“Can my cat contribute to climate change?” » Yale Climate Connection

A reader asked us:

To what extent are cats responsible for climate change?

To answer this question, we asked Sara Peach, editor-in-chief of Yale Climate Relations and a veteran environmental journalist. This is his answer:

Fans of the world's furriest, most kissable animals with blades hidden in their paws come together. Let's answer this question by studying the scientific literature.

On the positive side, domestic cats (scientific name: a cat) Don’t create climate-warming pollution by flying on private jets or burning gasoline to go to work. And they have a habit of hanging out naked, with no need for quick and wasteful fashion.

However, they have a bad ecological reputation for killing billions of birds. And, like other cats, such as lions, tigers, and cougars, domestic cats are members of the cat family. carnivorousmeaning “meat-eater” in Latin. These organisms rely on animal protein to survive.

Specifically, cats' diets should include an amino acid called taurine, which is only found in animal proteins because their bodies cannot produce it. This is one of the reasons why they rely on us, their human servants, to provide them with meat-rich pet food. Raising animals like cattle and poultry to feed our pets contributes to climate change, most notably because when cattle burp, they emit methane, a gas that traps heat in our atmosphere.

Raising enough meat to keep an adult house cat healthy for a year in Mexico would produce 941 kilograms (2,075 pounds) of warming gases, according to estimates that have not been peer-reviewed. A more detailed, peer-reviewed study used a different methodology to estimate that dog and cat food production in the United States produces 390 kilograms (860 pounds) of climate pollution per animal per year. This is roughly equivalent to the climate pollution caused by driving 1,570 kilometers (975 miles).

Many cat foods contain meat by-products that humans don’t commonly eat, such as organ meats, blood, and bones. Using this waste in pet food reduces waste and climate pollution. But, as one study points out, the trend toward “humanizing” pets is leading some consumers to purchase pet foods containing greater amounts and quality of meat.

So what can be done to reduce cats’ impact on the climate? A plant-based diet has a much smaller climate footprint (paw print?) than a meat-rich diet, so some researchers are exploring whether domestic cats can survive on a vegan diet that includes taurine supplements.

A 2023 study showed that cats on a vegan diet are healthier than their carnivorous counterparts. However, the study has been criticized for methodological issues. Most notably, some so-called “vegan” cats are able to roam outside unsupervised and may eat birds or rodents.

There is still a lot to know about a healthy vegan diet for cats.

Alexandra Whittaker, associate professor in the School of Animal and Veterinary Sciences at the University of Adelaide, wrote in response to the vegan study: “One challenge that this article does not really address is how to safely construct a vegan diet for cats. .

“Previous research has shown that cats on vegan diets suffer from severe deficiencies affecting muscle mass. Owners may be able to provide these nutrients through supplements, but this would require a deep understanding of feline nutrition, or Need some good advice from an animal health professional. “It might be wise to wait before weaning Felix off meat altogether. “

Another option: Consider the advice of UCLA scientist Gregory Okin and adopt a smaller vegetarian or omnivorous pet instead of a cat. Many domestic birds, rodents, and reptiles fall into this category. Rats are cute, right?