Introduction: The ‘vegetarian’s dilemma’ or the paradox of feeding companion animals a meat-based diet as a vegetarian and vegan human is beginning to attract theoretical enquiry (e.g. Milburn, 2015; Rothgerber, 2013) and popular attention (e.g. Carroll, 2017; Wedderburn, 2016). This poster presentation highlights the debates and discourses within the controversial subject of companion animal feeding practices from the perspective of the vegan community and outlines the main themes to emerge from these discussions.
Methodology: In-depth semi-structured interviews were conducted in-situ and using video-conferencing software with human members of the online vegan community in 2016. Participants were members of social networking groups dedicated to the topic of vegan cats and/or dogs. In total, the sample size was eighteen participants from eight different countries with ages ranging from in the 20s to 60s, all with a shared ‘western’ notion of veganism. The data collected was thematically analysed and coded for emergent themes.
Main results: The motivations for feeding companion animals were found to be interconnected with perspectives affecting human food practices including ethical, health, and environmental considerations. The pathways to feeding plant-based diets to companion animals were similar to the pathways for humans becoming vegan, including an emphasis on learning and support which is facilitated by the use of online groups. There was a general mistrust of the veterinary community and perception of critical attitudes towards plant-based diets throughout the interviews. This is leading to a lack of communication between veterinarian and guardian, with guardians often defining their own feeding practices for their companion animals with minimal veterinary support. Furthermore, the ethical considerations and suitability of plant-based diets varied depending on species concerned.
Principal conclusions and implications for field: These findings challenge the human-animal boundary by highlighting the interactions and interconnections within food practices for humans, the animals that are eaten, and the animals that we live with. It also draws attention to the importance of further research exploring the long-term health implications of plant-based diets for companion animals, especially cats, before it is advocated more widely. More-than-human feeding practices are complex, ambiguous, and integral to our co-existence with other species.