Best cat food for vegan owners

Feeding a meat-eating cat when you're vegan yourself is one of the more uncomfortable tensions in pet ownership — and the fact that you're prioritising your cat's biology over your own discomfort says a lot. Cats are obligate carnivores with specific nutritional requirements many commercial foods don't fully meet, and wet food is generally far better than dry for hydration, which matters enormously for long-term kidney health. To point you toward the right option: what's your cat's age and breed, do they have any health issues or sensitivities, and what are you currently feeding them?

Your instinct is right — Whiskas dry is convenient but it's not doing her any favours. High carbohydrate content, heavily processed, and the low moisture is a real concern for cats, whose kidneys evolved expecting water to come from prey rather than a separate bowl. Most cats simply don't drink enough to compensate. At three years old with no current health issues, you're in a good position to make a change before problems develop rather than after. Is she a good eater — does she tend to accept new foods readily, or has she been fussy in the past?

It does, and this is exactly where Lily's Kitchen fits. Their wet food — specifically the Lily's Kitchen Adult Cat Fishy Fish Pie or the Chicken and Duck varieties — is made with named whole meats, no meat meal or derivatives, and they're certified by the Soil Association, which means their sourcing standards are audited. It's not cheap compared to supermarket brands, but it's not extreme either, and for a single cat it's very manageable. The ingredient quality is genuinely high, the moisture content is right for kidney health, and the ethics around sourcing are as good as you'll find in mainstream pet food. I'd start her on the multipack variety box so you can see which flavours she prefers before committing to a bulk order.

For a cat her age with no dental issues flagged, I'd move to wet-only if you can. The argument for keeping some dry food — dental benefit — is largely overstated and the dehydration risk from a mostly-dry diet is real. If you want a small amount of dry as an occasional treat or for top-up feeding when you're away, that's fine, but don't let it become the majority of her diet again. Transition gradually over about ten days — mix increasing amounts of the new wet food in with what she's used to — and her digestive system will adjust without any drama.