Vegan Kittens

My roommate has two kittens who are now about 6 months old. She feeds them based on an extreme form of veganism; she only feeds them what she would eat. No processed foods at all, no beans, no oil and even though I encourage her to feed them at least more avocados for the amino acids, she doesn't since they're not cheap inew New England. No matter what I tell her, they're only fed twice, occasionally once a day. She believes the food she gives them is not filled with junk so they can eat less and absorb just as many nutrients as cat food. So what does she feed them? Potatoes, pumpkin, squash, banana, seaweed, tomatoes, coconut, among other fruits and vegetables. She only feeds them mushy food, so they most likely have gingivitis. The plate will sit there for days and not be finished. Both kittens are brothers, males. She thinks that's just they way they are and that they keep meowing because "kittens are always hungry." They also keep meowing because she keeps them locked in her room for hours on end, even 24 hour periods or longer when she's away and someone else is supposedlying caring for them. And they were freezing two nights ago and i couldnt break the padlock to put aome heat on for them or at least give them some affection. I feed them meat secretly when I'm home but recently I wasn't able to be at home for them for almost a month. This was Wednesday night. I could feel every vertebrae and their hips. I fed them four cans of cat food, and I know real meat is better for them but it was almost 11pm so I got whatever I could. My other roommates texted her, finally confronting her and threatening to take action if the kittens didn't eat proper food and be subjugated to be locked in her room for 90% of the day. She's refusing and claiming that her cats are lean and athletic. We tried speaking to here in person and she swore at us and said not to so much as look at the kittens. We have a 3 year old male cat that lives with us and he treats them so fatherly and its evdient they miss each other, they paw from underneath. I want to call animal welfare, I can't sleep and I'm not even in the apt right now.

*underneath the door. And better pictures.

This is animal abuse and neglect. She may not be intentionally torturing and starving them, but she is and it is illegal. Please call animal control or the police as soon as you can. You will not be able to get her to listen to reason. This is where local authorities need to step in. Also call your local rescue organization. They may have the resources in place to deal with animal cruelty investigations if they are large enough. They should be able to help you get these cats medical care through the proper channels.

Yeah that is abuse and your roommates a moron in need of a good kick in the rear. I feel horrible for those poor kittens.

Thank you for the advice molly92 and tsukiyomi , I just wanted to make sure I was making the right decision. We live in the Boston area, I will try to call tomorrow morning but I'm not sure if they're open, so Monday the latest. I will also keep posting what happens on here. Again, much appreciated

Yep, this is neglect. Cats are obligate carnivores and their guts cannot absorb plant materials, unlike humans. Save as much proof as you can. Thank you so much for looking out for these kittens!!

By all means, report her.  If she won't listen to reason, what else can you do?  It's not a typical case of neglect, but it's still neglect.  

For the record, vegans eat oils. They just dont eat animal products. So this isnt even a vegan diet.

That being saaid, of course, cats are carnivores and should not be locked up. Ive been seeing more and more people who lock their cats in cages at night and when theyre gone...so most of the day. Of course, this comes after it became so popular with dogs. Instead of calling it a cage, people just call it a kennel. Its cruel. Clearly, she should not have pets. Will she give them away to someone you know?

She's going to kill those kittens. Meat isn't just better for cats, it's necessary. Any veterinarian would report her for abuse.

Definitely report her and get those poor kittens out. Recently it made nation wide news about a woman that almost killed a kitten feeding it nothing but almond milk.

There was a thread about feeding cats vegetarian diets not long ago and people here on TCS are completely against such a diet:

http://www.thecatsite.com/t/311017/...l-say-experts-as-sales-of-vegan-cat-food-soar

http://www.thecatsite.com/t/310768/vegan-diet-for-a-cat

There are similar threads on the same subject if you do a search on TCS.

I agree with everyone else - that roommate is an idiot and should be reported for animal neglect and abuse (for forcing a vegetarian diet). Being confined to one room isn't nessarily neglect or abuse as long as the cats have food and water and a litter box and have room to do normal cat behavior (walk, run, jump on things, etc) and are otherwise cared for.

I know there are vegetarian and vegan cat foods out there thata re supposedly balanced diets. But they're not ideal diets. Cats NEED meat no different from needing air to breathe like any living thing. Sure you can feed a cat a vegetarin diet and the cat will eat it up but the cat will suffer healthwise from it. Is the roommate feeding a commercial vegetarin cat food or is she just randomly giving fruits and veggies to the cat to eat?

Molly92 said:

This is animal abuse and neglect. She may not be intentionally torturing and starving them, but she is and it is illegal. Please call animal control or the police as soon as you can. You will not be able to get her to listen to reason. This is where local authorities need to step in. Also call your local rescue organization. They may have the resources in place to deal with animal cruelty investigations if they are large enough. They should be able to help you get these cats medical care through the proper channels.

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These are all great suggestions. Every city and town is different so you may have to call a few places. I'm glad you're advocating for these poor cats and sneaking meat to them!

Like previous posters have said - I'd contact your local authorities. Cats are obligate carnivores, meaning that they need pretty much animal protein/tissue to survive.

I personally despise anyone who tries to force their vegan lifestyle onto their dogs/cats. It's greatly unnecessary. 

Your roommate is contradicting herself and her beliefs if she is feeding her kittens a vegan diet -  I will 'assume' she is under the belief that she is vegan (and wants her cats to be vegan) because she doesn't want to 'harm a poor cow, chicken, fish or other innocent animal'. Well, what in the hell does she think she is doing to her cat? She is inhumanely starving it of the vitamins, minerals, proteins and amino acids it needs to survive! Deficiency in vitamins and minerals (such as B vitamins, calcium, phosphorus, and iron) that are obtained ideally, or only, through meat or other animal products

Cat's are physically unable to make Vitamin-D in their skin and they NEED D3. They also NEED Taurine in their diet and that comes from ANIMAL TISSUE. Taurine is essential for cardiovascular function (it is associated with feline dilated cardiomyopathy), and development and function of skeletal muscle, the retina, and the central nervous system. She will cause these kittens to suffer a long and painful death. Is THAT what she calls being 'humane to animals'? 

Ignorance is dangerous! She MUST become educated regarding her kittens nutritional needs. Do you know if her veterinarian is aware of what she is feeding these kittens? If she is steadfast on feeding her pets a vegan diet, then she needs to re-home those kittens and buy a damn goat or rabbit! 

Yes, report her to the humane society AND her veterinarian! Don't back down until you find someone who will step up to the plate and get these kittens what they need because what she is doing is blatant negligence and abuse. And FYI: Animal abuse is a Felony in ALL 50 of the United States! 

Thank you for caring! These kittens need a voice and that voice is yours!

Those poor, poor babies. They are so adorable and she doesn't have the brainspace to realize she shouldn't be projecting her personal beliefs upon her cats. This is the strangest form of veganism I've ever heard of (no beans and no oils??). I am thinking she made up her own form of "diet" and just wants to make sure everyone in her power (ie the kitties) adheres to it as well. Definitely, she needs to be reported since she can't be reasoned with.

That is just so sad. I hope someone is able to take those kitties in and give them proper food and a good home.

I can't tell you how much this upsets me, if she wants a herbivore, tell the fool to get one. Those cats are being tortured and will die a horrible death.  Please call animal services, without help they will die. 

Thank you for looking out for them.

Cats cannot survive on an unsupplemented, unprocessed meat-free diet. They can survive on a properly supplemented vegan commercial food, although they probably wouldn't be optimally healthy. But the way she's feeding them is absolutely dangerous. They probably wouldn't be alive if you weren't sneaking them cat food and meat :/. So, yeah, at this point you need to have an authority figure involved, Animal Control or SPCA or whatever agency takes care of such things in your area. It's just like feeding meat to rabbits or salad to snakes.

If she wants a vegan pet, rabbits and guinea pigs make fine pets.

A basic rule of animal care is giving each species a diet that mirrors one that would natural if they were in the wild. Cats evolved to be meat eaters. Small whole animals are the basis of their diet and provide all the necessary nutrients. Domestic cats have adapted to packaged foods they wouldn't touch in the wild. Many live long lives being fed the cheapest brand on the shelf. But only because manufactures include the nutrients specific for a cat.

Rabbits make wonderful pets and are vegan friendly.

Everyone else has said what I would and have been more polite about it, as well.  Here is a little bit of information on the legal aspect of things:

http://aldf.org/wp-content/themes/aldf/compendium-map/us/2015/MASSACHUSETTS15.pdf   This pdf lists the animal protection laws of Massacusetts  It specifically refers to MASS. GEN. LAWS ch. 272, § 77

MASS. GEN. LAWS ch. 272 sec 77 is here:  https://malegislature.gov/Laws/GeneralLaws/PartIV/TitleI/Chapter272/Section77

This law quite specifically addresses the need for "necessary sustenance," and "proper food, drink, shelter, sanitary environment...."   It's worth reading as it's quite comprehensive.  

Your roommate might claim she is providing necessary sustenance and it may fall on you to provide a little education on the subject.  Once the authorities take action, I'm sure they'll get a vet involved, but in order to get them to move, you might have to supply them with some information about the proper diet for a cat:

http://feline-nutrition.org/answers/answers-what-exactly-is-an-qobligate-carnivoreq

Willowy said:

If she wants a vegan pet, rabbits and guinea pigs make fine pets.

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And if the roommate still wants to be in contact with cats, it's called volunteering at a local animal shelter or rescue.

Where in New England are you? If you're in MA, you can anonymously report suspected animal cruelty to the MSPCA Law Enforcement https://www.mspca.org/cruelty-prevention/ Failure to provide proper food is considered cruelty in MA state law. Other New England states may have something similar.