Some people believe that vegan diets for cats cause malnourishment and as a result shorter lifespan.
A 2021 study conducted by the researchers from University of Guelph (Canada) with 874 cats could not confirm shorter lifespan for cats on a vegan diet.
Instead, the researchers found that cats on a vegan diet live just as long as cats fed a meat-based diet.
This research connects nicely with the prior research (see reference section on Vegan Cats 101 page). The previous studies point to a general conclusion that cats can be vegan on a complete plant-based diet.
The current study builds on this research and takes it one step further, by looking at lifespan of cats.
Veterinarian Dr. Sarah Dodd spearheaded this research and compared 2 groups of cats: cats fed plant-based diets (PB) and meat-based (MB) diets.
“...longevity of cats, as reported by the study participants, did not vary between cats fed PB or MB diets, and was comparable to the recognized lifespan of domestic cats...”
-excerpt from the study
The animation below compares the lifespans of 2 groups of cats:
Key slides from the animation:
Such lifespan is only possible when cats are fed a complete vegan diet, supplemented with taurine, arachidonic acid, vitamins A, D3 and other nutrients.
The above animation was built based on Kaplan Meier survival function from the study.
And for those considering switching their cat to a vegan diet, the results look very promising.
A similar study for dogs is underway.
Study link
The study has been published in BMC Veterinary Research:
and can be accessed by the public via the following link:
https://bmcvetres.biomedcentral.com/articles/10.1186/s12917-021-02754-8
Next Steps
Online Assessment
We recommend taking an online assessment to determine suitability of a vegan diet for your cat.
Every cat is different and has their unique needs, and what works for one cat may not work for the other.
The online assessment takes into consideration:
- age
- gender
- health situation
...and reflects on the suitability of vegan cat food for Your cat. At the end of the assessment you can opt to receive a FREE VEGAN sample bag with kibble.
Sample Packs
We also recommend trying a sample pack to determine how your cat likes the flavor of the food. A sample pack of Ami Cat kibble (0.66 lb) can be a great start.
At-home Welness Test
By using at-home wellness tests, you can regularly monitor your cat's health and detect a health condition in time to prevent health deterioration and improve your cat’s lifespan. CheckUp kit for Cats, as well as CheckUp kit for Dogs, can detect the most common issues among domestic animals including high glucose levels, kidney failure, urinary tract infection (UTI) and blood in the urine.
Complete Vegan Cat Foods
Learn more about the vegan diets via Vegan Cats 101 page. Explore formulas, the ingredients, transition experiences and reviews.
Cats thrive on a diet that meets their nutritional requirements, so look for plant-based products that meet these requirements outlined by AAFCO (USA) and FEDIAF (Europe) such as:
