Why Cats Have To Eat Meat

Why cats have to eat meat

If you are a vegan or vegetarian and have wondered if your cat could be too - the answer is No.

Cats must have meat in their diets in order to stay healthy.

Cats are "obligate carnivores",  the very word carnivore means meat eater.  In other words, a cat's complex nutritional needs simply can not be met by a diet that is devoid of animal products.

Plant based diets are high in carbohydrates.  Cats  do not need high amounts of carbs, they use what they need for their immediate energy needs and the remainder of the carbohydrates in their food are quickly and efficiently stores as fat.

Cats have higher protein requirements than other animals.  Cats metabolism preferentially uses protein for energy as well as for structuring tissues and producing hormones and other vital molecules.  That is why their protein needs are higher.

Cats need 11 amino acids (humans, need 9, dogs need 10) These are primarily found in meat.  A cat's natural diet of raw prey animals contains these nutrients in abundance. Not getting the amount they need becomes a problem when they don't get meat.  Amino acids are consumed in the diet, your body does not make them.

The amino acid Arginine is so important to cats that a single meal not containing arginine is fatal to kittens.

Additional issues with vegetarian and vegan diets for cats.

* B vitamins are deficient for a cat's requirements, especially B2 and B 12

* Vitamin A is only found in animal tissues and is also deficient. Other animals can make vitamin A from beta-carotene,  cats cannot.

* Vitamin D3 is deficient. The plant based substitute, vitamin D2 is only 30% as potent and has a much shorter duration of action.

* Arachidonic acid is not found in vascular plants but is essential for the feline immune system.

* Omega 3s EPA and DHA are essential for kittens and highly beneficial to all cats but currently available vegan cat foods do not contain either.

* Commercial vegetarian and vegan cat foods use highly-processed, fractional, chemically-extracted and synthesized ingredients to provide enough protein and other nutrients. Whole foods containing all the trace miners, co-factors and nutrient groups are far healthier than refined or synthetic versions.

Cats consuming meat based diets have a naturally low acidic urinary PH of about 5 to 6. Vegetables cause urine PH to become alkaline which may allow urinary crystals and stones to form.  This can cause life threatening urinary blockages in male cats. 

Bottom line,  your cats need meat to let their bodies process nutrients correctly.