So school kinda lied to you. Herbivores and carnivores exist on a spectrum. The extremes are known as "obligates". So an animal that lacks the ability to eat plants entirely is known as an "obligate carnivore." Otherwise, the rest of animals are somewhere spread across the spectrum. Animals in this region are commonly known to eat what's easily available with just a preference toward one end or the other.

[–] prole@lemmy.blahaj.zone 15 points 3 weeks ago* (last edited 3 weeks ago) (2 children)

So an animal that lacks the ability to eat plants entirely is known as an "obligate carnivore."

Like house cats!

Edit: to those with reading comprehension issues, meat needs to be a part of their diet. That doesn't mean they'll never be seen eating things that aren't meat.

[–] SillyDude@lemmy.zip 10 points 3 weeks ago (3 children)

[–] XTL@sopuli.xyz 12 points 3 weeks ago

0% nutrition, 100% cromch.

[–] cryptTurtle@piefed.social 4 points 3 weeks ago

This is cute but you really shouldn't be feeding cats plants

[–] prole@lemmy.blahaj.zone 2 points 3 weeks ago

Cool... I guess nobody understood the definition then?

They need meat in their diets (specifically taurine, which is often an additive in cat food). Just because there are photos of them eating veggies, doesn't mean they're not obligated to eat meat.

[–] ikidd@lemmy.world 2 points 3 weeks ago* (last edited 3 weeks ago)

Tell that to our shop cat that eats grass (besides all the mice he can catch).

[–] spankmonkey@lemmy.world 7 points 3 weeks ago

Even the obligates are just really close to the end of the spectrum as they will occasionally snack on the other source for specific nutrients.