Most ethical vegans are against domestication of animals and the ones that do live with companion animals, adopt them from rescue shelters (we hope). However, all vegans (and vegetarians too) face a clear ethical dilemma when it comes to what they should feed their non-human friends. It’s like being stuck between a rock and a hard place — you either support food production practices that you believe to be ethically wrong or (if you’re not careful) run the risk of potentially harming your pet by imposing your beliefs on them.

Let’s be honest, most people (including many vegetarians and vegans) think it’s ridiculous to feed a dog or a cat a vegetarian or vegan diet. The simple reasoning being that it would be against your pets natural instincts. However, that does not mean that it hasn’t been done successfully by people all over the world.

Either way, deciding what to feed your pet is an important decision that should not be taken lightly.

Cats: All felines are obligate carnivores. In other words, they must eat meat. Their bodies are so adapted to meat consumption that compounds found only in meat are essential to their survival. For example, cats cannot synthesize certain vitamins and amino acids like taurine from plant sources. Taurine deficiency in cats causes degeneration of the retina and can eventually lead to blindness along with other health problems like heart disease and birth defects. All commercially produced cat food (vegan or not) should be fortified with taurine because the excessive processing of pet food depletes the natural taurine present in it. Cats on a regular meat-based diet can also face taurine deficiency if this is not done. Several vegan pet food manufacturers now sell cat food that is fortified with all the essential vitamins, proteins, minerals and amino acids that cats require for optimal health. In addition, some brands also sell vegan cat supplements, including synthetic taurine that can be added to your cats diet.

However, just because nutritious vegan cat food and synthetic taurine supplements are available, it doesn’t mean that they work for all cats. A vegan diet can be a difficult (and sometimes dangerous) choice for certain cats. People who have successfully put their cats on a vegan diet are very careful about feeding them nutritionally well-balanced meals and closely monitor their health on an ongoing basis.

Dogs: Unlike cats, dogs are omnivorous and therefore more flexible when it comes to their diet and not dependent on nutrition from meat based sources in order to stay healthy. Given the chance, dogs will eat whatever humans eat, so there is no chance of them defaulting to starvation (like cats and other carnivores). However, it is important to ensure that the diet they follow meets their nutritional needs. Dogs need high levels of protein and calcium and as long as their diet is well balanced and contains all the essential nutrients, they can live long, healthy lives without meat. Many benefits have been reported for dogs eating a vegan diet, ranging from a better coat and dental health to improved digestion and increased energy. If you decide to make your dogs go vegan, the Vegan Dog Nutrition Association has a lot of important information that can help you ensure your dog is fed an optimal diet. In addition, after making any changes in your dogs diet, make sure that you regularly visit your vet to monitor your dogs health and evaluate how your dog is reacting to the change.

While our pets can’t make ethical choices when it comes to what they eat, we can. However, it is important to remember that dogs came from wolves and cats are cousins of tigers. The best approach to follow is to let your own common sense prevail; if you find that they are developing new and unexpected health problems because of their diet, it may be in the best interest of the animal to find alternatives that work.

Whatever you decide, don’t forget that the most important thing you can do is to give a homeless animal a loving home, and encourage others to do the same. We may not agree on what to feed our pets, but we can all agree that there are millions of animals in shelters that need homes (whether vegan or not!).

This article is intended for informational purposes only and is not a substitute for medical advice. Please consult with a veterinarian regarding your pet’s specific health and dietary needs before making any dietary changes or putting your pet on supplements.

Image Source: Dog, Cat