The ingredients in commercial pet food have both sustainability and animal welfare dimensions, as billions of farm and wild-caught animals contribute to feeding companion dogs and cats globally.
Companion animal feeding connects directly to the welfare of the farm animals and wild-caught fish that contribute to pet food production. A household with multiple cats feeding on fish-based pet food may be responsible for the welfare costs of dozens of fish annually. Pet owners motivated by concern for animal welfare face an inherent tension between meeting their companion animals dietary needs and minimising the welfare burden of the ingredients used. Novel protein sources including insect protein, single-cell protein and cultivated meat offer potential pathways that reduce but do not eliminate this welfare cost. Informed purchasing of pet food that prioritises higher-welfare ingredient sourcing is a meaningful consumer action.