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Legendary Cats—Ann the "Vegan" Kitty

Legendary Cats—Ann the "Vegan" Kitty

I started a feature a few years ago highlighting some of the cats TW knew back in the day. This cat's story kinda ties in with a discussion on Facebook about how unwise it is to feed your cat a vegetarian/vegan diet being as we are obligate carnivores. Some brand which will remain nameless is trying to promote such a diet. Needless to say it's met with some head shaking and disbelief among cat bloggers/owners. TW's neighbor cat Ann was a vegi-cat or at least that's what her staff fed her.

Note: Unfortunately, TW couldn't find the photos she had of Ann and her sisfur. After looking through six shoe boxes of musty, dusty photos, all she got was a severely inflamed throat and lungs. She's feeling pretty bad today. All together now: AWWWW!

Legendary Cats—Ann the "Vegan" Kitty
Babydoll Loverboy searching for some prey.
This neighbor—we'll call her Edy so we don't get sued—was a real dippy hippy. She had bunnies, a dog and three pretty Persian cats that she bought for a lot of money. TW never found out the names of two orange girls but Edy's pride and joy was her silver Persian boy. Despite the fact that they were pedigreed cats, Edy would let them out every morning and at night TW would hear her bellowing "Babydoll Loverboy" which, believe it or not, was the boy cat's name.

Edy was a vegetarian who grew all her own food in her garden. Early in the morning, if you looked out the window, you could see Edy out picking veggies wearing nothing but an apron. She fed her cats a vegetarian diet just like the rabbits—and no doubt the dog. This was ok for the rabbits but the cats would wander around looking for real food from the neighbors, including TW. Their little thin bodies needed animal protein and they weren't getting it at home.

TW called the girls Ann and Gora for the lack of better names and cos she didn't know the difference between Angoras and Persians and we still don't. They'd come to eat every day. Ann began sleeping under TW's back porch. We don't know if she was disowned or if she was being picked on at home or simply dissatisfied with the food. TW didn't want to take her in because technically she belonged to someone and that would be catnapping. Gramma fed Ann every day since TW worked from dawn to dusk (boy that sounds funny to say). She lived under the porch most of the winter but then disappeared for awhile.

Legendary Cats—Ann the "Vegan" Kitty
Sorry for the terrible pics. They're all we have.
When the Spring came, TW went out to find Ann. She couldn't believe what she found. Ann's fur was all matted and the fur on one side had peeled away from her skin and she was all skin and bones. TW was extremely upset. This beautiful cat was a mess. She cut away as much of the matted fur as she could so it wasn't hanging down. Then she called her friend who was a vet tech down in South Jersey. She'd had enough of Edy in more ways than one.

Randy brought a carrier when she came that Saturday. They had no problems getting sweet Ann into it. Ann was brought to the Tinton Falls SPCA where she had to be completely shaved. TW got to visit her when she visited their Popcorn Park Petting Zoo. Once her fur grew back, she was adopted into a wonderful new forever home where she would be loved and fed a species-appropriate diet.

Edy was a totally irresponsible pet guardian in many ways. Feeding your cat an entirely vegetarian diet is irresponsible. Plant protein puts extra stress on your cat's system since we can't process it. Cats need a diet that's over 50% animal protein and more as they get older. This article by Sometimes Cats Herd You is a good read on the subject. I'm just a ghetto kitteh not a vet but I know I would not like a diet that didn't include meat or fish.

Legendary Cats—Ann the "Vegan" Kitty

The only fruit and veggies your cat should be chewing on are the nip variety.

Would you like to comment?

  1. Humans who feed cats a vegetarian diet should have the cats taken away and be convicted of animal cruelty. Because seriously, that is what it is.

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  2. Thank Cod you saved dat kitty... what happened to the other kitties? Thank you for writing this story... Me purrz that all kitty owners sees this.

    The Mom knew a lady who had a good kitty with a bad tummy and the vet said feed him whatever he would eat.. fur some reason all she could get him to eat was peanuts... and she tried to get him to eat other stuffs though. Katie Mom dont know what happened to that kitty.

    -Katie Kitty Too who likes Salmon Sheba and grainfree dry food.

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  3. I know that sad sorry happens time and time again CK. We sure do need smarter humans.

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  4. It is really very sad what cruelty vegans will justify in the name of not being cruel.

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  5. This is just heartbreaking...it's nothing but animal cruelty. Thank you to TW for feeding those poor kitties. So happy Ann found a new forever home.

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  6. This is very sad. Mommy is a "flexitarian", but hardly ever eats meat. She would never think of depriving us of a healthy diet full of meat. Our favorite is chicken and she makes sure we have plenty of it!

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  7. How sad. Peeps can be so stupid but sometimes they just need someone to explain what will happen if a diet of meat is not introduced to their kitty.

    Shoko

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  8. CK.....high paws on a grate post.....

    sure sum grazz iz good ta chow down on; but like knot all de time.....we R sorree ann had ta go thru all that, but we R happee her getted outta dodge & ta a place wear her waz looked afturr

    ....de food serviss gurl iza snack a tarian, but her wood never think oh feeding uz snax....ore veggies for R diet ~~~~~
    ♥♥♥

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  9. It is so aggravating that people try to make cats into vegetarians! I know what company you are talking about and it was a real let down that they decided to promote a food like this. My cats love their other animal protein-rich foods. Thank you for spreading the message. I will be sharing this!
    -Purrs from your friends at www.PlayfulKitty.net

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  10. we get that peoples feel the need to eat certain ways, but they need to understand that pets have needs too....

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  11. Trying to feed cats species-inappropriate food that won't give them the right nutrients is cruel, even when it's well-intended. We hope stories like these will help people realize how dangerous it can be to their cat. We'll be sharing this!

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  12. We are so glad you saved Ann. And you're right the only veggies we need to eat contain nip!

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  13. That is very sad that those kitties were forced into a vegan diet. I am glad TW helped them and Ann got a new and loving home.

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  14. That is absolutely horrific. Four paws up to TW for stepping in and saving that poor kitty's life.

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  15. Wow, very sad. Unbelievable what some people do! But I'm glad Ann ended up in a good home.

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  16. Very true, that woman sounds very dippy. I am glad Ann was rescued.

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  17. Humans who impose their own crap on their pets, while ignoring said pets' needs, should not have pets. Period. Thank COD TW saved poor Ann's life.

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  18. We're so glad TW was able to help Ann and she found a new home. Feeding cats a vegetarian diet is so irresponsible. We want meat!!!

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  19. THANK YOU TW for caring for Ann! Vegan diets are simply NOT FOR CATS. EVER. It's animal cruelty & mistreatment and absolutely inhumane.

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  20. We know those people prolly didn't mean to be awful, but that doesn't change the consequences which are horbibble! We are verreh glad Ann gotted saved, and we wish efurryHuman knew we kittehs need MEAT!

    Oh, and I'm waiting. . .

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  21. All I can do is shake my head and agree with everything everyone else said.

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  22. We don't understand why anyone would feed their cat a vegetarian diet, even if they are vegetarian themselves. They should know that cats are obligate carnivores.

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  23. Poor Ann. We are so happy that TW could save her and get her a loving home with appropriate noms. Two of our past cats liked liquids from veggies. Fiona liked the water used to steam broccoli and Madison LOVED the juice from green olives. Our humans didn't give these things to them, but if the humans turned their backs for second with these things around, those two were immediately into their secret passions. XOCK, Lily Olivia, Mauricio, Misty May, Giulietta, Fiona, Astrid, Lisbeth and Calista Jo

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  24. you tell them CK. That's a great happy tails ending, but that poor kitty should never have had that experience. Horrible pond scum human. We agree with what Summer said BTW

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