The 15 Basic Carnivore Families

thoughtco.com ^ | Updated on May 05, 2025 | Bob Strauss

[kawhill]

Key Takeaways Carnivores come in many shapes and sizes, from familiar pets like dogs to exotic creatures like fossas. Each carnivore family has unique traits, like the powerful limbs of eared seals and scent glands of skunks. Some 'carnivores' like raccoons and red pandas are actually omnivores, eating both plants and animals.

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TOPICS: Food; Outdoors; Pets/Animals
KEYWORDS: carnivores; mammals; meateating

[Deaf Smith]

“Each carnivore family has unique traits”

The homo sapiens family has firearms to make easier to eat the other families.

[BobL]

“The homo sapiens family has firearms to make easier to eat the other families. “

...and prior to that, we had brains and therefore could figure out ways to kill and cook our prey - so we lost most of our ability to live off plants.

[medical conservative]

These are results for looking at the list most were omiphores like dog and swine. Only the cats of the list or a few others are likely obligate carnivores.

I asked AI about my take. Read it and weep.

“Yes, you’re absolutely right! Cats are obligate carnivores, meaning their bodies are biologically designed to primarily eat and derive essential nutrients from meat. Dogs and pigs, as you mentioned, are classified as omnivores, meaning they can thrive on both animal and plant matter.
Here’s a breakdown of why this distinction is so important:

Cats and their unique nutritional needs

Dependence on Meat-based Nutrients: Cats require certain essential nutrients like taurine, arachidonic acid, and preformed vitamin A, explains Birdie & Louie. These are found in abundance in animal tissues and are not readily available or synthesized efficiently from plant matter. For example, cats cannot convert carotenoids (found in plants) into active vitamin A, making dietary vitamin A from animal sources crucial.
Digestive System Adaptations: Cats have a shorter digestive tract and lack certain enzymes, like salivary amylase, which are crucial for breaking down carbohydrates efficiently. Their metabolism is geared towards deriving energy from protein and fat rather than carbohydrates.
Omnivores, like dogs and pigs

Diverse Diet: Dogs are considered omnivores by Rover.com. They and pigs can effectively digest and obtain nutrients from both plant and animal matter, showcasing a broader range of dietary adaptability compared to obligate carnivores.
Flexible Metabolic Pathways: Unlike cats, dogs can synthesize some essential nutrients from plant matter and can also downregulate protein metabolism when needed, according to a Quora answer.
In Summary
Cats are obligate carnivores: This means a diet primarily consisting of animal-based protein and fat is essential for their health and well-being.
Dogs and pigs are omnivores: They have a more flexible diet and can efficiently digest and derive nutrients from both plant and animal matter.
It’s important to understand these distinctions to provide appropriate and healthy diets for our pets. While some amount of plant matter might be ingested by carnivores (e.g., cats eating grass to aid digestion), it’s not a primary source of necessary nutrition for them”

[Deaf Smith]

After we used our brains to conquer other meat eaters, we turned our attention to beer making and the outdoor barbecue.

Best way to get chicks…beer & BBQ.

[bakeneko]

They didn’t even mention the family from “The Hills Have Eyes.”

[Labyrinthos]

We have two rescues — A Siamese Seal Point Point and a Siamese Snowshoe. We feed then them mostly Purina meat stuff. But when we offer people beef and chicken, they have no interest.

[Ronaldus Magnus III]

I love animals, they’re delicious!

P.E.T.A

People
Eating
Tasty
Animals!

[exinnj]

And still, idiot cat owners feed their beautiful animals with garbage from Petco and it’s minions instead of meat.

[Veto!]

My cat gets canned chicken or turkey in gravy. Plus terrific crunchies I buy from the vet, $83 per large bag. Daisy is eating well indeed.
I don’t buy an $83 bag of anything for myself.

[Paul R.]

You (and they) have left out Uriah Heep’s “Bird of Prey”. ;-)

[Paul R.]

...and prior to that, we had brains and therefore could figure out ways to kill and cook our prey - so we lost most of our ability to live off plants.

But then we regained* it, as even the vast majority of meat eaten by humans is fed by foods raised by humans, in addition to large quantities of plants still consumed by humans. What's critical to most countries? Grains' harvests - their own, or imports.

*It's also true that even many Native American tribes were never primarily hunters, despite the stereotype. Hunter-gatherers were the 1st arrivals, but then they diversified and many peoples settled into primarily agriculture. Certainly that is also true of the Incas, Aztecs, and Mayans - almost anywhere civilization takes root.

[metmom]

That should be a factor in choosing cat food, to make sure you don’t pick anything that is *Plant based* or *vegan*.

Matter of fact, I used to feed the neighbors cat my leftover turkey gizzards. Had a friend for life. Found out later after she died, that she also had kept the mouse population down.

[scrabblehack]

Homo sapiens is the species. The family is Hominidae.
It includes gorillas, chimpanzees, and orang utans.

[Deaf Smith]

Bad things happen when you give apes firearms.

Several historical documentaries were made in the 1970’s covering the subject.