afghan wolf hound”. Its always something, rather than just letting the pet be a pet. We hate it when asshole bullies, get bully dogs that they then train to be asshole just like them. But when it comes to other people pushing their nonsense onto pets, all of sudden we have to respect it.
Cats are carnivores. Thats the end of the discussion. Thats what they are. Just because they can survive on something, doesnt mean its what they should be eating. Some humans say they are vegan, and “survive”. They look fucking ill as fuck, but they are surviving. And without science, in the form of special meals and supplements, they would be fucking dead. Wanna know why? Cos human beings arent vegan. We can survive without meat, but its not how our diet is supposed to go.
All that said, I too hate the farming industry and how it keeps and treats animals. But we need more to be done on that front, than going out to eat at a restaurant just to moan at some minimum wage waiter about how meat, and its disgusting that theres no vegan options.
How about reread what I wrote?
I’m not a vegan; I’m not a vegetarian. I’m far too broke and dependent on other people to be so picky as to choose what I get to eat. My dogs are also not on a vegetarian diet, neither is the cat.
I am not making an argument for or against veganism, and especially not for or against a vegan diet for pets. I was explaining what the difference was between a carnivore and an obligate carnivore is. I’m also not the originator of this thread, in case you missed that, too.
Normally I’d try to be nicer and more respectful, so as not to further inflame a situation, but honestly, the transphobic dig at “people like me” screams of someone who isn’t worth my time or respect. Be better. You can get your point across without needing to disrespect trans people and indigenous people. 'sfucked up
“People like you” People pushing their own shit on to pets.
But please, tell me more about how I am transphobic for calling out shitty owners who insist their dogs are LGBT just to get attention? I am all fucking ears.
Trying to make your cat vegan is animal abuse.
No it isn’t, unless it’s done improperly. What objectively is animal abuse is feeding the ground up body parts of animals to anyone, including other animals.
https://plantbasednews.org/opinion/opinion-piece/plant-based-diets-dogs-cats/
Commercially produced vegan cat food can be nutritionally complete, but they are full of synthetic nutrients (because cats cannot synthesize things like taurine or folic acid). It is unnatural (and imo cruel) to force them to live off a fully synthetic diet. Many salmon have had to die for my cat to live a long and happy life. I am okay with that.
Yes, with an extremely customised, unnatural diet, a cat may survive a vegan diet. They rarely thrive. But the point is that they’re unable to do so naturally, most cats will not understand why their food isn’t what they’re naturally and instinctually supposed to eat, which causes them stress.
Cats have an instinct to chew on grass for digestive purposes, but that’s about it when it comes to eating plants. Getting a proper vegan diet for a cat is extremely hard to do and unnecessarily stressful for cats.
Cat food in most cases already is discarded meat not fit for human consumption. You’re not exactly saving a lot of animals by forcing a cat on an unnatural diet.
If you’re vegan, feed your cat meat. If you don’t want to do that, don’t get a cat.