Study suggests lower obesity rates in cats fed vegan diets

A large-scale survey published in Frontiers in Animal Science has identified a trend suggesting that cats fed vegan diets may have lower rates of obesity and related health issues compared to those on conventional meat-based diets.

The study analyzed veterinary assessments reported by caregivers for 1,305 cats that had been on either meat-based (90%) or vegan (10%) diets for at least one year. After adjusting for variables such as age, sex, neuter status, and activity levels, vegan-fed cats showed 34% lower odds of being assessed as overweight. However, researchers noted that this difference was not statistically significant, largely due to the relatively small sample size of vegan-fed cats.

Study leader Andrew Knight, an Adjunct Professor at Griffith University, observed that caregivers of vegan-fed cats also reported lower rates of body weight-related disorders, such as osteoarthritis and other musculoskeletal or mobility problems. Interestingly, many vegan-fed cats followed feeding patterns typically associated with higher obesity risks, such as consuming predominantly dry food and having constant access to food throughout the day. Researchers emphasized that while the findings show an interesting trend, they are not conclusive and require further investigation.