A study of 1,305 cats found slightly lower reported overweight rates among vegan-fed cats, but researchers say the evidence remains uncertain
Keeping a cat at a healthy weight means paying attention to its meals, treats and activity. A new study looks at whether the type of food in the bowl might also make a difference
Cats evolved to eat meat, so vegan food may seem an unlikely choice
Yet owners reported slightly lower rates of overweight among cats eating vegan diets than among those eating conventional meat-based food
The findings came with plenty of uncertainty, as study author Andrew Knight, an adjunct professor at Griffith University in Australia, explained
“We can’t conclude from this study that vegan diets definitely protect cats against becoming overweight, but we have found a consistent pattern that is worth further investigation,” Knight said
His team did not examine or weigh any cats. Instead, the researchers analyzed owners’ reports about 1,305 cats, including just 127 that ate vegan food
The researchers ran their online survey from May to December 2020, recruiting owners mostly through social media
They also contacted groups interested in less common pet diets to find enough people feeding cats vegan food
Each owner answered questions about one cat that had lived with them and eaten its current type of diet for at least a year. Most owners, 71%,