Ellen DeGeneres, talk show host, Halo spokesperson, and longtime vegan, is developing a vegan pet food line. The Chicago Sun-Times reported that “The couple also are developing a line of vegan pet foods – after discovering a void in the market for people looking to feed their dogs and cats vegan vittles.”

While this could be good news for dogs that need special diets due to severe allergies, a line of vegan cat food is dangerous, according to cat expert and author Pam Bennett-Johnson. Because cats are obligate carnivores, they need meat to thrive and be healthy. Bennett-Johnson writes,

Cats require higher amounts of protein and fat than dogs do, and they also need a specific balance of carbohydrates, vitamins, and minerals. Cat food companies formulate their foods to meet the specific life stages of cats. Kittens need a different formulation than adult cats. Older, less active cats don’t need the same diet as a young, athletic kitty.

Bennett-Johnson also warns that cats can’t convert beta carotene into Vitamin A, and they must get it from meat sources. Taurine, an essential amino acid that cats need, also comes from animal tissues. Cats need taurine for cardiac function, reproductive organs, and their vision.