Vegetarian Dogs and Cats Many vegetarians and vegans feed healthful, meatless diets to their companion animals. Studies have shown that the ailments associated with meat consumption for humans such as allergies, cancer, and kidney, heart, and bone problems, also affect many nonhumans. Dogs' and cats' nutritional needs are easily met with a vegan diet and certain supplements. James Peden, author of Vegetarian Cats and Dogs , has developed Vegepet supplements to add to vegetarian and vegan recipes. They are nutritionally balanced and also come in special formulas for kittens, puppies, and lactating cats and dogs.
Some people wonder if it's cruel to omit meat from a dog or cat's diet.
Vegetarian or vegan dogs and cats enjoy their food and good health, and a vegetarian diet for your companion animal is ethically consistent with animal rights philosophy. Animals in the wild commonly eat quite a lot of vegetable matter. Besides, to feed them the meat they would naturally eat, you would have to serve them whole mice or allow them to hunt for themselves, an option that is unfair to native species of birds and other small animals, since companion cats and dogs have been removed from the food chain and have advantages that free-roaming animals lack. Important Supplements Making vegetarian food for dogs is easy because dogs, like people, are omnivorous and usually hearty eaters. It is important to follow directions carefully.