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VEGAN FEAST SUBSCRIBERS' COOKING AND RECIPE FORUM>
Bryanna, cat food?
Dori
345 posts
Apr 07, 2006
9:13 PM
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Some time ago you posted a recipe for a mixture that you fed your cats... I think it was you who did this anyway. Do you have a recipe to share for treats for cats? Any info on feline veganism ... well, with the exception of their own mouse food?
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"To cook is to create. And to create well...is an act of integrity, and faith." - author unknown
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Bryanna
Owner/Moderator
1527 posts
Apr 08, 2006
3:59 PM
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Dori, what I tell people is, "My cats aren't vegetarians, but they have to catch their own meat." This is a controversial subject which really gets people going, so I generally keep it off my vegsource forum, etc..
I have three cats. One, Sinaed, 
is 15 years old and still very active-- goes out hunting, chases her tail, and generally acts like a youngster. She has been eating my homemade vegan catfood for about 12-13 years of her life.
Tina and Ringo 
are brother and sister and they are 2 years old. We adopted them at a very young age and they have been eating my food since they arrived. I added Vegekit supplement (http://www.vegancats.com/pages/1003/Cat_Food_-_Home_Cooked.htm) to their food for the first year. Now they hunt, too, and I don't add it. This site has some advice on feeding cats. My cats have never had urinary tract problems, perhaps because they never eat dry food.
Some people object to letting cats hunt, but we live in the country-- it would be near-impossible to keep them inside. At this stage of their lives, I think it would be cruel. I have more problems with feeding them slaughterhouse products than I do with them hunting. They kill far more mice than anything else, and I found out that mouse-meat contains 10 times more tauriine (the amino acid that cats need) than beef does!
They are all healthy, happy, and have beautiful coats, and never need to go to the vet.
My recipe is:
4 cups dry chickpeas, cooked well and mashed (I do this in 3 batches in the food processor-- it can be a bit chunky)
3 cups TVP granules soaked with 3 cups hot water
1 cup torula yeast
3/4 cup oil
1 T. salt
Mix together well. Add some of the chickpea cooking water if it needs more moisture. This makes about 7 pints, or enough for a week for my 3 cats. I freeze most of it and thaw as needed.
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"To look like a goddess, eat like a peasant." Karen Andres
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Dori
346 posts
Apr 09, 2006
2:56 PM
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Thanks Bryanna, I'd actually like to share this with a friend who was questioning how she could make some of her own catfood. She has read up on vegtarian cat issues I think... if not I'll tell her what you said.
Where do you get torulla yeast?
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"To cook is to create. And to create well...is an act of integrity, and faith." - author unknown
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Bryanna
Owner/Moderator
1528 posts
Apr 09, 2006
3:03 PM
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I get it in the health food store, but you can use any powdered yeast. Engevita actually tastes better, but it's more expensive. sometimes i combine them. But my cats like the torula. In fact, the folks who sell VegeCat and VegeKit sell a special "VegeYeast" at http://www.vegepet.com/accessories.html
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"To look like a goddess, eat like a peasant." Karen Andres
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Val
138 posts
Apr 17, 2006
2:26 PM
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Hi, Bryanna & Dori!
I have 5 cats - the mother cat was a rescue who was already pregnant and I kept her and all 4 kittens (yes, all are neutered):) They all just turned 1 and Trooper (Mama Cat) is just 6 months older than them! I've always fed them premium dry food (organic) as I've been concerned about them not getting enough taurine.
The "kittens" all love most vegan food I eat, so I'm in the process of switching them to a vegan diet (they are indoor cats). They (and my dog, Zen) love Debbie's vegan fish so they all get some when I make that, and they all love sea vegetables, so they get some of that too.
Magellan (my little explorer!) also loves dates, and 2 of his siblings Princess and WhiteFace are now starting to eat dates too.
I'm going to try your recipe, Bryanna and also add the "fish" and sea vegetables to it. Thanks for posting it!
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Val
Last Edited Val on 17-Apr-2006 2:30 PM
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Bryanna
Owner/Moderator
1544 posts
Apr 17, 2006
3:33 PM
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Yes, my cats LOVE nori, too! They go nuts over it! I cut it into little slivers and they gobble it up.
Val, if your cats are indoor cats, you can give them homemade food and add the VegeCat supplement, which contains taurine, Vitamin A, and Vitamin D2 (non-animal). Check this out here:
http://www.vegepet.com/forcats.html
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"To look like a goddess, eat like a peasant." Karen Andres
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Bryanna
Owner/Moderator
1546 posts
Apr 17, 2006
3:44 PM
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This page has lots of resources:
http://www.madcowboy.com/02_VeganPets.html#Products
and this article is enlightening, too:
http://www.satyamag.com/jan04/gillen.html
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"To look like a goddess, eat like a peasant." Karen Andres
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Val
139 posts
Apr 18, 2006
11:18 AM
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Thanks Bryanna for the links. The info about the "taurine myth" was very enlightening! I'm making homemade cat food for my cats today. Thank you for sharing your recipe. I'll order the supplement you recommended too.
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Val
Last Edited Val on 18-Apr-2006 11:21 AM
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