
Pet Food
Vegan versus meat-based cat food:
guardian-reported health outcomes in 1,369 cats, after controlling for feline demographic factors
Abstract
Increasing concerns about environmental sustainability, farmed animal welfare and competition for traditional protein sources, are driving considerable development of alternative pet foods. These include raw meat diets, in vitro meat products, and diets based on novel protein sources including terrestrial plants, insects, yeast, fungi and potentially seaweed. To study health outcomes in cats fed vegan diets compared to those fed meat, we surveyed 1,418 cat guardians, asking about one cat living with them, for at least one year. Among 1,380 respondents involved in cat diet decision-making, health and nutrition was the factor considered most important. 1,369 respondents provided information relating to a single cat fed a meat-based (1,242–91%) or vegan (127–9%) diet for at least a year. We examined seven general indicators of illness. After controlling for age, sex, neutering status and primary location via regression models, the following risk reductions were associated with a vegan diet for average cats: increased veterinary visits– 7.3% reduction, medication use– 14.9% reduction, progression onto therapeutic diet– 54.7% reduction, reported veterinary assessment of being unwell– 3.6% reduction, reported veterinary assessment of more severe illness– 7.6% reduction, guardian opinion of more severe illness– 22.8% reduction. Additionally, the number of health disorders per unwell cat decreased by 15.5%. No reductions were statistically significant. We also examined the prevalence of 22 specific health disorders, using reported veterinary assessments. Forty two percent of cats fed meat, and 37% of those fed vegan diets suffered from at least one disorder. Of these 22 disorders, 15 were most common in cats fed meat, and seven in cats fed vegan diets. Only one difference was statistically significant. Considering these results overall, cats fed vegan diets tended to be healthier than cats fed meat-based diets. This trend was clear and consistent. These results largely concur with previous, similar studies.
Knight A, Bauer A & Brown H (2023) Vegan versus meat-based cat food: Guardian-reported health outcomes in 1,369 cats, after controlling for feline demographic factors. PLoS ONE 18(9): e0284132. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0284132.
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Call for evidence-based positions on vegan diets
Summary
This technical letter, published in a leading UK veterinary journal, sheds light on some of the reason for the British Veterinary Association’s repeated opposition to vegan pet food – they appear to be crucially ignorant of key facts concerning this field. At least they’ve stated they will review their position in the future…
Knight A (2022). Call for evidence-based positions on vegan diets. Vet Times 52(29), p. 19.
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The weight-of-evidence position on vegan dog food
Summary
This technical letter, published in a leading UK veterinary journal, summarised the evidence extant by May 2022, about health outcomes of dogs on vegan vs meat-based diets. Four studies showed equivalent or superior health outcomes for dogs on vegan diets (compared to meat-based dog food), and one study (the oldest, smallest) showed a contrary result.
Knight A (2022). The weight-of-evidence position on vegan diets. Vet Times 52(21), 23.
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Vegan versus meat-based dog food: Guardian-reported indicators of health
Abstract
Knight A, Huang E, Rai N, Brown H (2022) Vegan versus meat-based dog food: Guardian-reported indicators of health. PLoS ONE 17(4): e0265662. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0265662.
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Vegan versus meat-based pet foods:
owner-reported palatability behaviours and implications for canine and feline welfare
Abstract
Consumer suspicion of conventional pet foods, along with perceived health benefits of alternative diets, are fuelling development of the latter. These include raw meat diets, in vitro meat products, and diets based on novel protein sources such as terrestrial and marine plants, insects, yeast and fungi. However, some claim vegan diets may be less palatable, or may compromise animal welfare. We surveyed 4,060 dog or cat guardians to determine the importance to them of pet food palatability, and the degree to which their animals displayed specific behavioural indicators of palatability at meal times. Guardians were asked to choose one dog or cat that had been within their household for at least one year, and not on a prescription or therapeutic diet. Of 3,976 respondents who played some role in pet diet decision-making, palatability was the third most important among 12 factors cited as important when choosing pet diets. For 1,585 respondents feeding conventional or raw meat diets, who stated they would realistically consider alternative diets, palatability was the fourth most important among 14 desired attributes. For the 2,308 dogs included, reported observations of 10 behavioural indicators of palatability at meal times reliably indicated significant effects of increased reports of appetitive behaviour by dogs on a raw meat diet, as opposed to a conventional diet. There was no consistent evidence of a difference between vegan diets and either the conventional or raw meat diets. For the 1,135 cats included, reported observations of 15 behavioural indicators indicated that diet made little difference to food-oriented behaviour. Based on these owner-reported behaviours, 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. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0253292.
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The nutritional soundness of meat-based and plant-based pet foods
Abstract
Knight A and Light N. (2021). The nutritional soundness of meat-based and plant-based pet foods. Revista Electronica De Veterinaria 22(1), 1 – 21.
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Vegetarian Versus Meat-based
Diets for Companion Animals
Summary
Knight, A. and Leitsberger, M. (2016). Vegetarian versus meat-based diets for companion animals. Animals 6, 57.
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Summaries
Vegan Diets for Companion Animals
Knight A (2018). Vegan diets for companion animals. The Healthy Pet Guide. Distributed with The Mail on Sunday, 14 Oct. 50 – 51.
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How to Safely Veganise Your Cat or Dog
Knight A (2018). How to safely veganise your cat or dog. Green for Life, winter. 16.
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Fishy Business?
Knight A (2008). Fishy business? Lifescape, May, 74-76.
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Vegan Animal Diets: Facts and Myths
Knight A (2015). Vegan animal diets: facts and myths. The Vegan Society [UK].
Debate About Vegan Cat Food
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