2.9 Can you feed a cat a vegetarian diet? A dog?
Description
This article is from the Vegetarianism FAQ, by traub@mistral.co.uk (Michael Traub) with numerous contributions by others.
2.9 Can you feed a cat a vegetarian diet? A dog?
Both animals can be fed a vegetarian diet, although neither is a
vegan by nature -- dogs are omnivores, and cats are carnivores. While
both dogs and cats belong to the class carnivora, this doesn't mean a
lot, so does the panda bear and their diet is basically vegan. By
nature cats and dogs wouldn't eat anything like what is commonly
found in a can of pet food either. Special diets must be provided for
cats, as they require an amino acid called taurine -- found in the
muscles of animals. Synthetic taurine has been developed (and has
been used in commercial (non vegetarian) pet foods for years), and
vegetarian cats should be fed it as a supplement. Taurine deficiency
can result in blindness and even death. Cats also require pre-formed
vitamin A and arachidonic acid. The companies listed below provide
all these essential ingredients in their cat foods. Ask your vet
about changing your pet's diet.
Products:
Harbingers of a New Age
717 E. Missoula Ave, Troy MT 59935-9609 Phone: (406) 295-4944
[vegecat supplement for vegan or lacto-ovovegetarian cats]
Wow-Bow Distributors
309 Burr Rd., East Northport, NY 11731
(516)449-8572, 1-800-326-0230 (outside of NY only)
Dogs: 20lb. bag is $20.35 + shipping
Cats: supplement, 15oz. is $15.95
Call: Nature's Recipe for location of a distributor
near you. 1-800-843-4008
For cats with food allergies, Wysong has developed
a hypoallergenic diet:
Canine/Feline Anergen III, a vegetarian diet for
food sensitive cats, contains special high-protein
vegetables.
Wysong Corporation
Dept. CF, 1880 N. Eastman Ave.,
Midland, MI 48640.
Natural Life Pet Products, Inc. (For dogs)
Available from veterinarians and pet food centres.
1-800-367-2391
Natural Life Pet Products, Inc.
Frontenac, Kansas 66762.
Evolution Healthy Pet Food
Evolution Diet Bldg., 287 East 6th Street,
Suite 70, St. Paul, MN 51101
Tel : 1-800-659-0104 / (651)228-0632 Fax : (651)228-0467
Continue to:
My Books
