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Cats can be healthy on vegan diets. They need to be given food that meets all of their nutritional requirements (which is obviously true whether or not they are fed vegan diets). Cats can be healthy on vegan diets ONLY IF they are given food that is made specifically for cats on vegan diets and contains all the necessary nutrients. There are multiple brands, Benevo tends to be a popular one for wet food and AmiCat for dry kibble. Evolution Diet also makes wet and dry food. VeganPet is an option available in Australia. In addition to ensuring that cats get the nutrients they need, there are also two other issues to be aware of: water (amount of moisture in their diet) and pH (acidity versus alkalinity of their diet). ----Hydration---- It is very important to make sure cats get enough moisture in their diet. A diet that consists mostly of dry food puts extreme pressure on a cat's kidneys and liver and can often be the main cause behind struvite crystals, urinary tract infections, kidney disease (also known as renal disease), and kidney failure (also known as renal failure). Oftentimes by the time symptoms show up the kidneys are already very damaged, so it is extremely important to make sure that cats get enough moisture in their diets to prevent these problems in the first place. Cats' bodies are designed to get moisture from prey, not so much from drinking. Cats often don't drink enough water so they need moisture in their food, and cats on vegan diets are especially prone to not getting enough water. Just having water out for them is not enough because cats don't have a high thirst drive because they naturally/instinctively get a lot of their moisture from food, so they don't always feel thirsty or drink even if they are dehydrated. Make sure they are eating enough wet food. Some people add distilled water to their dry kibble in a 1:1 ratio, but it is important to not leave it out for long after soaking, because the bacteria and mold present in dry kibble becomes dangerous when rehydrated. If you do this, refrigerate it in a glass (not plastic) container with a lid. Pureed vegetables can also be added to kibble. If giving vegetables to cats, research the vegetables online first to ensure that they are safe for cats, because many vegetables commonly eaten by humans (such as corn and tomatoes, among many others) can be unhealthy or even dangerous for cats. While wet kibble and pureed vegetables may be included in a cat's diet, it is best to give cats a lot of canned wet food. Cats consume double the amount of water when fed a water-rich diet versus dry kibble; this fact considers both sources of water: food and water bowl. Water fountains such as those produced by PetSafe and Pioneer Pet often encourage cats to drink more because cats are drawn to moving water. However, this is not an adequate substitute for providing cats with wet food. In summary, it is extremely important to provide your cats a substantial amount of wet food, because they will not drink enough water to stay hydrated if they are on a diet consisting mostly of dry food. ----pH---- It is very important for a cat's diet to maintain the proper pH. A cat's pH should remain between 6.0 and 6.5. This means it should be slightly acidic (a pH of 7 is neutral, below 7 is acidic, above 7 is alkaline). This is especially important to be aware of for cats on vegan diets, because animal-based diets are more acidic than plant-based diets, so a plant-based diet can result in a cat's body becoming too alkaline. Being either too acidic or too alkaline can cause urinary tract problems such as urinary tract crystals, which is especially dangerous for males, but can be a problem for females too. A diet that is too alkaline can cause struvite crystals, whereas a diet that is too acidic can cause calcium oxalate crystals. Struvite crystals are far more common in cats, but both are risks. Cats with urinary problems may do better with low magnesium diets/recipes because struvite stones are composed of magnesium ammonium phosphate. Commercial vegan cat foods such as AmiCat and Evolution are formulated in a way that should keep the cat's acidity in the proper 6.0-6.5 range. However, some cats eating commercial vegan cat foods such as Ami, Evolution, or Benevo do need extra acidity in the diet. The only way to know for sure is to test the urine pH once the cat is established on the food. Testing urine pH after about 3-weeks on a new diet is a good indicator. It is also very important to check urine pH periodically; this should be done once every 6 months even if no diet change is made. Cats (cats in general, especially those on vegan diets) should have their body's acidity checked by a vet periodically. In the US, you can get Solid Gold pH test strips from www.chewy.com to check between vet visits by checking the cat's urine's pH. Try to get a clean catch as sticking the strips in wet litter can give a false reading, depending on the pH of the litter itself. You need to be measuring the pH of the urine, not the litter. Some people cover the litter in plastic so they can check the pH of uncontaminated urine. Cats sometimes have a few drops of urine that gets left on their fur; people sometimes check the pH that way as well. Whatever way you choose, just don't let the pH strip read the litter's pH, it should only read the urine's pH. Some people use Pretty Litter which changes color based on pH. If you use Pretty Litter, be aware that essential information is missing from the packaging, websites, and commercials as it would likely decrease sales: abnormal pH color indicators can turn back to the "normal" yellow-greenish color within 30 minutes to three hours, so the litter must be checked frequently to ensure abnormal color changes are seen. If a cat eating commercial food (such as AmiCat, Evolution, or Benevo) needs extra acidity, good options include: vitamin C, Compassion Circle VegeYeast, or cranberry powder. The latter is probably least effective, but there are compounds in cranberries that prevent bacteria from sticking to the lining of the urinary tract. If a cat is having UTIs that are a result of bacteria, cranberry powder is an especially good option. Vets usually recommend from 200mg to 400mg or 500mg of vitamin C per day to acidify urine, divided between 2 meals. Compassion Circle VegeYeast is modified for acidity and very effective preventing alkaline urine. VegeYeast can be added to commercial food because the B vitamins it provides are water soluble and flush out in the urine if they are not needed. There is no risk of over-supplementation with VegeYeast; you can use up to a tablespoon or more per day. The pH of VegeYeast is between 3.5 and 4.0, while vitamin C is in the 2.0 to 2.5 range. ----Comercially available vegan cat food---- There are multiple brands to choose from including AmiCat, Benevo, and Evolution. It is a good idea to provide your cats with several brands and varieties partly so they don't get tired of the same thing all the time, and partly because variety in diet is generally a good thing to do for health. Wysong cat food is NOT recommended for several reasons. Wysong's vegan cat food is widely believed to not be as nutritionally adequate as other brands of vegan cat food such as AmiCat, Benevo, and Evolution. Wysong themselves recommend adding meat to their cat food. Wysong advertises their vegan cat food to be used as 'a base to a fresh meat source'. Wysong cat food is presumably NOT fully supplemented or nutritionally adequate. Additionally, it is rumored that Wysong's 'vegan' cat food is not actually vegan, because it supposedly contains one bull-derived ingredient; this may or may not be true. ----Home made vegan cat food---- Some people make home made vegan cat food using Vegecat or Vegecat phi. DO NOT add Vegecat or Vegecat phi to nutritionally complete commercial food (like Amicat, Evolution, and Benevo). Commercial food is nutritionally-complete and supplemented with the vitamins, minerals, and amino acids needed. Adding the Vegecat supplements can lead to over-supplementation. While it is unlikely that nutrient levels would reach toxic levels, as they do keep levels conservative in the Vegecat supplements, nutrient levels would be higher than desired. Over-supplementing a mineral like calcium could contribute to stone formation because the body would not assimilate all the calcium and it could build up in the urinary tract to form blockages. While Vegecat and Vegecat phi should never be added to commercial food, they ARE very good for home-made vegan cat food. If going this route, FOLLOW THE RECIPES provided by Compassion Circle (the manufacturer of Vegecat and Vegecat phi). If you follow the recipes and use the proper amount of Vegecat or Vegecat phi, the food you make will be nutritionally complete and healthy. Not following the proper recipes can cause serious health problems such as heart disease and blindness, so if you are making home-made food, be very sure to be including all of the needed nutrients. The difference between Vegecat and Vegecat phi is that Vegecat phi has an additive make the diet more acidic. The only way to know which one should be used for an individual cat is to do periodic tests of the cat's urine pH. ----Food additives (for nutrition)---- Nutritional additives can be added to a cat's diet. The two most recommended are Compassion Circle Green Mush and Animal Essentials Plant Enzymes W/ Probiotics. Either or both of these products can be added to a cat's regular diet, regardless of whether the cat is eating commercially produced food such as Amicat, or home-made food made with supplements such as Vegecat. It is important to understand that these products are NOT a substitute for a nutritionally-complete diet. Rather, these products can be given IN ADDITION to a nutritionally-complete diet. Green Mush provides nutrients, antioxidants, omega fatty acids, phytonutrients, and more that is not provided by a regular diet. It’s a wonderful benefit. https://compassioncircle.com/green-mush/ Green Mush is alkaline. Therefore, it is very important that when feeding Green Mush to cats on a vegan diet, add cranberry powder or Compassion Circle VegeYeast to the diet to add acidity and counter the alkalinity of Green Mush. Remember to regularly check your cats' pH (acidity). Adding digestive enzymes to a cat's diet helps their bodies convert the nutrients in their food, and is especially important for cats on vegan diets. Enzymes do NOT add nutrients; they just improve the bioavailability of the food that is being fed and help the body absorb the nutrients present in the food. An enzyme and probiotic product aids digestion and nutrient absorption for any cooked or processed food that no longer contains enzymes. This is especially beneficial for cats who have a shorter digestive tract than omnivores, and the amylase in digestive enzyme products will help cats digest carbohydrates. The recommended enzyme and probiotic product is Animal Essentials Plant Enzymes W/ Probiotics. http://animalessentials.com/plant-enzyme-w-probiotics-300-gm/ Compassion Circle also makes a digestive enzyme product (Prozyme Plus); however, this does not contain probiotics, so it is recommended to go with the Animal Essentials product that contains both digestive enzymes and probiotics. It is recommended to supplement a cat's diet with both Green Mush and Plant Enzymes W/ Probiotics. Remember, these products are NOT substitutes for a nutritionally-complete diet, and they do NOT contain the nutrients that cats need to be healthy. Rather, they can be given to cats IN ADDITION to a nutritionally-complete diet. ----Food additives (for flavor)---- If a cat does not like vegan food, you can try adding coconut oil or nutritional yeast to the food. With both options, only add a small amount. Coconut oil is generally safe for cats in small amounts, but it is very high in calories, can cause upset stomachs, and some cats are allergic to coconuts, so it is important to use it in small amounts. Nutritional yeast is often recommended for cats and is generally safe in small amounts, but it is important to use only in small amounts because it contains phosphorus which is bad in large amounts and is especially dangerous for cats with kidney disease or kidney failure (also known as renal disease and renal failure). According to one source which may or may not be reliable, 1/4 to 1/2 teaspoon of nutritional yeast would be safe as long as the diet is otherwise low in phosphorus and the cat does not have kidney/renal problems. (https://consciouscat.net/2015/02/16/nutritional-yeast-secret-weapon-get-finicky-cats-eat/) If adding coconut oil or nutritional yeast, don't add large amounts, and avoid nutritional yeast for cats with kidney/renal problems. Some people also add brewer's yeast (though this is not as popular as nutritional yeast). However, there is disagreement as to whether or not brewer's yeast is healthy or safe for cats. If you do consider trying brewer's yeast, only use it in small amounts, and make sure to read the ingredient list, because brewer's yeast sometimes contains garlic which is toxic to cats. ----Final thoughts---- While a cat's diet being too alkaline or too acidic can cause health issues such as urinary tract problems, remember that the primary cause of feline urinary issues is inadequate hydration. Consider this: a cat's normal prey is ~70% water. Dry food is ~5-10% water. Canned food is ~78% water. Cats have a low thirst drive and they do not make up the deficit at the water bowl. They are designed to get water in their food. According to Nationwide, FLUTD (Feline Lower Urinary Tract Disease) is the #1 illness for cats. A high-moisture diet improves the urine concentration and allows the minerals that could lead to crystal formation to flush out of the bladder. If you are transitioning cats to a vegan diet, at first you can mix some of the vegan cat food with what you have left of their current cat food to get them used to it, otherwise they may not eat it. Make sure to mix it up thoroughly. Start mixing a little in and then increase the ratio of vegan food to old food, until you're out of their old stuff and have them used to the vegan food. Dogs can be healthy on vegan diets too and, like cats, need to be given food that is fortified with all of the needed nutrients. For further information, look at these pages: https://vecado.ca/pages/cats101 https://vecado.ca/blogs/news/urinary-health-of-cats https://compassioncircle.com/faq/ https://compassioncircle.com/resources/

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