Vegetarian & Vegan pet owners

WearstheFoxhat

What do they feed their animals?

DeadHand

A steady diet of pretension.

The_Valeyard

Hopefully they won't try and force their own views on adaptable carnivores like dogs.

I'm a vegetarian and feed my dog meat I wouldn't make my dog a veggie too :L 10/10 times she'll wolf meat down first when eating vs say potato; so they obviously love it! be kinda cruel to enforce your personal beliefs on a pet espicially when they can't argue with you

FelineOverLord

Why the hate for vegetarians/vegans? I'm vegetarian, my husband isn't and I don't try to influence him to stop eating meat. We have 4 cats who eat a high protein diet of human grade tinned food, supplemented with raw meat and raw chicken. Of course there are morons who will try to force a veggie diet on their pets but most aren't that fricking thick. People are always ranting about vegetarians/vegans, you see very few threads on Boards where vegetarians/vegans criticise people who eat meat. I find these kind of threads very juvenile tbh.

kneemos

FelineOverLord wrote: »

Why the hate for vegetarians/vegans? I'm vegetarian, my husband isn't and I don't try to influence him to stop eating meat. We have 4 cats who eat a high protein diet of human grade tinned food, supplemented with raw meat and raw chicken. Of course there are morons who will try to force a veggie diet on their pets but most aren't that fricking thick. People are always ranting about vegetarians/vegans, you see very few threads on Boards where vegetarians/vegans criticise people who eat meat. I find these kind of threads very juvenile tbh.

Probably seen as a bit pretentious .
I get it in theory,but in practice it seems like hard work.

dodderangler

The animals just survive on a healthy diet of smugness from their owners being so much better and healthier than everyone else.
Now if you'll excuse me this steak I am cooking is still trying to run off my pan

FelineOverLord

kneemos wrote: »

Probably seen as a bit pretentious .
I get it in theory,but in practice it seems like hard work.

It really isn't hard work. I'm not too bothered about fruit and veg and I tend to just subsitute Quorn to make a veggie friendly substitute for meat/chicken for myself. I don't mind cooking meat/chicken for my husband. It's not something I make an issue of because it really isn't an issue. I don't eat meat because I don't want animals to suffer on my behalf, but that's my choice. My husband is an adult and can make his own choices. Cats are obligate carnivores and it's essential that they have a carnivorous diet. I don't really get people's fascination for other people's food choices. It's not really a big deal.

The Randy Riverbeast

Depends on if they are a good pet owner or not.

If they are, then food made for that animal.
If they arent, a carrot.

Jen Pigs Fly

You can buy vegan food for your dog ....
For an animal who's diet is around 80% meat and meat by-products I'd love to see how these dogs survive on vegan food.

Edit: found a link to vegan dog food
http://t.zooplus.ie/shop/dogs/dry_dog_food/yarrah/128548#feedback/shop/dogs/dry_dog_food/yarrah/128548

And another
http://plantgoodness24.ie/product/429/1048/Vegan_Pet_Food/Vegan_Dog/Ami_Vegan_Dog_Food_15kg.html

housetypeb

I could be wrong -but this seems to be the right thread in the right forum to ask.
Is it true that "vegetarian" is what stone age man called the bad hunters?

FelineOverLord

xxxJennyxxx wrote: »

You can buy vegan food for your dog ....
For an animal who's diet is around 80% meat and meat by-products I'd love to see how these dogs survive on vegan food.

That sort of thing is nuts and thankfully most people aren't stupid enough to even consider putting there pets on that kind of diet. There are more people killing their pets with kindness by feeding them high fat unhealthy diets. I know several people who feed their dogs a fry up every morning and chicken cooked in butter several times a week. Quite often high profile pet experts are vegetarian/vegan and they will always stress the importance of meat in a dog or cats diet.

ToddyDoody

housetypeb wrote: »

I could be wrong -but this seems to be the right thread in the right forum to ask.
Is it true that "vegetarian" is what stone age man called the bad hunters?

Are there many right wing vegetarians?

FelineOverLord

housetypeb wrote: »

I could be wrong -but this seems to be the right thread in the right forum to ask.
Is it true that "vegetarian" is what stone age man called the bad hunters?

I don't know, I always bought my meat from butchers/supermarkets. I wouldn't have thought meat was that easy to come by in stone age times. They probably survived on more berries and and non meat stuff. But I do have a sense of humour.

Jen Pigs Fly

FelineOverLord wrote: »

That sort of thing is nuts and thankfully most people aren't stupid enough to even consider putting there pets on that kind of diet. There are more people killing their pets with kindness by feeding them high fat unhealthy diets. I know several people who feed their dogs a fry up every morning and chicken cooked in butter several times a week. Quite often high profile pet experts are vegetarian/vegan and they will always stress the importance of meat in a dog or cats diet.

I added two links to vegan dog food ... The cat food is worse for an oblique carnivore a plant based food is very bad for them ...
I personally think people should do an exam before they keep a dog covering food, training, basic needs, etc .... Most pet foods are pure muck anyway. Like feeding a child McDonald's every day, but people just want cheapness and convenience. My dogs are fed raw food and I have a 13 year old Labrador who acts like a puppy!

FelineOverLord

ToddyDoody wrote: »

Are there many right wing vegetarians?

I'm a Libertarian.

dodderangler

housetypeb wrote: »

I could be wrong -but this seems to be the right thread in the right forum to ask.
Is it true that "vegetarian" is what stone age man called the bad hunters?

No they just died from starvation

Shenshen

WearstheFoxhat wrote: »

What do they feed their animals?

I hope they make it dependent on what animals they have.

Budgies would like grains and a little fruit, tortoises are very partial to green veg, guinea pigs love things like broccoli stalks and carrots.

Personally, I'm a vegetarian and we have adopted 4 rescue cats. We feed them cat food (Science Plan and Felix, for the most part). And we try to stop them stealing our food from our plates. They do love a bit of cheddar.

v074

I'm a vegan and I feed my cat meat-based cat food. Otherwise, it would be cruelty.

Hollister11

Me and my mum are vegetarians. My dad and two brothers are not. We have 2 cats, and 2 dogs and feed them meat. They love it, and we wouldn't force them to accept what we do.

Canis Lupus

Seems like a bit of convenient fudging of morals there by the vegetarians just so they can have a fluffy pet.

I buy an animal that has to be fed meat, animals die to feed the pet I willingly bought but it's okay because I don't eat meat and well my dog can't live on anything else.

Seems legit.

Cookie_Monster

FelineOverLord wrote: »

Why the hate for vegetarians/vegans? .

because it's an anti-science viewpoint and they're usually a preachy lot

blatantrereg

Vegetarian living with vegetarian fiancée so the only meat in the house is for the dogs. Fresh meat regularly enough as well as mainly meat dog food. As someone mentioned, they're basically carnivores. Our vet criticised vegan dog food the other day (didn't know we were vegetarian or anything in case that makes us sound like we go round saying hello we're vegetarians).

Canis Lupus wrote: »

Seems like a bit of convenient fudging of morals there by the vegetarians just so they can have a fluffy pet.

I buy an animal that has to be fed meat, animals die to feed the pet I willingly bought but it's okay because I don't eat meat and well my dog can't live on anything else.

Seems legit.

Rescue dogs, not bought. Not at all fluffy.

Re anti science comment: Humans thrive on a well planned vegetarian diet. Environmental impact of such a diet is far lower than diets including red meat, even after factoring in shipping etc, and also lower than white meat and fish based diets. (Red meat has by far the biggest impact though.) I've read a lot of research into the topic and the evidence strongly supports that humans can thrive on a vegetarian diet.

Stuff I've learnt recently: Most pig meat in Ireland (and everywhere else) is factory farmed. Eating too much animal protein results in calcium being leeched from bones. Eating too much of any protein results in various eventual problems including impaired thyroid function and impaired ability to metabolise protein. 'Too much' being over about 2g per kg body weight per day or 1.8 g for the calcium thing.

Peregrinus

Canis Lupus wrote: »

Seems like a bit of convenient fudging of morals there by the vegetarians just so they can have a fluffy pet.

Only if you assume that all vegetarians have the morals that you are arbitrarily assigning to them.

Several vegetarians have contributed to this thread and not a single one of them has advocated against feeding meat to pets. Your understanding of vegetarianism seems to be out of line with observed reality, and your explanation of this is that it's the vegetarians who are fudging things?

Vegetarians are people who don't eat meat. You can't infer from that whether vegetarians believe that other people shouldn't eat meat, still less whether they believe that animals shouldn't eat meat. If you want to know what they think about these things, you have to ask them. If their answers are not what you expect, the proper response is to thank them for improving your understanding, not to accuse them of fudging the morals you have decided that they must have.

Peregrinus

kneemos wrote: »

Probably seen as a bit pretentious .
I get it in theory,but in practice it seems like hard work.

It's not inherently hard work. Most of the world's population eats a vegetarian or near vegetarian diet, so it's certainly doable, and there are a vast range of cuisines that you can choose from. Vegetarian diets are generally cheaper, and vegetarian food is often more convenient, since it tends to be well-suited to being prepared in advance, stored and then re-heated for consumption. Ideal for the modern lifestyle!

The two problems that vegetarians in our society most often encounter are, I think:

1. Other people being uncomfortable with the fact of their vegetarianism. They feel they're being negatively judged, or whatever. If in fact the vegetarian is negatively judging them then he can solve the problem easily by not doing that any more. If, on the other hand, the other people feel this even when there is no judgment being passed, I'd argue that that's mainly other people's problem.

2. The feeling that you are inconveniencing people if, e.g., you are a guest in their house, and they feel they have to prepare food specially for you. That can be an issue, it's true.

Canis Lupus

Peregrinus wrote: »

Only if you assume that all vegetarians have the morals that you are arbitrarily assigning to them.

Several vegetarians have contributed to this thread and not a single one of them has advocated against feeding meat to pets. Your understanding of vegetarianism seems to be out of line with observed reality, and your explanation of this is that it's the vegetarians who are fudging things?

Vegetarians are people who don't eat meat. You can't infer from that whether vegetarians believe that other people shouldn't eat meat, still less whether they believe that animals shouldn't eat meat. If you want to know what they think about these things, you have to ask them. If their answers are not what you expect, the proper response is to thank them for improving your understanding, not to accuse them of fudging the morals you have decided that they must have.

I think the vast majority of vegetarians don't eat meat because they think it's morally wrong to kill animals for food. This isn't about what vegetarians think other people or animals should eat. My point isn't hard to understand.

If a vegetarian gets a meat eating pet they are therefore knowingly involved in the killing of animals for food which in my eyes is fudging of morals.

newport2

Canis Lupus wrote: »

I think the vast majority of vegetarians don't eat meat because they think it's morally wrong to kill animals for food. This isn't about what vegetarians think other people or animals should eat. My point isn't hard to understand.

A significant number of vegetarians I know are so because they don't like meat or the concept of eating a dead animal, which is quite understandable in my opinion, despite the fact I love meat. They're not all PETA heads or not eating meat from a moral/animal cruelty standpoint.

Peregrinus

Canis Lupus wrote: »

I think the vast majority of vegetarians don't eat meat because they think it's morally wrong to kill animals for food. This isn't about what vegetarians think other people or animals should eat. My point isn't hard to understand.

If a vegetarian gets a meat eating pet they are therefore knowingly involved in the killing of animals for food which in my eyes is fudging of morals.

If you observe that vegetarians are involved in killing animals for food for their pets, you can either conclude that they are fudging their morals, or you can re-examine your own views as to what their morals are, being open to the possibility that your views might be mistaken.

Obviously, you've already made your choice in that regard, but imagine a hypothetical you who is less certain of his own rightness. Such a you might conclude that the evidence shows your initial belief that "the vast majority of vegetarians don't eat meat because they think it's morally wrong to kill animals for food" is incorrect. On the evidence, vegetarians may think it's morally wrong to kill animals for food for themselves, but not necessarily wrong to kill animals for food for creatures who have a dietary requirement for animal protein.

danslevent

I am so sick of these threads that occasionally pop up on AH about vegetarians/vegans. Most people are so anti it and seem to get pleasure calling ridicule to the lifestyle.

I have never had a vegetarian or vegan try to force their views on me but I cant count the amount of times I have had to listen to a boisterous/loud mouthed meat enthusiast either intentionally or unintentionally make someone feel uncomfortable with their stupid "But WHAT do you eat?" "sure but what about rashers?". God give me strength.

WearstheFoxhat

Maybe there is a belief out there that

1. Evolution of mankind was based that he was top of the foodchain

2. Vegetarians are naive that it's cruel to kill and eat animals

3. That they are lone rangers in the survival of the human race

jgorres

No problem,

They only have cows as pets.

kylith

Peregrinus wrote: »

If you observe that vegetarians are involved in killing animals for food for their pets, you can either conclude that they are fudging their morals, or you can re-examine your own views as to what their morals are, being open to the possibility that your views might be mistaken.

Obviously, you've already made your choice in that regard, but imagine a hypothetical you who is less certain of his own rightness. Such a you might conclude that the evidence shows your initial belief that "the vast majority of vegetarians don't eat meat because they think it's morally wrong to kill animals for food" is incorrect. On the evidence, vegetarians may think it's morally wrong to kill animals for food for themselves, but not necessarily wrong to kill animals for food for creatures who have a dietary requirement for animal protein.

The cow is just as dead though. They may as well eat steak and have a pet rabbit.

Peregrinus

kylith wrote: »

The cow is just as dead though. They may as well eat steak and have a pet rabbit.

This reasoning only makes sense if you are a moral absolutist - either killing cops is always justified, or it is never justified.

People who consider that it is acceptable to kill to feed carnivorous animals but not to feed themselves are plainly not absolutists of this kind. Their stance may be perceived to "fudge" your absolutist moral position. And perhaps it does, but that may not bother them. Canis Lupus's claim was that they were fudging their own morals.

Shenshen

Canis Lupus wrote: »

I think the vast majority of vegetarians don't eat meat because they think it's morally wrong to kill animals for food. This isn't about what vegetarians think other people or animals should eat. My point isn't hard to understand.

If a vegetarian gets a meat eating pet they are therefore knowingly involved in the killing of animals for food which in my eyes is fudging of morals.

I highlighted the most relevant part in this post.

Most of the vegetarians I know don't eat meat simply because they dislike the taste.
Personally, I don't eat meat because I don't like the thought of eating a dead animal.
That doesn't mean in any way that I object to other people eating meat, let alone animals eating other animals.

I think you might want to go out and talk to people a little more before posting sweeping assumptions about them online. Thanks.

Shenshen

kylith wrote: »

The cow is just as dead though. They may as well eat steak and have a pet rabbit.

What if they just don't want to eat steak? What's so hard to understand about that?

Effects

FelineOverLord wrote: »

human grade tinned food

Human grade. Sure.

WearstheFoxhat

Shenshen wrote:

Most of the vegetarians I know don't eat meat simply because they dislike the taste. Personally, I don't eat meat because I don't like the thought of eating a dead animal. That doesn't mean in any way that I object to other people eating meat, let alone animals eating other animals.

Shenshen wrote:

I highlighted the most relevant part in this post.

Shenshen wrote:

I think you might want to go out and talk to people a little more before posting sweeping assumptions about them online. Thanks.

Some might say a carrot is a living thing?

Zombienosh

danslevent wrote: »

I am so sick of these threads that occasionally pop up on AH about vegetarians/vegans. Most people are so anti it and seem to get pleasure calling ridicule to the lifestyle.

I have never had a vegetarian or vegan try to force their views on me but I cant count the amount of times I have had to listen to a boisterous/loud mouthed meat enthusiast either intentionally or unintentionally make someone feel uncomfortable with their stupid "But WHAT do you eat?" "sure but what about rashers?". God give me strength.

Spot on.

seamus

Cookie_Monster wrote: »

because it's an anti-science viewpoint and they're usually a preachy lot

The only preaching I've ever seen is from pretentious meat-eaters who are completely up their own arse, convinced of their own intellectual superiority over vegetarians.

kylith

Shenshen wrote: »

What if they just don't want to eat steak? What's so hard to understand about that?

Nothing's hard to understand. If they don't want to eat it that's grand. I'm just saying that if you're going to eschew meat for yourself on moral grounds but not for your pet it makes no difference to the cow; it dies anyway. So you may as well, if the moral aspect is what's driving your vegetarianism, eat the steak yourself and have a pet rabbit. As far as the cow is concerned it's all the same.

Effects wrote: »

Human grade. Sure.

Actually most pet food is, if not human grade, at least safe for human consumption. This is because so many homeless people eat dog food.

conorhal

dodderangler wrote: »

The animals just survive on a healthy diet of smugness from their owners being so much better and healthier than everyone else.
Now if you'll excuse me this steak I am cooking is still trying to run off my pan

Ah in fairness now, not all vegans are fuelled by their own self-righteousness, many are just closet anorexics for whom 'vegan' is a particularly useful cover to explain away odd dietary habits.

As for the pets issue, if you want to extend your lifestyle choices to your pets, it's best you choose one that suits your lifestyle. If you want to feed an animal rabbit food, make sure that your pet happens to be a rabbit.

FelineOverLord

Shenshen wrote: »

I highlighted the most relevant part in this post.

Most of the vegetarians I know don't eat meat simply because they dislike the taste.
Personally, I don't eat meat because I don't like the thought of eating a dead animal.
That doesn't mean in any way that I object to other people eating meat, let alone animals eating other animals.

I think you might want to go out and talk to people a little more before posting sweeping assumptions about them online. Thanks.

+1 on this.:)

FelineOverLord

Cookie_Monster wrote: »

because it's an anti-science viewpoint and they're usually a preachy lot

Not all of us are like that. I don't broadcast it and it's not usually something that comes up in daily conversation. I only got involved in this thread because it annoys me that some people think that vegetarians/vegans neglect their pets by forcing an inappropriate diet on them.

Effects

conorhal wrote: »

Ah in fairness now, not all vegans are fuelled by their own self-righteousness, many are just closet anorexics for whom 'vegan' is a particularly useful cover to explain away odd dietary habits.

As for the pets issue, if you want to extend your lifestyle choices to your pets, it's best you choose one that suits your lifestyle. If you want to feed an animal rabbit food, make sure that your pet happens to be a rabbit.

You sound like a moron. I can only expect you're trolling.

Effects

kylith wrote: »

Actually most pet food is, if not human grade, at least safe for human consumption. This is because so many homeless people eat dog food.

Well a lot of meat that's actually prepared for human consumption is disgusting and needs chemicals to make it suitable so I can't imagine dog food being up to human standard.
I've never seen or heard of a homeless person eating dog food. That's just a stupid assumption.

Shenshen

WearstheFoxhat wrote: »

Some might say a carrot is a living thing?

And biologically speaking, they would be correct. What's your point?

kylith

Effects wrote: »

Well a lot of meat that's actually prepared for human consumption is disgusting and needs chemicals to make it suitable so I can't imagine dog food being up to human standard.
I've never seen or heard of a homeless person eating dog food. That's just a stupid assumption.

What meat is treated with chemicals to make it suitable for human consumption?

And as for eating dog food; I've seen it with my own eyes. Under the Merchant's arch; a homeless guy, a tin of Pal, and a fork.

Shenshen

kylith wrote: »

Nothing's hard to understand. If they don't want to eat it that's grand. I'm just saying that if you're going to eschew meat for yourself on moral grounds but not for your pet it makes no difference to the cow; it dies anyway. So you may as well, if the moral aspect is what's driving your vegetarianism, eat the steak yourself and have a pet rabbit. As far as the cow is concerned it's all the same.
Actually most pet food is, if not human grade, at least safe for human consumption. This is because so many homeless people eat dog food.

Let's assume that the moral grounds we're talking about are indeed "I don't want an animal to die so that I can eat it" - how does that make letting cats and dogs starve the more moral option?

osarusan

kylith wrote: »

What meat is treated with chemicals to make it suitable for human consumption?

you should google Pink Slime.

kylith

Shenshen wrote: »

Let's assume that the moral grounds we're talking about are indeed "I don't want an animal to die so that I can eat it" - how does that make letting cats and dogs starve the more moral option?

It's not a more moral option, but if your objection to eating meat is that it's immoral to kill something to eat it then it's something of a contradiction to get a pet that needs to eat meat. There are plenty of rabbits and guinea pigs that need homes too.

Midkemia

Is weetabix veggie? Because my cat loved it :P