The environmental and animal welfare footprint of pet food is a growing ethical consideration, as conventional pet foods rely heavily on farmed animals and fish that may themselves have poor welfare.
Pet food represents a significant and often overlooked component of consumer animal welfare impact. Cats and dogs collectively consume large quantities of animal-derived protein, much of which comes from conventional farming systems with welfare standards no different from human food production. The welfare footprint of pet food is therefore partly determined by the welfare standards of the animals in the supply chain, not just the pets consuming it. Insect-based pet food offers a lower-welfare-impact protein option given the uncertainty about insect sentience and the much lower individual numbers involved per unit of protein compared to vertebrate farming. For dogs, plant-based or reduced-meat diets under veterinary supervision may reduce animal welfare footprint while meeting nutritional needs. The field of sustainable pet nutrition is developing rapidly and welfare-conscious owners should stay informed.