A large-scale survey published in Frontiers in Animal Science reports that felines on vegan diets showed lower rates of obesity and related health problems compared with those on conventional meat-based diets.
The online questionnaire collected caregiver-reported veterinary assessments of 1,305 animals that had been fed either a meat-based regimen (about 90%) or a vegan regimen (about 10%) for at least one year.
After controlling for age, sex, neuter status, activity level and feeding practices, the cats on a plant-based diet displayed 34% lower odds of being classified as overweight. The difference did not reach statistical significance, reflecting the modest number of vegan participants.
Veterinary surveys estimate that roughly 30-60% of domestic felines are overweight or obese, a condition linked to arthritis, diabetes, urinary tract disease and diminished quality of life.
“Carers feeding cats vegan diets also reported lower rates of body weight-related disorders such as osteoarthritis and other musculoskeletal and mobility problems. However, the relatively small number of vegan-fed cats means these results cannot be considered conclusive,” said Andrew Knight, Adjunct Professor at Murdoch University School of Veterinary Medicine.
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Interestingly, most cats on a vegan regimen ate primarily dry food and had food available throughout the day—behaviours usually tied to higher weight risk. Yet the group still showed reduced overweight prevalence.
The study did not examine the formulations, but some commercial vegan options may contain more fiber and fewer calories, which could contribute to the observed weight outcomes.
Study Limitations and Recommendations for Future Research
For several body-weight-related disorders, none of the vegan-fed cats were affected. Researchers consider the observed pattern interesting and say it merits further investigation.
Variations in L-carnitine, a nutrient tied to energy metabolism and lean tissue, could also influence results. The lead author called the findings a starting point and urged a larger prospective study measuring diet, energy intake and body condition.
Carers should always provide nutritionally complete diets, selecting commercial vegan foods that are properly and adequately supplemented.