Veggie?

[maxtmill]

Hi Shauntay! Thanks for the info. I know that cats are obligate carnivores, but I thought they ate vegetable matter as well.

 

[Shauntay]

Cats are classified as true carnivores (also known as obligate carnivores) by biologists and scientists world wide. Dogs can be sustained on plant based only diets and can extract necesary nutrients from plants (although left to their own devices, would also prefer meat), cats are incapable of this, but may occasionally ingest grass to aid in digestion.
My point was, omnivores can extract nutrients from some plants and fruits and veggies. Cats CANNOT extract the nutrients neccesary to survive from plants and veggies, thus, when you said cats were omnivorous, this was wrong.
A species cannot be classified as both obligate carnivore and omnivore at the same time, so your posts conflict.
Hope this is helpful

 

[EmbraceMonChat]

I wasn't trying to be mean either, but it's like I teach my third graders--I know you like frogs and salamanders and caterpillars and other small animals. But when you catch them and put them in a jar and punch holes in the lid and throw some grass in there and think, "I love this animal so much I am going to keep him." you have just given him a death sentence. One of the criteria of life is that the animal has a habitat that will sustain it. And habitats include food. If you try to force vegetarianism onto a cat, you aren't providing a habitat that will sustain it. And you too, will be giving your companion a death sentence.
It isn't a matter of to each his own. I'm sorry, but it just isn't. If I buy a pet goldfish and decide that I don't like those nasty fish flakes--that they are against my belief systems--should I then just decide to feed it french fries? I'm not trying to be mean, but you need to match the animal you choose to have as a companion with the food it requires and can survive on. PERIOD.

Well said!

Human belief systems really don't apply to our animal companions. There is no right/wrong in their world when it comes to diet and sustaining themselves. When we domesticate an animal, we are forever responsible for it's needs. So while I have nearly removed all meat from my personal diet over the last year, I would never force my human agenda on my cat. Meat she needs and meat she shall have. Did she or will she ever hunt a cow? No. Has she or will she ever hunt wild game? The question is moot...I became responsible for her food source when I adopted her. If the safest form of meat (disease, parasite and rodentcide free) I can provide is beef from the supermarket (or a bag of chicken based dry food), so be it. Can I strive to purchase that diet from a responsible source? You betchya. Just don't expect me to deny her the nutrition she needs because I'm squeamish about it.

 

[Jinxlover]

I'm wondering what your breeder said about this??
Did you tell your breeder you planned on feeding this way?

Let me tell ya, you would not get one of my kittens if you planned on feeding this way.