Not only are cats carnivores, they are obligate carnivores, which means they need to follow a meat-based diet to survive. A cat without meat won’t live a healthy life. As an owner, you need to make sure your pet gets the right amount of protein and amino acids he needs.
Cats aren’t adapted to follow anything other than a carnivore diet. This goes as far as cats not being able to taste sweet things like fruit. They only have a taste for meat and protein-dense foods.
Simply put, yes, cats are carnivores. And before you ask, no, they cannot be anything else!
Can a cat be vegetarian?
There’s no way a cat can be a vegetarian and live a healthy life. Cats cannot be vegetarian or vegan. Their owners can be – but cats need to follow a carnivore diet to survive. Most cats don’t like the taste (or can’t taste) fruits and veggies.
Plant-based diets can be acceptable for humans (if they take the right supplements) but cats can’t live a normal and healthy life by eating nothing but veggies. All cat food is meat-based, and there’s a reason for that to be that way!
What do cats eat?
There are two things a cat will love to eat: meat and fish. If cooked, they are the perfect meal for cats. Most cat food has some meat and fish in them. As long as they’re following a meat-based diet, they’ll be okay.
Unfortunately, there are other things that cats will love but cannot have under any circumstances. For example, lactose and other dairy products are loved by a lot of cats – but it’s not something they should eat.
What do cats love to eat?
Each cat has an individual taste for different foods – but most of them love meat. As long as you mix that with a treat every now and then, they’ll be as happy as they can be! You don’t need to cook the meat yourself. Cat food has plenty of it.
Keep in mind cats will love most things you throw at them (as long as it’s not fruits or veggies), but you need to avoid over-feeding your cat. Reduce treats to a minimum if your cat is gaining weight. You might think your cat is slim now but it can definitely balloon up!
Is there anything a cat should never eat?
Cats should not be fed raw meat, raw eggs, raw fish, lactose-related products, anything vegetarian, vegan meals, and similar items. As long as you keep it cooked and carnivore you’re good – but if you move away from that, you’re in the wrong place.
Other things a cat cannot eat are chocolate, dog food, bread, yeast, onions, and garlic.
If you want to make sure if your cat can eat something, simply ask yourself: Is it some sort of meat? If yes, ask yourself: is it cooked? If yes, then 9 times out of 10 your cat can eat it. If you answered no somewhere down the line, then your cat cannot eat that.