People adopt a vegan lifestyle for a variety of reasons, some of them health related, others as a conscious choice […]
People adopt a vegan lifestyle for a variety of reasons, some of them health related, others as a conscious choice to help the planet . Vegetarian people sometimes want their pets to share their lifestyle.
Some pet food manufacturers, most recently Halo, are offering vegan diets for pets. Halo has confirmed that they are developing a vegan diet for dogs only. Unfortunately, some vegan cat owners insist on preparing a homemade vegan diet for their cats.
The trouble is cats are «obligate carnivores» — they must eat meat to thrive and survive. Meat is a natural source of taurine which is important for proper functioning of the heart. They depend on nutrients that are found only in animal tissue.
Dogs can make their own taurine, but cats cannot. Dogs may be able to handle a well-balanced vegetarian diet, but check with your vet first.