#cats are obligate carnivores you CANNOT GIVE THEM VEGAN DIETS

[bluebandedagate]

PSA for vegans: Feeding cats and dogs vegan diets is animal abuse. They are obligate carnivores, they NEED meat to stay healthy. If you really care about animal welfare either feed cats/dogs meat or do not own a cat/dog.

That being said, I recognize that it is unfair to tell people they cannot own pets if they're not comfortable buying meat. So may I suggest an alternative:

Rabbits are one of the most seriously misunderstood pets in the world. Because they are herbivores (and thus vegan!!) Many people assume they are on the same level as a pet mouse or hamster, but this could not be further from the truth. Rabbits are actually on the same level as cats and dogs in terms of the kind of care needs they have, behavior they exhibit and emotional bonds they form with their owners. For example:

- Rabbits can be housetrained, just like a dog or cat.

- Rabbits should not be kept in a cage. While a rabbit can be kept in a kennel for short periods of time, they really need full run of your house, just like a cat or dog.

- Rabbits, like cats, may be slow to trust, but once you win them over they are just as cuddly as any puppy.

-Rabbits can go for walks, play, and enjoy a good brushing just like any dog/cat.

-Rabbits have lifespans similar to dogs, living an average 10-12 years.

In addition, rabbits are frequently bought by people who think they will be low-maintenance pets only to dump them later. There are thousands of rabbits languishing in pet shelters that could desperately use a truly loving home. You could give one of these gentle, loving, vegan creatures the home they deserve. So vegans: adopt a rabbit today!

[syrupness]

Jade defects

@febuwhump Day 28, alt prompt: "i’ll never forgive you”

And The Distance Grows [AO3]

Summary: Barry and Jade fight when Jade joins the Horde.

Content Warning: verbal abuse swearing and slurs homophobia death, kidnapping and cannibalism (mentions) (it’s canon)

Orwell rushed up to Barry, his aura intense as he tried getting his meaning across to those who had not joined the Horde “Betrayed by our own people, our number has dwindled.”

“I know lots have joined the horde but we can still have a resistance.” Barry looked unsure and angry

“We remaining few will stand like the Greeks in 480 BCE for the Battle of Thermopylae.”

“I have a plan-” He looked at Jade.

“Sorry, I’m with them now” she said while taking a posture that was both defensive and dismissive

Barry recoiled in shock and Orwell gaped, for once lost for words. The others who hadn’t joined the Horde when The Beast rose and revealed his powers  had varying emotions, from sadness to anger. There was even a small vindictive vibe from Mary that almost said ‘I told you so’, but they were quiet in the wake of Jade’s words.

Barry gave a weird choke as if he had to swallow something down or cough it out to find his voice again “How can you say that? The Beast just killed those girls!”

Jade matched his incredulous tones “But did you see The Beast? Point blank and he was barely scratched!”

“You have been blinded by the golden fur of the Nemean lion! For it cannot be harmed by mortal instruments of war does not lessen it’s nature as a terror inflicted on the world!”

“Exactly! Superpowers doesn’t excuse murder, hell it was worse! kidnapping and cannibalism!” Barry flung out in disgust while the screams of the innocent young girls still echoed around his head.

“I’m not here to judge other people’s life choices!” Jade’s voice built in anger, wondering how they could not have changed their minds after what had happened. It was a miracle, it was life changing.

“Of course you are!” Thinking back on Jade’s actions it was suddenly clear she was a troll “That is all you do on the internet, fad diet this, stupid bitch that-”

“That’s the internet Barry! It what people do!” What? Was she not meant to have opinion now?

She’d just been adding more crap to a crap world, so Barry took on his pissy voice, knowing Jade hated it “Oh so that cunt who called you-”

A pained intake of breath as she remembered the wave of hate after she posted a picture of herself online “Don’t you dare fucking say it!” her voice going from deadly quiet to precocious teen in a heartbeat “and it’s not like The Beast can choose to be vegan, he needs sacred foo-”

“No he doesn’t! He hasn’t even tried an alternative!” Barry screamed as he desperately tried not to think about what was digesting in their stomach right now.

Jade curled her lip to give a nasty knowing twist to her words “Fine! He is like a fucking cat! an obligate carnivore, without meat he will die-”

Barry had enough “Then he should! He doesn’t deserve to live after what he’s done!”

“He is one of us!!!” To kill one would open the door to death for them all, if you could even harm one as powerful as The Beast “He is more than human! and can do so much more than us, be so much-”

Barry dry heaved, unable to forget the taste of human on his tongue and to break her attention “That is bullshit and you know it.” then he knew exactly where to hit “He is a monster just like Penelope and if you join them you are a monster too…”

Jade’s shriek was like nails on a chalkboard “Did you just fucking compare me to Kevin’s mother!?”

Barry put on his façade of calm composure even as he was crumbling inside “Yes, you might as well be torturing children because that is what the Horde and The Beast have been doing.” Crumbling because deep down he believed it to be true, and Jade was willingly throwing herself into it.

Jade stepped into his space, getting as obnoxiously in his face as possible “We are more than you and you’re just a fucking jealous faggot.”

The pain of her words cut deep and he reacted on reflex “Predatory paedophile cunt!”

 There was silence in the room of chairs.

The others all stared in mute shock at the imploding of the Horde’s main opposing force. Barry and Jade had been on good terms for years, bonding closer against Patricia and Dennis, but now this fight had gone too far. The friendship between Barry and Jade was over.

Hate more bitter because it was born of betrayal coloured the space between them, and at the same time they spoke the same words “I’ll never forgive you”

[lilu-the-almighty]

Hiya so I’m trying to talk to a vegan who have dogs and cats they force on vegan diets about why it’s harmful for them to eat just that and they always say well their vets say they are healthy. Any clue what I can do to argue against that . Like I get they want to stop a cruel industry but on the other hand are they doing any good if they have animals that eat meat but are forcing them on diets that could lead to health issues down the road

before I say anything I do want to say I’m not a professional, this is what I have gathered from my own research. I would suggest going to other people who are professional vets.

Ok so #1 your doing an amazing job, I’m so happy that you are trying to help these animals and for going and asking for help yourself

#2 I wouldn’t be surprised if they are using what the vet said about their dogs as a broad thing for all their pets. TECHNICALLY dogs can survive on a vegan diet and be fine. It’s not advised but sometimes they are put on them for medical reasons. Again, it’s not advised, its not a good idea. They are carnivore. This is only in extreme situations.

#3 cats should NEVER be put on this diet. They need taurine to survive. They are obligate carnivores that cannot survive on vegetables and should be given VERY little if any plant based food. They can die. And given long enough they WILL die.

#4 my best idea for this would be to give them other options. Explain that there are companies that ethically source their food. A raw meat diet that doesn’t source from large companies that get their product from factory farms.

[tzimiscelord]

Cool TV story, but cats are still carnivores, this shouldnt have to be explained.

“It has led some to wonder whether our cats and dogs can give up meat, or go completely vegan?Aside from the black-and-white nutritional facts, a pet owner’s personal views can come up against specific legislation designed to protect pets’ welfare. 

“In the UK, under the Animal Welfare Act the owner has the obligation to feed the animal an appropriate diet,” says Daniella Dos Santos, the president of the British Veterinary Association (BVA) “If your personal belief system means you don’t want to eat any animal protein, that’s fine, but that diet is not designed to meet the welfare standards of your pet.

“Cats are obligate carnivores, and they require certain amounts of amino acids to be healthy, and the lack of these can lead to health problems,” says Dos Santos. “For that reason, you wouldn’t advise a vegetarian diet, let alone a vegan one.”Cats are a particular challenge because they cannot produce certain proteins – such as taurine – themselves. They instead have to absorb it from their food, with beef, chicken and fish being particularly rich sources. Cats that don’t have enough taurine are at risk of developing a potentially fatal condition called dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM), the American Society of the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (ASPCA) says.Cats are unlikely to thrive on a diet without meatIn cats with DCM, the heart muscle becomes very thin and weak, preventing them from pumping blood and supplying oxygen to the body normally. 

This is a fatal disease if not corrected early on,” the ASPCA says in an article on cats and vegan diets. Cats need a diet particularly rich in protein, which can be more difficult to find with a plant-rich diet, and they can have issues processing carbohydrate as well. “They can't digest plant material well, and they require essential nutrients that only meat can provide to them,” the ASPCA adds.That hasn’t stopped some companies from creating vegan cat food. 

One such company is Ami, based in Italy, which sells vegan cat food that has been fortified with taurine and other essential proteins. But the general consensus from all but a handful of vets is that cats are unlikely to thrive on a diet without meat.“

The actual fuck Titania

[eternalcritique]

Im not sure what you want me to say, since you've pretty much just restated your point and doubted my source, while providing none of your own. I am absolutely Certain that there is not vitamin or protein that humans need that we cannot get on a vegan diet. The source i provided is for the American Dietetic Association. Honestly there isnt a much more authoritative source i could give you. There are several leading nutritional/dietetic associations that have said the same thing, just have a google for yourself. If you need another example, here is the UN urging people to go meat and dairy free to slow climate change:

I have had my blood taken many times over the course of the 5 years ive been vegan and ive always been told i am very healthy and not deficient in anything. I don't even take supplements other than a b12 vitamin, which everyone should be taking. Im not sure how else i can show you that being vegan is comepletely adequate if you are just going to claim fake news.

And again, i acknowledge that cats should be on a meat based diet because they are obligate carnivores. I was pointin out that it is an incredible minority of vegans who do mistreat their animals by feeding them improperly. Those who do should be called out, but this is not something to attribute to vegans as a whole.

Lastly, i understand that you think children should have their choice growing up, but parents instilling a vegan lifestyle onto their children is no different from many, many other values parents try to impart on their children. Parents have been known to force religion, lifestyle values, and entire careers onto children, and nobody seems to bat an eye. Im not saying i agree with this type of parenting, but it is unfair to tell vegan parents what they can and cant teach to their children. Especially when they are teaching compassion and a philosophy of empathy.

Good reasons to get mad at a vegan:

-they implied everyone can/should be vegan, ignoring issues of poverty & health that make it impractical or impossible for many people

-they tried to make you feel bad about eating something

-they believe that the current animal abuse/environmental contamination/health crisis is caused by individual consumers rather than the manipulative capitalism of the meat and dairy industries

-they support PETA (eww peta)

Bad reasons to get mad at a vegan:

-they asked you about the ingredients of a food to find out if they can eat it

-they asked if your group could go to a restaurant with a vegan option

-you asked them to explain why they are vegan and they answered

-they got mad when you made fun of their diet