Cruelty-Free Non-vegetarian Cat Food

Unfortunatly the only way to be cruelty free is to not have meat in the diet but then again cats are carnivours, so i would say the best way to go is to buy free ranged products for your cats - thats what i do. I personally think and have been advised to feed my cats a meat based diet as it is healthy and natural for them. I know some people wont agree but cats naturally hunt and kill other animals to survive unlike humans.

That can come back to the argument that cats shouldnt be allowed outside, i let mine out as they would most likley kill each other if they were inside 24/7.

Contact a free ranged farmer or butcher and ask about how there animals are treated and take it from there. My cats are fed on a variety of mined beef, pork and chicken. they also get chicken breasts and there cat buiscuts - Same as my ferret.

I don't think it's possible to find a cruelty free cat food that ISN'T vegan, but I've been studying brands of food, so perhaps you'd be better off finding a brand that is highly nutritious, and meat-based?

The best brand I've come across is Hills Science Diet, we feed this to all the cats at the shelter, and they are in absolutely perfect condition! Other premium brands include Advantage and Royal Canin. These are all quite expensive because they're a science diet, but they really do provide very high quality nutrition.

Other brands that aren't so expensive, but are also very nutritious, are Optimum and Purina Pro Plan. Other Purina brands, such as 'Friskies' and 'Supercoat' should be avoided. Also foods that contain colours are to be avoided.

Thanks OinkMoo and Maggie - I am finding it very hard.  I think I will probably look at feeding them free-range meat from the butcher, but they do still like a bit of dry food, and it would be good to have wet food in the pantry for an emergency.

Maggie, I have heard that Hills Science is very good for cats, but I thought there were concerns with them re animal testing?

Oh and I forgot that they get there biscuits awsell

As OinkMoo has said, try feeding them free range meat. Also you can buy animal parts from the butcher that humans don't tend to eat, which is not really contributing to farming as they are waste products of the industry.

A lot of pet food companies are owned by mars, nestle and procter & gamble who all test on animals, so avoiding them is a good start.
Also buying Australian made food is another way to help the animals and the environment, as it means less transportation is needed to get the food to your pet.

I feed my dogs Natures Gift, which uses human grade meat and does not use horse meat. The dogs have had great improvement of their teeth and coat since making the switch, and their breath doesn't smell!
Also Felidae, Eagle Pack and Black Hawk are another few premium pet food companies I know that don't test on animals.
Some more companies listed here: http://www.ethical.org.au/guide/browse/guide/?type=57

I feed my dogs and cats Eagle Pack or Holistic Select (same company). I always buy the massive bags as if you feed according to the guidelines it's actually cheaper than supermarket crap brands. Premium pet foods contain much less fillers and have a higher nutrient content. All my pets have thrived on these brands and they are not tested cruelly on animals. I used to feed them Iams until I found out the atrocities of their testing. Also my oldest cat developed diabetes from (over) eating whiskas. Not only is it cruel but it's full of sugar and bad fillers. Like eating Maccas everyday. I just did a google search to find 'cruelty free' brands (with the exception of being a meat based food).

Thanks everyone for the tips - very appreciated!

I have a ferret and they are carnivore... but she eats vegan/vegetarian and is healthier than when I first saved her...she was extremly skinny and sick and it isn't wrong as long as they want to eat the vegan food you give them and that you supplement their diet with protein and know what they can't eat ......

Corpse winter sage, I've said this in another thread but I have to say it again...

Ferrets cannot - and I repeat - CANNOT be vegan. They are strict carnivores and cannot digest plant food because of their short gastroinstestinal tract. They need to eat meat and plant products can actually kill them.

Please, please for the sake of your ferrets health either feed it meat or give it to someone who will be responsible. Otherwise, it will get sick and die. Feeding it a vegan diet is exceedingly cruel and very detrimental to their health. If it is healthy now, it won't be for much longer. Of course it is going to look more healthy now than when it was neglected by its previous owners, but that doesn't mean what you're doing is right for the animal. It's a form of animal abuse and if it continues, your ferret will die prematurely.

The vegan pet foods I've seen online for ferrets contain many plant ingredients that are toxic to their digestive systems. Do some research and understand that they require meat and cannot digest plant/carbohydrate matter:

http://www.ferret-world.com/vegetarianferretfood.html

http://www.ferret-world.com/healthyferretfood.html

http://www.peta.org/living/companion-animals/caring-for-ferrets.aspx

http://www.helium.com/items/1183902-feeding-ferrets

Even PETA say ferrets have to be fed meat!!