Comments on Vegan Cats??

Funnily enough, humans on a bad vegan diet will get a load of health problems too. Vegan doesn't equal healthy. Vegan can be very unhealthy. You can find vegan food that is highly processed, high in protein and fat, devoid in nutrients. Just as you can for cats.
They might see an improvement in health from eating organic meat and some vegetables or something, but would see a vast improvement from going high carb whole vegan food. But they don't go that far, they just think then "meat good, vegan bad".
I'm not saying we have perfect vegan diets for cats. I'm saying cats are naturally vegan but their original food source is missing and whatever cat food you have tried hasn't replicated it sufficiently. Just how the ignorant human who eats vegan junk food then eats meat gets healthy and thinks meat is healthy and what humans need, the ignorant cat feeder will see their cat suffer on bad vegan cat food, get healthier on some sort of meat, and think meat is healthy and what cats need.
Cats will all die from meat-consumption. They simply will. If you crack the vegan cat formula they will live for a good bit longer, grow larger and be healthier, and die of something else.
:)

I have a companion rescue dog - a German Shepherd who has had an allergic response so far to beef, chicken, lamb, duck and venison - also can not tolerate raw. Working with a canine dietician she is now doing extremely well on a vegan diet.
One of the principles of wholistic treatment is that you treat the individual - while it may be species appropriate for dog to eat raw meat not all dogs can tolerate it because of various dis-ease in their system.
Time will tell whether this diet will manifest health problems but for now I know she is getting all the nutrients she needs - she is not a fussy eater and consumes any food with relish.
I have been a vegetarian all my adult life and for the last 3 years have adopted a vegan lifestyle. I initially researched vegan diets for dogs and was horrified by the amounts of truely terrible vegan diets for dogs that people where recommending. It is hard to bring meat into your life when it goes against your ethical world view BUT I always put my dogs needs first - if she could eat raw she would. I continue to work on strengthening her immune system using homeopathy, herbs and supplemts and who knows one day she may get to use those massive canine teeth on a bone :-)
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I was just paid the highest compliment EVER by dr. Whitecoat, who told me IN PERSON, for the first time; "I am amazed at what you have done for this cat [Pookie] with what you're doing." How about that, doc! Her blood work has greatly improved over last year and she's put on weight! Normally I don't even see the vet, just her technicians. This time she came in with the results HERSELF and discussed embracing my more holistic approach, agreed that old Pookie was too fragile for surgery and dental procedures, and wanted to know how I was shrinking that old tumor! I about fell out! I never expected that!
Here's the biggee; she admitted vaccines cause injury, and she signs a waiver for her own vaccines...what does that tell you? She was more than a little embarrassed by the fact that she gives vaccines in her clinic. This is the whitecoat who recommended euthanasia for Pookie!
Of course I don't really deserve the credit here, perhaps for reading and applying your common sense ideas I deserve some, but really you are the one who is shaking up the veterinary world, or perhaps I should say getting it back on the Natural Path! You rock, doc! I did agree to putting Pookie on an antibiotic briefly for her bad gum infection because of her liver inflammation and bladder infection, but my no-carb, wet, organic diet for Pookie was heartily endorsed! She had stopped going in the box, and I felt it was needed. I can only mop up so much... I'm giving pre and probiotics, to reseed her gut flora.
It's impressive when a die hard Allopath sits up and takes notice, eh? I didn't even have to be pushy...evidence speaks for itself that a raw, clean diet heals the immune system, which then works like it should to take care of all ailments better than whitecoats can. (Hey, your kid is pretty handsome, too!:) Kudos, Dr. Falconer!

I cannot imagine why anyone would want to impose human virtues (vegetarianism) into an animal (cats) who are in every way obviously carnivores. Cats were made to eat meat!
I have 6 wonderful cats who are healthy, vital animals fed a species appropriate diet of meat! I did not always understand this important detail of having cats as pets.Consequently I had a kitty who developed diabetes. We did insulin and the whole bit and I started learning in depth about cats. I learned that diabetes in cats is 100% preventable when they get a proper diet. I was lucky that I was able to switch her and my other kitties to a raw meat diet and her diabetes cleared in a month or two! She lived another 8 years with us dying at 16 from other issues.
My cats have awesome coats and no dander that is visible anyhow. I have not smelled cat poop in years because their digestive systems are as nature intended them to be. I do not even get many hairballs anymore as their systems have become vital and alive!
I do use Transfer Factor supplement with two who are farm cat rescues and prone to respiratory gunk. I have not seen any issues with it this year.
I also use a Wysong supplement to provide live bacteria for their guts just in case.
Fed an inappropriate diet, cats will get by for a time. Some have stronger immune systems than others and they can get by but that does not mean they are thriving. Eventually it will catch up in the form of disease. They can be propped up with drugs and the like but this is not a good road for them at all.
I too have to give credit for anyone who prepares a homemade diet for their animals but it needs to be the appropriate diet. Cows are obviously foragers and we would not feed them meat. Why, when cats are obligate carnivores would we expect them to eat cereal (grains) and fruits and veggies?
Please do your research about cats a little deeper and reconsider the notion that they can be vegetarians and thrive.

Hi Dr. F,
Back in college when I first started a vegan diet, I foolishly thought that I would feed that to my pets, too. Vegans can be quite critical of other vegans when you don't follow the rules. I look back and see how that could have negatively affected my pets at that time and I am happy that the years have brought education and insight into their appropriate species diet. The raw journey has been a good one! I know that when my animals are happy and healthy, year after year without any medical interventions.
I have a wonderfully sweet, "Vital" Smoke Grey Persian who turns 15 this week. His name is Jordan, named after Michael Jordan because in his youth, he was quite the jumper :) He is very healthy. I give him the Immune supplement you recommend along with some high quality fish oil, joint support and Probiotics.
As he ages, is there anything different you would tweak with his diet or his supplements?
I notice he sleeps a lot these days but when he is awake he is affectionate and playful.
He has eaten raw for the past 12 years and no vaccinations for that long , either :
Thank you and take care,
Lori

I couldn't imagine feeding a cat vegan! I am sure a dog *could* live on a vegan/vegetarian diet only because they can process fruits/vegs -- but cats cannot! I remember reading an article about a vegan cat who almost died - but meat saved it. http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/07/24/kitten-vegan-diet-nearly-dies_n_3644213.html
PS. Not sure how to repsond to the Grass Eating post of the weekly email. I have been giving both my dogs Spirulina powder (1/8 tsp per 10 lbs OR 1/4 tsp per 20 lbs). It is packed with so many vits and minerals and they no longer much on the grass anymore :)

i feed my cats vegan - i make their food myself and they are thriving. i also have a friend who has had vegan cats for 15 years, of various ages and they were all vegan and never had any health problems. i'm sure there are vegan kibbles and canned foods out there that are not good for cats, but if you do extensive research and make homemade, fresh, nutritionally balanced meals - i believe cats can in fact be vegan and healthy and thrive, because i've seen it for my own eyes <3