How come, cats can't be vegetarians because they need the nutrients?
Can't they get the same nutrients from soy, and other things like we do?
(I know dogs can be vegetarians)
2007-10-15 03:31:04 · 21 answers · asked by pj! 3 in Food & Drink ➔ Vegetarian & Vegan
Btw - My cat likes soy.
Thanks.
2007-10-15 04:11:44 · update #1
Btw - My cat likes soy.
Thanks.
2007-10-15 04:11:51 · update #2
For those of you who comment on "Turning my cat vegetarian''
No, I am not trying to convert my cat. v_v
The question was for cats in GENERAL
2007-10-15 04:18:38 · update #3
For those of you who comment on "Turning my cat vegetarian''
No, I am not trying to convert my cat. v_v
The question was for cats in GENERAL
2007-10-15 04:18:45 · update #4
Cats are more carnivous than the canine species. Despite honing a cat to go vegeterian their natural, biological desire to hunt and desire flesh will override your training.
2007-10-15 03:35:16 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 5⤊ 0⤋
Cats have a very short intestine. Indicative of a carnivore diet where the vegetable matter does not have time to breakdown.
It would have to be very highly fortified foods for a cat to skip meat as thier intestine is very inefficient for anything other than meat.
Some dogs can be fed a vegetarian diet, but not all breeds by any means.
"veggiepets.com" has been around for 4 years so we cannot say what a dog or cat fed vegan or veggie food will be like when they reach 15 years old.
2007-10-15 05:25:14 · answer #2 · answered by Michael H 7 · 5⤊ 0⤋
I would consider myself an animal nutrition hobbyist, if there were such a thing. My understanding is that cats can't be vegetarians because of Taurine (wiki or google it). They require it. Humans and dogs can make (somewhat) the amino acid - cats can't at all. Taurine is readily available from animal sources. Plant sources usually don't have it, some do in trace amounts, but not enough for cats.
2007-10-18 06:03:04 · answer #3 · answered by uglycat1978 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Cats cannot synthesize taurine unless it comes from meat. That doesn't mean they don't like nonmeat foods.
My cat does go nuts when I have soy ice cream for some weird reason, so sometimes, I'll let her lick the bowl when I'm done eating. It's quite funny to see her sitting near my chair staring at me with a cute pleading expression. She also will meow at me--the cat is begging! She also likes potatoes--one time I was eating falafel and fries, and I dropped a fry. My boyfriend, who was with me, said she glommed right on the fry and gobbled it up in two bites.
2007-10-15 09:35:26 · answer #4 · answered by VeggieTart -- Let's Go Caps! 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I read somewhere that cats require certain amino acids that don't exist in plant sources. Taurine, for example. Human and canine nutritition isn't quite as specific about that as it is for felines.
The Red Bull company says they use synthetic taurine, but I don't think I would want to try giving Red Bull to cats.
PS: Yeah, the very thought of a cat on a Red Bull high is a scary thing.
2007-10-15 03:41:45 · answer #5 · answered by majnun99 7 · 10⤊ 0⤋
Elizabeth, why on earth would you put your cat on a vegan diet? (yes I read the link you posted and found it quite informative actually).
Given how even human nutrional guidelines keep getting turned on their head every few years (chocolate is good for you, so is aspirin, non-saturated fat, coffee now, and a glass of alcohol a day) why would you think that vegan pet food companies could possibly know all the answers to feeding cats vegan diets?
I'd switch from feeding your cat vegan, to an all raw meat diet.
2007-10-16 12:23:00 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Cats need amino acids that aren't found in plant foods. It's possible to feed your cat a vegetarian diet as long as you supplement the taurine and other stuff they can't get (though I personally don't believe it's right to make an obligate carnivore go veg to suit me.)
2007-10-15 03:43:46 · answer #7 · answered by mockingbird 7 · 6⤊ 0⤋
If cats do not get the nutrients they need from meat they will go blind. Carnivorous animals are not meant to be vegetarian or herbivore. Please do not ever try to make your cat a vegetarian, it would be very inhumane.
2007-10-15 03:47:05 · answer #8 · answered by traceilicious 4 · 2⤊ 0⤋
im not sure hey, but they probably have a different kind of digestive system that cant process the nutrients in that form. my cat just refuses to eat anything that he doesnt like. dont think he will ever go for soy
2007-10-15 03:35:47 · answer #9 · answered by Anonymous · 5⤊ 0⤋
We have three vegan cats, whom we feed specially-formulated vegan cat food.
Because I love ALL animals? So... because nutritional information is constantly changing, the VEGAN cat food company is the one that can't be trusted? Right.
An all raw meat diet? You're not serious right? right?
vvvvv
2007-10-15 19:16:17 · answer #10 · answered by Elizabeth J 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋