Cats are in no way omnivores nor should a pet owner attempt to make a cat follow a strict omnivore diet. All cats are carnivores. They need diet filled with meat to live a healthy and long life.
Cats cannot follow an omnivore diet. Humans, on the other hand, are meant to eat both meat- and plant-based food. But we should never attempt to force human habits on a cat, no matter how healthy we think that would be.
Truth is, cats cannot taste most fruit and vegetables, as their tongue is not prepared to taste sweet flavors. If you try to feed a cat in an omnivore way, it’s more likely than not that it will avoid the plant-based food and stick to meat anyway.
Should I feed an omnivore diet to my cat?
As long as your cat is following a meat-based diet, you can give him non-meat treats as a reward or desert. But do not replace essential meat portions of a cat’s diet with other food sources, no matter how good you think that is.
What you should never do is replace a cat’s carnivore diet with an omnivore one. Cats are not like humans. They have different needs. A carnivore diet is a must for a cat. But giving your cat an omnivore treat every once in a while is acceptable.
Make sure you check if a cat can eat the omnivore food you’re about to give him before you do. There are certain things, like onions, that cats cannot eat under any circumstance.
What happens if my cat follows an omnivore diet?
A cat’s entire nutrition rests upon getting the right amount of protein and amino acids that can only come from meat. If you replace, substitute, or out-right remove those nutrients from a cat’s diet, you will only harm him.
An omnivore diet could force you to replace certain meat-based meals with plant-based ones. In doing so, you will end up harming your cat because of the lack of nutrients.
This doesn’t mean a cat should eat nothing but meat, though. If he is getting the meat it needs, tasty treats (made out of something that’s healthy for a cat but isn’t necessarily meat) are okay.
Catnip is one of the biggest examples of plant-based food that most cats love. Cat loves to sniff or eat it, but you should only let a cat eat catnip in moderation!
What’s a balanced diet for cats?
Cats need basic nutrients in their diet, just like humans do. As long as your cat is getting the right amount of proteins, fat, carbohydrates, and minerals from the right sources, it’ll do great. If you’re worried about a balanced diet, the right cat food will cover that for you.
One overlooked element in a cat’s diet is water. Even though some people might not consider it a part of his diet, water is essential for a cat’s wellbeing. Because of that, ensuring that your cat receives clean water every day is a must – just as much as getting a balanced diet.