ANIMAL EMISSIONS: HOW BIG IS MY PET'S CARBON PAWPRINT AND WHAT CAN I DO TO MINIMISE IT?

Globally, pets chomp their way through about 20 per cent of the planet’s meat and fish. Could Fido and Mr Tibbles adopt a more carbon-friendly lifestyle?

- HAYLEY BENNETT

WOULD IT BE BETTER IF WE FED OUR CATS AND DOGS A VEGGIE DIET?

Cats and dogs get more of their protein from meat and fish than we do. In the US alone, they account for about a quarter of all the calories consumed from animal products, emitting the CO, equivalent of around 13 million cars through livestock production, according to a 2017 study. Our pets would certainly be more environmentally friendly if they went plant-based, but can we make that choice for any species that has different dietary needs to us?

Domestic cats are obligate carnivores – they need the nutrients in meat to survive. Take the amino acid taurine, for example. Without it, cats develop heart problems and go blind. Though such essential nutrients can be given as supplements along with plant-based meals, there's intense debate between animal experts and vegetarians about whether, overall, these are adequate for cats' needs.

Dogs, on the other hand, seem better adapted to an omnivorous lifestyle and are capable of thriving on diets containing higher quantities of grains and veg. Though that doesn't mean we can simply cut out their protein.

One sustainable alternative is insect-based food from companies that sell high-protein dog and cat food pellets made from ground up fly larvae. However, these foods tend to be expensive and may not be entirely carbon neutral as the insects are often shipped in from Europe, but with all the hype around insect farming, there may soon be more local suppliers.