Are Vegetarian Diets Good for Cats?

̶0;Eat your vegetables̶1; may be sage advice for people, but extending the practice to our feline companions goes a bit far. Vegetarian cat foods exist, but consensus among veterinarians suggests a diet based on animal proteins meets their nutritional needs much better. The better question is not whether a cat can subsist on a veggie diet, but if such a dietary choice jeopardizes his health.

  1. Natural Diet

    • When a cat plans his own menu, birds and small mammals take center stage. Cats have grown to depend on a high protein diet, and their digestive systems do not process carbohydrates efficiently. They don't regularly consume vegetables, which are very high in carbohydrates. In addition to the protein difference between plant an animal sources, animal-based foods provide a range of vitamins and amino acids not found in plants. Cats have grown dependent on meat as a source for these nutrients.

    Pros Weigh In

    • Feline nutrition experts, including Dr. Debra Zoran, say cats require meat-based diets as obligate carnivores. The classification means they must ingest meat to obtain all the nutrients they need to survive. Dogs, on the other hand, are omnivores like people and have more flexible nutritional needs. Cats also simply prefer meaty flavors over the taste of vegetables.

    Health Concerns

    • The amino acid taurine, which comes from animal-based sources, helps maintain a cat̵7;s vision, immune system, digestion and other bodily functions. Taruine is essential in kitty diets because their bodies can̵7;t produce enough on their own. Deficiencies take a few months to set in, but eventually lead to blindness and other major health problems. Deficiencies in arginine, another amino acid, set in more quickly -- less than a day. Symptoms begin with salivation and, if not resolved, lead to death.

    Vegging Out

    • Despite cats biologically requiring meat, some manufacturers produce vegetable-based foods that claim to meet all nutritional requirements in their diet. The foods provide supplemental sources of necessary nutrients such as taurine and arginine, but veterinarians say the supplements may not provide as much nutrition as meat-based sources. Vegetarian food manufacturers claim their products are nutritionally complete and result in healthy cats. Though the resounding opinion from pet nutrition experts says cats need meat, if you feel strongly about attempting a vegetarian diet, talk with your vet before giving it a try.