Pet food is a major driver of animal product demand. Understanding the welfare implications of different pet food choices helps owners align their values with their purchasing.
Pet food represents a significant but often invisible animal welfare impact for pet-owning households. A household that avoids meat for welfare reasons may still purchase intensive-farming-derived pet food that accounts for significant animal product consumption. Plant-based dog food is nutritionally viable with appropriate supplementation and represents a welfare-positive choice. Cat food presents a harder challenge given obligate carnivory, but insect-based options (with growing evidence for welfare significance of insects) and precision fermentation of taurine and other essential nutrients represent emerging solutions. The welfare impact of pet food choices is real and can be reduced through informed purchasing.