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DO YOU HAVE ANY PETS, IF SO, ARE THEY VEGAN? A great number of people, who think of themselves as vegans, are feeding/purchasing meat/animal products for their companion animals, and some believe it is the right thing to do. Once again, we are about to see how differently vegans feel about one issue. Though I've chosen to reveal a variety of thoughts on the subject, my personal thoughts are that we are taking our dogs with us on our evolutionary path. I have raised many healthy vegan dogs. I feel very fortunate to have had many wonderful friendships with rescued animals. To learn about feeding companion animals a plant-based diet, see photos of vegan dogs, learn about marketed vegan pet products, as well as home-made vegan meal planning for pets, with some collaborating words from VeganVet.net, see my extensive article entitled: DOGS CAN BE VEGAN TOO! Here are various responses to the question, DO YOU HAVE ANY PETS, IF SO, ARE THEY VEGAN? "Yes, no, but only because vegan food is so darned expensive." "We have cats that enjoy eating AMI vegan dry food. We are trying to find a wet food that they will like and experimenting with homemade food, again trying to find something they will like." "I have 1 dog and 3 cats, and I will check soon with my vet regarding going vegan with them. They only eat organic, USA made and manufactured pet food with no byproducts; meat from U.S. organic farms. It really pains me every time I serve their food, but I have read that pets cannot go vegan. I have learned the pet food industry is really vile and would love it if I could have them vegan." "I think it is stupid to make carnivores vegan." "Yes, two dogs. They're food is vegan, but I can't stop them from picking up a stray chicken bone on the street." "Yes, the doggies are vegan, the cats are not vegan. It's not ideal, but I think the welfare of felines is dramatically decreased on a vegetarian diet." "Four cats, mostly vegan. I'm absolutely an advocate of HOANA (Harbinger's of a New Age) vegecat, which my cats have thrived on for at least 10 years. I wish I could claim their entire nutritional intake is restricted to vegan food, but 3 of the 4 do catch the odd mouse." "Yes, 3 Guinea Pigs, I could never have a non-vegan pet." "No, but we adopt farm animals at sanctuaries." "We have rescued animals (dogs at present). I personally feed them vegan, but others feed them other stuff." "I don't have pets. I don't like the idea of 'owning' an animal. I love animals though and would rather go hiking and see them in their own environment." "Yes, a dog. Our cat was a vegan, but passed away recently, aged 15." "We have two dogs, and yes they are vegan." "Yes, a dog, and he is vegan." "Yes, I have a wonderful dog I adopted from a shelter. He is 'mostly' vegan. I feed him V-Dog, which he loves. But he occasionally has a bite or two from other dog's dishes." "Not any more. Lately I am quite happy in my relationships with wild creatures of all sorts. I think they are all lovely and I am generally happier in their company than with human beings." "I have had companion animals in the past that were vegan, cats and dogs." "We live with our dog (female). By the way, I hate this word 'PET', she is not a pet, she is our family member. YES, she is vegan, too." "One dog who is virtually vegan; he'll also eat virtually anything else he finds." "Yes, two cats. NO. I had them on home-made vegan food, but they both have urinary crystals (common in male cats) and require a prescribed diet. I researched extensively for vegan options, though. I would experiment with different options, but their condition could kill them, and I don't want to take a chance." "I will get a dog in a few years and it will be vegan." "Two dogs, they are not vegan. I know that in the wild they are meat-eaters, unlike people. Our genetically closest related animal is the great ape and they are vegan." "Two pets; a cat and a dog and yes they are both vegan. I feed them Evolution Pet Food. I also make my dog home-made stew with vegetables, fruits, rice, etc." "I used to have a vegetarian cat and vegan dog who were both extremely healthy. I have no companion animals at present." "Yes, she lives with my parents and when I am home she is vegan (she won't eat her dog food when I am there; it's funny!!" "Yes and yes. We have a sweetheart of a Mastiff and she is very healthy and we are happy to be expecting her lifespan to be extended by her vegan diet." "Yes, my two cats eat 'VeganPet' cat biscuits. My mice and rats eat a similar diet to me, but with more fruit and nuts, and my fish eat a seaweed flake food. I also only adopt companion animals from refuges and independent rescues. I don't like breeders and pet shops making a commodity out of animals and at the expense of many 'unwanted animals' that already exist and need homes." "I have one cat who is vegan." "I have two dogs that get vegan meals and treats, except one of their training treats is omni. My birds get mostly vegan except I don't know the source for their mineral block." "Yes, herbivore dog." "Yes, I have one dog; a Staffordshire bull terrier, almost 10 years old, called Henry. He is fed a vegan diet, apart from the odd scraps given to him when he's at my parent's house. My previous dog (sadly passed over the Rainbow Bridge) was an American Pit Bull Terrier called 'Tofu', who made an appearance on the television news as the 'silly story' at the end, because she was a vegan, too!" "I have 2 cats and they have been vegan since they were 3-4 months old. I feed them 'Vegan Pet' cat food and they love it." "One dog and yes...happy and healthy." "I have a vegan dog; rescued from a shelter." "Not at the moment, if I did they would be vegan." "No, if I live with a dog buddy in the future, he or she will be vegan." "A vegan female dog." "One dog and he is vegan for over 5 years now." "Yes and No. I believe animals should eat what their physiology requires." "I have some rescued mice. They are vegan. I would only ever feed companion animals vegan food. The argument about it not being natural is silly when you understand that nothing about being a pet is natural." "I am a wildlife care giver, specializing in vegetarian birds. Yes they are all my pets and friends." "No, but my neighbors cats come and eat my vegan food, which they seem to like." "Yes, my dogs are." "One dog, 2 cats, yes." "Yes, I have a dog. He is vegan, and VERY healthy." "Yes, 3 senior dogs, and yes they are vegan." "No, however any new pets that I will acquire will be vegan. For this reason, I do not plan on getting strictly carnivourous animals such as cats. If the cat has no choice but to live with me, it will be vegan as well. I know the cat did not ask to be born the way it was, but animals did not ask to be eaten and man must take responsibility for the creatures they created and minimize the pain we are inflicting." "I have a cat; he is not vegan or vegetarian (though I do supplement his diet with vegan dry cat food)." "Yes, my rats and guinea pigs are vegan, but my cats aren't; cats are true carnivores and I think it is cruel to deny that." "Yes, two cats....both vegan." "Yes, Beagles and mixes. Yes, every one for nearly a year. Vets have been skeptical, but not defiant or oppositional." "One dog. She did not go vegan when I did. I don't think I will switch her diet. When she is gone, I probably won't get another dog, just because I would prefer not to be buying meat in dog food, but I am not convinced about the health ramifications of a dog going vegan." "Yes, my cat is not a vegan and wouldn't be even if I fed her vegan food, because she is a serial killer." "I have a cat. I get really frustrated/angry with people who try to make pets vegan. Cats are obligate carnivores. Trying to make a cat vegan is a very UNVEGAN thing to do, because you're potentially harming an animal. Dogs are a different matter, and possibly can be vegan, I'm not sure. If you want a vegan animal, get a bunny or something." "Yes, two cats. They eat EVOLUTION VEGAN and some regular mixed together." "I have 8 cats and a turtle. As far as I know the cats can't be vegan, if I had a dog it would eat a vegan diet." "Yes, dogs and yes. Cat, no, can't find a vegan diet that will allow him to thrive. All the ones that I've tried have caused him to lose weight to the point of being under-nourished. He is now 15 years old and I'm not going to mess with his diet anymore." "No, I do not have any pets. I had a wee kitten which was feral and adopted me, and I felt so guilty buying it pet food with fish in it. I think I would like a dog in the future as I believe it is possible to raise a dog with a vegan diet, but a cat has a dietary requirement which cannot be met in vegan food." "Yes, no. I don't believe that a healthy vegan cat food is yet on the market. (I've heard that 'Vegan Pet' in Australia is superior to USA brands.)" "To me, vegans do not have 'pets'. My wife had dogs when we met, and they both lived on vegan diets; vegan dog food and sharing our own meals. The older dog suffered arthritis, but this decreased significantly when he went onto a vegan diet, although it returned later, and he died when aged 17, a very good age for a big dog." "Dog. Boxer. She gets mostly vegan food with occasional regular dog food thrown in. She tends to get too thin." "We have a cat that is a carnivore. He is 8 and on a special diet and any change upsets his system. Our Beagle, however, eats only vegan food." "I have a cat who I nearly killed by restricting to a vegan pet diet. She is now on a diet that includes vegetables and meat. I am not pleased that she does not thrive as the VeganPet manufacturers made me think she should, but I want her to live." "I live with two dogs. We make their food from scratch. They are vegan." "The rabbit is vegan (!) but the dogs and cats aren't. Something I should do..." "Yes, two cats. No they are not! I'm such a hypocrite!" "Yes, no he would get sick if I tried to make him a vegan (male cat)." "Yes and not vegan. I've worked with 25 different vets. All warned me against feeding a cat a vegan diet (said they would go blind). I feel guilty about the meat that they eat. I have tried to offset this guilt by volunteering at spay/neater events (to make fewer cats and dogs to eat the meat.)" "Yes, two vegan rabbits that we are very close to and live in our house and on our balcony." "Cats, no, they are carnivores. I don't believe in cruelty to animals, and I think it would be cruel to force a cat to be vegan." "Yes, I do and they're not...cats are naturally meat-eaters so I don't see the point...but if I lived in a more rural area I would feed them vegan and let them go hunt for their meat." "Four cats, try to feed them vegan food but one kept getting urinary blockages, so had to give them non-vegan food. I really don't like this; thought we would be able to feed them vegan food when we rescued them." "Yes, 3 cats, all vegan (they eat and very much like 'Benevo Cat' bought from Veggie Pets' online), very healthy on it for years. The oldest is 10 and still very active and in great condition." "Yes, two cats, 2 dogs, 2 pigs. I once had a vegan Siamese cat, but he didn't grow normally. I also had a vegetarian poodle. He was offered a piece of meat which he snatched at and then spit out!" "I live with 3 cats. They're not vegan because I've had friends whose vegan cats had a lot of medical problems. As their guardian, I'm supposed to look out for their best interest." "My family has pets and unfortunately, they are not vegan. I plan on adopting a dog someday, and she will definitely be vegan. If I ever adopt a cat, I don't know that I could make the same guarantee...The carnivorous cat issue is a symptom of a larger problem of domestication." "Two cats and I tried a vegan diet using suitable dry food, but he developed urinary tract infection." "I don't believe in the institution of keeping animals as pets. In an ideal world, we would stop all forced reproduction of animals. However, this is probably the one aspect of animal rights that I am less radical with. I do house three cats, all of whom were 'rescued' from shelters. In the future, I don't think I will house animals. Felines cannot be vegan, especially males. If my future permits it, I would like to live in a somewhat solitary space with farmland and wilderness. In such a case, I would like to take care of rescued farm animals, perhaps pigs, to give them a safe, comfortable space to live out their lives." "No, I do not want to own animals. I could not bear to feed ground up lambs or chickens to 'my' cat or dog. I watch birds or squirrels at a bird feeder outside my window." "I have lived with several vegan dogs and cats (don't call them PETS)." "I have four cats, or they have me. No, they're not vegan. As with many vegans, I struggle with this. I trust this issue will someday be resolved." "My dog, Buddha, is vegan." "Yes, 3 rabbits, 2 dogs, 3 cats. They are all 100% vegan, and have been for many years (some close or beyond a decade)." "I don't believe in the concept of 'pets' (i.e. non-humans as possessions). I do, however believe in sanctuaries for those in need. Our sanctuary treats all in its care with vegan standards." "Yes...and my pet has a human. Of course he's vegan." "Dog and Ferret. Both Vegan." "One vegan cat. One vegan dog; but they eat insects sometimes, and Mana (dog) chews on bones when she happens to find one." "My four-legged canine friend is totally vegan." "Rescued parrots. Yes, vegan." "Yes, two long coat Chihuahuas (one is six and one is 9 months). They are both vegan and very healthy." "Yes four cats and four dogs. The dogs are 95% vegan but the cats are not." "Two dogs and one cat. Unfortunately, they are not vegan; the cat is rather old and we feel it would be unfair to radically change her diet to include taurine supplements, etc. The dogs are not vegan either, but we do give them about 50% vegan food and are looking to move them over slowly to a vegan diet as they're both young." "I have two rescued male cats. They are not vegan due to health reasons (bladder infections)." "I have many cats and I'm so sad to say they are not vegan, even though I tried and tried. It is the worst thing about having cats, but far. I love them so much, but feeding them is a daily upset and causes great strife." "Yes, one cat. I can't easily get vegan food for her, but I would buy it if I could get it in the shop nearby." "Two Chihuahuas and they are vegan. Although the food I was feeding them I recently found out has two ingredients that might be animal-based, so I'm switching to a new brand; PETGUARD VEGETARIAN VEGAN canned food. Formerly I was using Nature's Recipe Vegetarian Allergy Formula." "I have two dogs, two rats, two mice and three gerbils, all rescues, all vegan." "Yes, a dog. He is vegan. Or perhaps more accurately, 'freegan', as he occasionally eats dumpster meat." "Yes, 3 vegan cats, 4 vegan dogs, and 3 vegan parrots. I cook for the dogs and parrots, the cats don't like my cooking, they're fed EVOLUTION." "One dog, vegan except when she scavenges on walks." "Yes two dogs and yes they are vegan. I have four cats that were on a vegan food for about a year, but it was causing bladder infections in the males. So I'm still looking for a food that will work for them." "Yes, rats, and yes, they get meat substitutes as treats!" "I have a kitten and two bunnies. The bunnies of course are vegan. I also purchase my little kitty his food from a vegan pet food store." "I have 2 chinchillas and a parakeet. Yes, they are naturally vegan." "Animals companions? Yes, they are vegan." "Yes, dogs. They have been vegan since they were puppies. Currently they are 11 years old." "Yes, all four dogs are but my 2 cats are not." "One cat, not vegan, but does like vegan biscuits." "Two cats and not vegan, but I don't give them meat or dairy products. They eat fish cat food." "I rescue and foster dogs and go through an immense amount of dog food. I haven't found a reasonably priced vegan food I can buy in large quantities, but if I did, I would buy it." "I share my home with a dog and four cats. The dog is mostly vegan. He eats vegan dog food that we buy or make ourselves. But he's a dog, so he'll eat whatever he finds. And well sometimes he finds nasty, meaty stuff. Dogs are omnivorous scavengers. They can go vegan without worry. The cats are not vegan or vegetarian. Cats are true carnivorous hunters. I don't feel entirely comfortable switching them to a vegan diet, particularly because two have major health issues. I don't truly trust any dog or cat food maker and I think there simply isn't enough history or good science to justify any processed cat food, so right now I basically follow my vet's recommendation." "I have a carnivore cat and a vegan dog." "My two cats are not vegan. Only one of them did very well on vegan cat food...I can't put them at risk for another blocked urinary tract (never mind the $, $1,300 vet bill that goes with it)." "We have many pets. The dogs are vegan. The cats and fish, no. We also care for burros, a goat, and chickens, they are all vegan, except perhaps the chickens who are fed back their own eggs." "It is not medically defensible to subject carnivores to a vegan diet. That is reckless and dangerous." "Yes, I have 3 cats and 2 rats. My rats are vegan. My cats are 1/4 vegan due to having one male cat. Female cats can get all their nutritional needs met on a vegan kitty kibble diet, however the vegetable proteins are digested differently and male cat can develop urinary tract infections." "Two kittens, tried them on 'Vegikit, Ami cat and Benevo Duo. These are too expensive. We had to start them off on meat and now they're carnivorous, but they could be vegan if we could afford it." "Cat, he is not vegan, I rescued him. I am torn on this issue and would love some information and advice in this area." "I have 3 cats: Pencil, Innergy, and Sweet-Pea. They are not vegan, although I have heard of an on-line vegan pet shop that sells vegan food. I will look into it." "No pets. If I did get a pet it would be a naturally vegan animal (e.g. rabbit, iguana, chuckwalla, parrot)." "Two shelter dogs, I feed them meat. I hate it, I read about vegan dogs but I don't think they are healthy, if they were not domesticated by humans they would be in the wild eating like wolves. I cannot make my dogs be vegan, it wouldn't be fair, and they are carnivores. Sometimes I think that after these two pass away, I would not want another dog because of having to buy meat, even though I love dogs." "I have a 16 year old dog, he is not vegan. That has caused a lot of conflict for me, but I don't feel I can force him to be vegan. But I also feel guilty feeding him murdered animals." "I have two pets Staffordshire bull terriers. One is about 6 years old and has been vegetarian and then vegan for about half of his life. The other is one and a half and has been vegan since about 6 weeks of her life. They are both energetic; they play with each other in a very rough and energetic manner! They are caring dogs with their own unique personalities. They let the birds come and drink from their water bowls, and they each communicate to us in their own way." "Cat, was. She got sick and started coughing up dreadful hairballs everyday, unfortunately had to switch her back to a meat diet because of this. Cats are carnivores unfortunately, unlike a dog; she was not equipped to eat vegetable based pet food. Tricky pets, cats." "No, I do not have pets, though if I did I wouldn't have them on a vegan diet unless it was specific to them (Iguanas for example), most animals need meat in their diet. This is understandable as it is how the food chain works. Animals, at least, do not keep their 'pray' locked in sheds, being force-fed and eventually killed in an inhumane way." "My husband and I have rescued animals. Sadly out of the 12 rescued animals in our home, only 3 are vegan. Some came to us with pre-existing health problems. In other cases, we are warned about health, for example, we are not convinced that a vegan diet is healthy for cats, particularly male cats. While a few do o.k. with it, my friend tried and her cat went in to kidney failure. We feed our dogs about 1/2 vegan and 1/2 not vegan food, right now. I rescue these animals and nurse them back to health, from illness, injury or starvation, I don't feel it would be right to take huge chances with their health either. I'm troubled by this, but haven't found a solution. Most of the animals that stayed with us, and that we didn't find other homes for, have some severe ongoing heath issues. It's just really, really hard. I do get a ton of criticism, some that feels downright mean-spirited from other vegans over this." "A rescued dog and four rescued guinea pigs, and two land hermit crabs (unfortunately my boyfriend had them before he was vegan and we can't spend them back to the Caribbean as half of them die on the journey and they might just get picked back up again for export, anyway.) They are all vegan. I don't see the point in saving one animal only to keep it alive by feeding it others; you may as well kill the rescued one. As one of my friends pointed out even if making them vegan reduces their lifespan, that's still logically better than killing other animals to feed them. And as long as dogs /cats can get Taurine and L-carnitine, there is no reason why they should suffer from a vegan diet, anyway." |