Pawsitively Plant-Powered: Unlocking the Flavorful World of Vegan Cat Food!

Cats, as many owners would confirm, have a longstanding reputation as natural predators, thriving on a predominantly meat-based diet throughout their evolutionary journey. Nevertheless, recent research indicates that a vegan diet may not only be safe for pet cats but could also offer health advantages.

According to the study documented in the peer-reviewed journal Plos One, cat owners who opted for vegan cat food reported reduced vet visits, decreased use of medications, and a higher likelihood of their vet describing their cats as healthy.

These findings offer comfort to the increasing number of owners exploring alternative diets for their feline companions, the researchers noted.

Vegan Cat Food Brands

1. Evanger's Super Premium Low Fat Vegetarian Dinner

This is a culinary masterpiece that transcends traditional pet fare. Crafted with precision and care, this unique blend caters to both dogs and cats, offering a gourmet experience with every meal. Embracing a vegetarian approach, it stands out as a wholesome option for pets with a low-fat formula.

This vegetarian loaf formula is brimming with a medley of nutritious fruits and vegetables, including sweet potatoes, blueberries, peas, and carrots. Infused with essential vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants, each bite delivers a powerful boost of nutrition.

Whether served on its own, as a side dish, or a delectable kibble topper, it complements both cat and dog diets, enhancing their overall health with a low-fat approach.

Tailored for furry companions, this meal includes taurine for comprehensive well-being and serves as a delicious method to introduce extra hydration to their daily meals.

Crafted in the USA, it maintains high standards by excluding preservatives, salt, or fillers. Elevate your pet's dining experience with Evanger's, where health, flavor, and quality converge in every bowl.

2. Nature's HUG 

Nature's HUG stands as an eco-friendly pet food brand, offering a range of vegan cat food tailored for various life stages, including 2-12 months old kittens, 1-10 years old adult cats, and senior cats above ten years. The carefully selected ingredients used in crafting these kibbles are geared towards providing cats with a healthy and enduring life.

Each bag of this vegan cat food is composed of 30% protein, 18% fat, 10% moisture, 6.5% ash, and 1% calcium. These nutritional proportions derive from the natural elements utilized in the production of vegan cat food, such as green peas, dried yeast, potato protein, flaxseed, apple pomace, sesame seeds, and turmeric.

Beyond its nutritional profile, this brand also incorporates prebiotics, probiotics, and postbiotics, contributing to an enhanced diet, improved microbiome health, strengthened immunity, and increased vitality for your pet. The kibbles' crunchy texture serves as a natural means of oral hygiene, with the abrasive chewing motion aiding in plaque removal from your pet's teeth.

Additionally, the inclusion of omega-3 and omega-6 fatty acids promotes the development of healthy and lustrous coats in your pet. Rest assured, the ingredients used in crafting your cat's vegan food are sourced from local yet sustainable farmers, emphasizing a commitment to both quality and environmental responsibility.

3. Benevo Adult Original

Benevo presents a nutritionally balanced vegetarian diet tailored for vegan cats, ensuring they receive all the essential nutrients typically obtained from a meat-based diet.

The formulation includes ingredients such as soya, wheat, maize, rice, sunflower oil, beet pulp, Brewer's yeast, vegetable gravy, linseed, dried seaweed, yucca extract, and minerals.

This vegan pet food is rich in vital nutrients, such as Vitamin A, vitamin D3, vitamin E, zinc, manganese, taurine, linoleic acid, linolenic acid, iron, copper, and boasting a 28% protein content. Particularly beneficial for the health of adult cats, the kibbles prove exceptional for cats with food sensitivity issues.

It also offers a cat-wet food, the Benevo Duo, which comes as a duo package suitable for both dogs and cats adhering to a vegan diet. Crafted with ingredients like carrots, sweet potatoes, oat groats, vegetable oil, brown rice, tomatoes, blueberries, cranberries, dried kelp, brewer's yeast, and peas, this wet food provides a comprehensive nutrient profile.

Crucial nutrients such as vitamins A & D3, iron, zinc, iodine, taurine, and copper are found in this formulation. The inclusion of blueberries and cranberries serves to enhance urinary tract health by supporting optimal urine pH levels. Importantly, it is free from grains like soya, wheat, and dairy, mitigating concerns about allergic reactions.

4. AMI

Ami Cat presents itself as an exceptional pet food option for introducing to domestic cats, enriched with essential nutrients including Taurine, Omega 3 & 6, Biotin, and Zinco.

This vegan cat food is formulated with a blend of plant-based ingredients such as corn gluten, corn, corn oil, yeast, peas, potato protein, rice protein, minerals, hydrolyzed vegetable proteins, cellulose, and linseed.

Established in 2002, Ami is an Italian brand committed to producing eco-friendly pet food while prioritizing the safety of the environment. Their mission is to nourish our pets without the environmental impacts of intensive livestock farming and animal slaughter, making them an ideal choice for vegan pet owners.

Utilizing 100% plant-derived ingredients, Ami creates food specifically tailored for feline veganism, consciously avoiding the use of artificial preservatives and food dyes. Ami stands out as a nutritionally complete option, contributing to improved skin, hair, and muscular tone in cats.

Additionally, it contains magnesium, arachidonic acid, and essential proteins, addressing concerns such as hyper-excitability, soft tissue calcification, and metaphysis swelling.

5. Evolution Diet Plant-Based Gourmet Fondue

The formulation incorporates a blend of plant-derived ingredients, including sunflower seeds, pea protein concentrate, soybean meal, whole dried peas, soybean oil, tapioca, whole dried potatoes, dried chicory, rosemary extract, dehydrated molasses, and kelp. The natural flavor of this product is derived from yeast.

This vegan cat food is fortified with four essential amino acids—Taurine, L-Carnitine, L-Lysine, and DL-Methionine—along with a diverse array of minerals and vitamins, ensuring comprehensive feline health. Notably, sunflower seeds contribute vitamin E, promoting improved skin health by preventing dryness and inflammation.

The inclusion of pea protein concentrate and whole dried peas enriches the diet with proteins, vitamins, and fiber. Soybean meal and oil further enhance the nutritional profile by providing essential vitamins, amino acids, and high-quality protein. It has achieved nutritional completeness, meeting the standards set by the Association of American Feed Control Officials (AAFCO).

The versatility of this meal allows it to be served dry or wet, accommodating the preferences of individual cats. Suitable for all stages of feline growth, from kittens to seniors, this plant-based cat food includes Taurine supplementation, promoting heart health, fresh breath, and consistent litter box quality. With Evolution Diet, cleaning your cat's litter box becomes a more pleasant experience, eliminating the need for discomfort during the process.

Is Vegan Diet Safe for Cats?

Cats adhere to a carnivorous diet, being classified as obligate carnivores due to their reliance on animal products for essential nutrients needed for survival. The term “obligate carnivores” is used because they necessitate over 70% of their diet to consist of meat for proper sustenance, as they cannot obtain mandatory nutrients from grains and other plant sources.

Key nutrients for cats include significant quantities of protein, moderate amounts of fat, and minimal levels of carbohydrates, in addition to essential vitamins, fatty acids, amino acids, and minerals. While wild cats secure these nutrients through hunting prey, domesticated cats typically consume commercial cat food to meet their dietary requirements.

Having gained insight into the nutritional needs of cats, it becomes evident that vegan cat food may not align with their natural diet. The question that arises is whether it is a safe alternative. Let's examine the available research.

In a 2015 study assessing 24 vegetarian canned and dry foods for dogs and cats, 25% did not meet the AAFCO minimum nutrient requirements for pet food. When queried about providing evidence to substantiate the nutritional adequacy of their products, 5 out of 12 companies chose not to respond.

Among those that did respond, the answers varied. While all respondents claimed that independent testing verified the nutritional completeness of their foods, none supplied specific details or the results of such independent laboratory testing.

Is Vegan Cat Food Nutritionally Complete?

Feeding cats requires a tailored approach, acknowledging the absence of a one-size-fits-all solution. I've encountered cats that take pleasure in consuming pureed vegetables, although my own cat, Shadow, was never inclined to be so accommodating.

A spoonful of veggies wouldn't tempt him, even if a lifetime supply of catnip was offered. Interestingly, Shadow exhibited a fondness for something many cats typically avoid—he had a particular affinity for fruit.

Whether it was apples, bananas, cherries, or even blueberries, Shadow eagerly devoured them. As long as I broke up the fruit and hand-fed it to him, he reveled in the experience.

However, it's crucial to recognize that fruit alone cannot fulfill all the nutritional requirements of a cat. Merely finding vegan foods that your cat enjoys is insufficient; constructing a diet that ensures comprehensive nutrition is essential.

Meeting the challenge of providing adequate vegan nutrition for cats requires careful consideration and planning.

Vegan Cat Food Benefits

Weight Management: Plant-based cat food is characterized by its low fat content and high fiber, promoting a healthy digestive system and aiding in weight management.

Sensitivities: Vegan cat foods, being devoid of common allergens found in dairy and meat products, are generally suitable for cats with allergies.

GI Issue Management: Cats with gastrointestinal issues especially inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) are sensitive to animal proteins and may experience relief if switched to a vegan diet.

Ethics and Sustainability: A vegan diet, being entirely plant-based, stands out as a more eco-friendly and ethically sustainable choice when compared to both a vegetarian and a conventional diet.

Risks of Feeding Your Cat Vegan Food

Insufficient protein intake can result in stunted growth, muscle atrophy, weakened immune function, and issues with skin and coat health.

Inadequate levels of arachidonic acid can result in deficient growth, issues with the coat and skin, and the development of a fatty liver.

Deficiency in Vitamin B1, also known as thiamine, is linked to neurological problems. Thiamine plays a crucial role in the functioning of the nervous system, and its deficiency can lead to various neurological issues.

Taurine deficiency can result in health issues, including hypertrophic cardiomyopathy, a type of heart disease, and diminished eyesight.

Lack of Vitamin A in the diet can lead to several health issues, including skin problems, mouth sores, and impaired night vision.

Insufficient supply of Vitamin B3, also known as niacin, can result in diverse health issues, including skin problems, dementia, and diarrhea.

Deficit in Vitamin B12 can lead to various health issues, including inadequate growth, weight loss, diarrhea, vomiting, and neurologic dysfunction.

Parting Words

Cats are inherently carnivorous animals, yet some vegan pet owners may consider transitioning their pets to a plant-based diet. It's crucial to approach such a dietary shift with caution due to potential health risks stemming from essential nutrient deficiencies.

While we've suggested 5 reputable vegan cat food brands, you can also opt to prepare your cat's meals at home to save costs. However, it's imperative to consult your local veterinarian before making any dietary changes for your pet.

Ultimately, the key takeaway is to avoid imposing a vegetarian diet on your cat without considering their specific nutritional needs.