Some pets aren’t for certain people. There are cat people and dog people, and if you’re a vegan who wants your pet to be a vegan too, you probably should steer clear of the two. Particularly, if you try to make your cat eat only veggies, you could be looking at criminal charges, the Royal Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (RSPCA) has warned.
While dogs, like humans, are omnivores, cats are what are known as obligate carnivores. Meaning they have to have meat to remain healthy and thrive.
“It’s an absolute biological necessity,” the RSPCA added.
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Cats need meat
Cats are among a subset of animals that must have, beyond the essential nine amino acids all animals require, the animal proteins taurine and arginine in their diet.
Dolphins, mink, sea lions and tarsiers are also among mammals categorized as obligate carnivores, but none of those are dependent upon humans for their diet like the domestic house cats.
With popular vegans on social media able to push out their lifestyle to an ever-increasing number of people, the RSPCA, unfortunately, had to recirculate some pretty common sense information about one of the most popular house pets and the laws surrounding their care.
“Under the Animal Welfare Act, the law requires an owner to ensure all the pet’s needs are met. This includes a healthy diet, as well as suitable living conditions and protection from pain, suffering, injury, and disease,” a spokesperson for the group said.
Consequences of animal abuse
Fines and even prison time are the consequences for failing to properly care for animals in one’s care.
It’s worth noting that many ethical vegans are against the idea of “pet ownership” in any way shape or form, so the unthinking vegans who don’t allow their cats to roam free to catch mice or birds, etc. aren’t really adhering to the standard ethical vegans would argue is right.
That the vegans who ostensibly don’t eat meat out of compassion for animals would impose this kind of animal cruelty on their own beloved pets is the height of irony.