As natural carnivores, cats might not seem like the top choice of pet for vegans. However, with a few simple adjustments, and a little imagination, there is no reason why they can't lead the same healthy and ethical lifestyle as their owners with these top tips.
Vegan on Female First
Adopt a rescue cat
Rescue centres around the country are filled with stray and abandoned cats, which is a real issue for anyone concerned about animal welfare. Housing these cats on a long-term basis costs charities a great deal of money and means they have fewer resources to care for other animals.
Adopting a rescue centre cat rather than buying one from a breeder is a good way for vegans to enjoy guilt-free pet ownership. There are few things more rewarding than providing a rescue cat with a loving home and giving them a second chance in life.
Neuter and micro-chip your moggy!
Once they have welcomed their new addition to the family, vegans can continue their ethical way of living by neutering the cat. Over-breeding is the main reason there are so many homeless kittens and cats needing a loving home. Most cats are neutered before adoption but it is always worth checking with staff at the rescue centre.
Making sure a cat is micro-chipped also means that lost cats have a better chance of being reunited with their owners and not losing its family for too long.
Ethical food
There is no avoiding the fact that a cat's diet is meat-based but there are now a number of vegetarian and vegan cat foods and treats available. For more advice on rearing a vegan pet, visit the Vegan Society website.
For those who do not wish to exclude meat completely, but are still concerned about intensive farming methods, there are also pet food ranges that contain organic, sustainable or responsibly-sourced meat and fish.
Playtime
Pet toys can be made from non-sustainable plastics or animal-based materials such as leather however there are ethical alternatives including toys made from organic or recycled fabrics. In addition, cats are often happy with an old cardboard box that might otherwise be thrown away.
Looking to the future
Many vegans share their ethical way of living with other family members including their children and there is no better way to teach youngsters about the importance of caring for animals than letting them share responsibility for a pet early in their life - under the watchful eye of an experienced adult of course!
Consider eco cat litter
Kernel Kat clumping cat litter is made from sustainable, biodegradable, 100 percent natural corn kernels, and has the benefit of allowing pet owners to dispose of clumps down any domestic toilet.
Thanks to its innovative composition, the litter is extremely cost-effective and is proven to last up to five times longer than other eco and non-eco cat litters available on the market.
For more information on Kernel Kat, including where to order it, visit www.kernelkat.co.uk. To join the community of eco-friendly cat lovers, follow on Facebook at www.facebook.co/kernalkat and Twitter at @KernelKat.
Tagged in Vegan