veganism in cats

Rodrigo Gutierrez Barros

What is veganism? Veganism is a rejection of all products of animal origin. Most

veterinarians emphasize that this type of diet in felines is a danger to them and warn about this.
Cats are carnivorous by nature; therefore, they must include meat in their diets in order to meet
their nutritional needs.

The effects of imposing a vegan diet and no meat diet on a cat can be very
detrimental to it, due to the lack of nutrients. A cat that doesn't eat meat may be at risk of serious
health problems, including crystal formation in the urine, organ failure, and malnutrition.

A cat's body is designed to get all the nutrients it needs to live from meat. "A cat
that eats a vegetarian diet goes against nature and runs the risk of getting sick," says Javier
Zorriqueta, a prominent veterinarian and connoisseur of cats. Since cats do not need a lot of fiber
in their diet, vegetables are not as necessary since the little amount of fiber that is required is
obtained from small mammals that have eaten some vegetation, says Carmen Cánovas, a member
of the feline protection association.

Despite the arguments given above about the dangers of a vegan diet in a cat,
there are people who do not eat meat and impose this diet on their pets. Maria Gonzales, from
the animal equality association, points out that a cat can have a meat-free diet, "my cat is healthy
with its vegetarian food, which it has been eating for several years," says Maria Gonzales. Hugo
Bascopé Quintanilla, doctor and vegetarian, defends the thinking of people who decide to offer a
vegetarian diet to their pets, "a meat-free diet is healthier than one made with products of animal
origin, and in fact on the market there are vegetarian foods for dogs and cats” says Don Hugo.

Imposing a vegan diet on an animal that is naturally carnivorous is unethical as it is

fully proven that cats need nutrients from meat for their body to function properly and be healthy.
That there are cats that can survive on a vegetarian diet is true, but this can be generalized and we
have to remember that not all organisms react in the same way.

So can my cat be vegan or not? A vegan diet can be imposed on this feline, but the
damage it brings must be taken into account. However, most professionals on the subject point
out that it is preferable to follow the cat's natural diet so that it develops correctly and does not
suffer from the diseases that have been mentioned above. It is concluded that following a natural
diet for your cat is beneficial and does not cause problems, therefore, if you want your pet to
avoid nutritional problems and their effects, feed him meat.

Bibliografía
Pinedo, C. (22 de junio de 2013). Eroski Consumer. Obtenido de
https://www.consumer.es/mascotas/por-que-mi-gato-no-puede-ser-vegetariano.html