Pet food suppliers are giving in to demand of plant-based food for cats and dogs
The focus on cats is because they are technically carnivores and need meat
They rely on taurine, vitamin A and arachidonic acid found in meat
Pet owners who force their cats into being vegans could risk seriously damaging their health, the RSPCA has warned.
Owners concerned with ethics are turning to veganism and vegetarianism and bringing their cats with them.
Pet food suppliers are now following suit, with one in six now branching out into vegan and vegetarian food stuffs for animals.
But a plant-based diet is not sufficient for a cat as they need taurine, vitamin A and arachidonic acid found in meat, warned the charity.
The focus on cats is because
they are technically carnivores and need meat
as opposed to dogs who can theoretically survive on plants alone.
A spokesman for the RSPCA said: `Under the Animal Welfare Act the law requires an owner to ensure all the pet’s needs are met. This includes a healthy diet, as well as suitable living conditions and protection from pain, suffering, injury and disease.‘
‘Cats are strict carnivores and depend on some very specific nutrients that are found in meat including taurine, vitamin A and arachidonic acid so can become seriously ill if they are fed a vegetarian or vegan diet.
‘If an owner is considering switching their pet’s diet they should consult with their vet to make sure that it will meet all their pets nutritional needs which will depend on many factors such as age, health and lifestyle,’ they added.
Experts agree that it is even a possible welfare issue and warnings came after the National Pet Show in Birmingham this month displayed non-meat options to potential buyers.
Pet shops have reported the growing demand for grain and gluten free options for their pets. An expert from Benovo, a company that has been making ‘ethical pet food’ since 2005, told The Daily Telegraph the apparent health issues the RSPCA were talking about are all hogwash and that any vets that disagreed with him were struggling with ‘an unshakable ideology’.
A 53-year-old called Harry Bolman also thinks plant-based food is the ‘healthiest diet’ for felines.
He feeds his cat Uma, five, a diet of vegetables and special vegan cat food and claims she’s never been healthier.
Harry – from Australia – who has been vegan for the last 38 years, said despite negative comments from people who he claims say he is ‘abusing’ and ‘killing’ his cat, he stands firm in his position.
‘Uma is very healthy. She’s got the whitest coat, a great appetite and is full of vitality. Regular processed cat food is abysmal. It’s just bits and pieces of different animals which is absolutely revolting. There is no way I’d feed my cat that. I don’t support meat-based pet food, it goes against my ethics altogether,’ Harry said.
According to the RSPCA, cats ‘need a source of animal protein to survive’ – and while all mammals need the nine essential amino acids, cats are unique as they require taurine and arginine in their diets – which is only found naturally in meat.
It is added to the likes of Benovo’s foods but veterinarians still say that it’s inappropriate because it’s based on very limited and/or poor research.
I didn’t say it was. I just reblogged that post of bisexual people. It’s not an identity.
bisexuality is a trait just like me liking electro and not eating raw meat/fish, its not a personality neither is it an identity its a tiny part of who I am as a person
People mistaking their sexuality for a key part of who they are as a person is what bothers me about the lgbt(+??) community. Bisexuality is a trait, not a defining cornerstone of who I am. I’m not about to get all my clothes in bisexual purple shades and tattoo that ridiculous flag on my face so everyone knows I’m hella gay. Same with Pride parades. I love the celebration, but why do we have to make it the Gay Olympics out here?? If you’re not maximum gaylord, vegan president of the gays, then you’re like a second class citizen in the lgbtugbns circles. It’s absurd and THAT is what makes me uncomfortable having the “oh I’m actually bi” conversation: being associated with THOSE fucks.
One of the ways to differentiate GHEIS vs LGBT people is their position on the word “queer”
If they call themselves that or try to berate people who are uncomfortable with the word, no doubt about it. They’re a GHEI and someone who gives our community a bad name.
i was playing pokemon blue on stream earlier at 350% speed and i got to thinking
what if the reason nobody in the pokemon world has any good teams is because its considered a dick move to have a proper team comp
like culturally everyone is like “haha pick the pokemon you want! if you’re happy with three geodudes, thats you and your life!” and then you’re supposed to just have a friendly battle with any other pokemon trainers and whatever pokemon they just happen to have
like the average trainer is probably just walking around with a growlithe because that’s their pet, or a hiker has three geodudes because the geodudes help him with hiking. and if this pet owner and geodude hiker meet, you’re supposed to have a friendly battle but nothing too serious
now imagine the 10 year old kid that has six pokeballs on their belt comes up. you’re like “haha, we’ll have a friendly battle!” and you throw out your geodude
and they throw out a fucking gyarados, and it one-shots your geodude
and then you throw out your pidgey you have because the pidgey helps you navigate mountains because you’re a hiker
and then electricity crackles around the gyarados and a thunderbolt flies off of this giant dragon and evaporates your pidgey
so you’re down to your last pokemon. you tell them you’re gonna send out your bulbasaur. the ten year old is like “oh okay in that case i’m gonna pull out my vulpix.” like not only is this kid walking around with an amped-up super dragon, but theyve also got multiple pokemon specifically for making type advantage counter-picks?
this kid’s a fucking asshole! really, kid? what are you trying to prove here? this is a friendly match between strangers for fun! why are you composing real-ass competitive teams? what a fucker!
Well maybe that ‘when two trainers’ eyes meet, a Pokemon battle must follow’ rule was a STUPID RULE, dude, did you ever think of that? Listen, I’m trying to beat the most skilled and powerful Pokemon trainers in this whole country, I don’t want to fight you and your pet Growlithe. I’m just minding my business hiking this trail and you guys keep going “HEY LET’S HAVE A BATTLE” and here I’m going “Hey, listen, no, I’m training for competition, you don’t want this, please, let’s just pretend we never saw each other, I won’t tell anyone if you don’t, please don’t make me send you on a mad rush to the nearest Pokemon center” but you’re already pulling out your Pokeballs and going “hahaha whee battle” and just…
We are all trapped in a really dumb system, okay? I don’t want to do this. Please don’t make me do this. I am literally begging you. My Pokemon get hurt in these stupid street fights too and then I have to heal them, and that sucks, but the worst part is watching your face crumple because you thought we were having fun and I am LITERALLY NOT ALLOWED TO PASS YOU UNTIL I’VE STOMPED YOU INTO THE GROUND. I have places to be. I have other competition trainers to fight. I have this rival wandering around and THAT’S a whole thing. I have maybe 50 coins in my pocket and no, I don’t want to take your coins, okay? You spend that on food for your Pokemon or a cute hat or something.
If you are suffering from depression, suicidal thoughts, low self-esteem, or any other mental health condition, there is no shame in speaking up. There is no shame in seeking help. Your feelings matter.
It’s okay to not be okay.
Dear EVERYONE****
This post was written for International Men’s Day. You know, a day for discussing issues that affect men?
I wrote this post because of the stigma surrounding mental health, especially for men. Men are expected not to talk about their problems, and to suffer in silence, because men are “supposed” to be tough, and showing emotions is considered a sign of “weakness”.
Obviously, the core message of my post applies to everyone, but I specifically wrote it for the people who needed to hear it most, on a day dedicated to discussing men’s issues.
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