Some claim vegan pet food may be less palatable, or may compromise animal welfare. But are such claims actually true? In 2020 we surveyed dog or cat guardians asking about behaviours displayed by their pets at meal times. Analysis of the behaviour of 2,308 dogs and 1,135 cats revealed no significant differences overall, between animals fed vegan or meat-based diets (conventional or raw meat). Our results indicate that vegan pet foods are generally at least as palatable to dogs and cats as conventional meat or raw meat diets, and do not compromise their welfare, when other welfare determinants, such as nutritional requirements, are adequately provided.
Knight A and Satchell L (2021). Vegan versus meat-based pet foods: Owner-reported palatability behaviours and implications for canine and feline welfare. PLoS ONE 16(6): e0253292.
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