118. Insect Protein, Cat Evolution & The Future of Pet Wellness

A software engineer's sick dog leads to a whole new category of pet food ingredient. An evolutionary biologist explains why your house cat acts so much like a tiny lion. A veterinarian who has spent decades building preventive medicine programs across continents walks through how AI is now putting real diagnostic power in the hands of pet parents at home. This episode of the Pets Add Life Podcast pulls together three of the most consequential conversations happening in pet wellness today, with hosts Chris Bonifati and Kristen Levine in the host chairs.

Kristen opens with the story behind Entopro, a new pet food ingredient company built on buffalo mealworm protein, born from a former tech founder's effort to reverse his own dog's chronic health issues. Chris explores the increasingly difficult balancing act facing the pet food industry: pet parents simultaneously want more sustainable ingredients and more human-grade nutrition, two demands that often work against each other. Dr. Jonathan Losos, evolutionary biologist at Washington University in St. Louis and author of The Cat's Meow, then unpacks why cats behave the way they do and what "self-domestication" actually means. The episode closes with Dr. Henry Yoo, a veterinarian and executive consultant who has helped build veterinary medicine systems across the U.S., China, and beyond, sharing what AI-powered telemedicine is doing to make preventive care more accessible.

The through-line of the episode is that the future of pet wellness is being built right now, at the intersection of nutrition science, evolutionary biology, and technology. Pet parents who pay attention to all three are going to be the ones who give their pets the longest, healthiest lives.

PETS ADD LIFE DISCUSSION TOPICS

What is insect protein in pet food, and is it actually good for my dog or cat?

Insect protein is an increasingly common ingredient in pet food, typically derived from black soldier fly larvae or, more recently, buffalo mealworms. Properly formulated insect proteins deliver complete amino acid profiles, can be highly digestible, and dramatically reduce the environmental footprint of pet nutrition compared to traditional livestock proteins.

Insect protein is most commonly used today as a meal topper, a supplement, or one component of a broader formula rather than a wholesale replacement for chicken or beef. The shift reflects a learning curve in the category. The original wave of insect-based foods built around black soldier fly larvae often struggled on palatability and aroma, and many products failed in the market because pets simply did not finish their meals. The newer generation of insect ingredients, including buffalo mealworm, is positioned around umami flavor profile, moisture retention, and use in topper or additive form, which solves both the palatability problem and the consumer acceptance problem. NAVC-aligned veterinary nutrition guidance emphasizes that the right test for any new pet food ingredient is the same one used for traditional ingredients: complete nutrition for the life stage, digestibility, safety, and demonstrated outcomes in the specific pet. APPA's pet owner research reinforces that consumer interest in alternative and sustainable proteins is growing, with multiple segments indexing notably high on eco-friendly and sustainably-sourced food preferences. Wellbeing Warriors index 144 on eco-friendly and sustainable products, and Adventure Seekers index 115, signaling that environmentally conscious nutrition has moved from a fringe interest into mainstream wellness.

Practical takeaways. First, if you are curious about insect protein, start with a topper or treat rather than switching primary food. That lets you test palatability and digestive tolerance without disrupting your pet's main diet. Second, look for products that publish their amino acid profile and digestibility data on the label or website. Reputable brands will share both. Third, talk to your veterinarian if your pet has any chronic health condition, because the right protein source depends on the individual pet, not the trend.

How do I choose pet food that's both sustainable and high quality?

Pet parents now face a genuine tension in the food aisle: the demand for human-grade ingredients can work against the sustainability of the supply chain, because human-grade typically excludes the organ meats and trim that have historically made pet food a low-waste use of the meat industry. The best brands navigate this by combining responsibly-sourced human-grade ingredients with alternative proteins, regenerative sourcing, and recyclable packaging, rather than chasing one virtue at the expense of the other.

The numbers in APPA's pet owner research tell the story clearly. Across multiple owner segments, ingredient transparency, eco-friendly sourcing, and the best nutritional value rank consistently high in food purchase considerations. Wellbeing Warriors index 134 on natural ingredients and 130 on transparency around ingredients, indicating a segment that increasingly evaluates pet food the same way they evaluate their own. NAVC continuing education on veterinary nutrition emphasizes that the right food is the one formulated by a board-certified veterinary nutritionist, manufactured with consistent quality control, and matched to your specific pet's life stage and health profile. Sustainability claims and human-grade claims are useful tiebreakers when the nutritional fundamentals are equal, but they are not substitutes for those fundamentals. Research from the Human Animal Bond Research Institute (HABRI) and adjacent work on the pet wellness landscape reinforces that pet owners who actively engage with food choices report higher confidence in their pet's overall care, which in turn supports the bond and the day-to-day relationship.

Three practical signals to look for on the label or website. First, is there a board-certified veterinary nutritionist or comparable credentialed expert on the formulation team? That credential matters more than any single marketing claim. Second, is the manufacturer transparent about sourcing and quality testing? Reputable brands publish that information. Third, does the brand have a coherent sustainability story (sourcing, packaging, ingredient strategy) rather than a one-off marketing claim? Genuine sustainability shows up across multiple decisions, not just on the front of one bag.

Why does my cat act the way it does, and what does it have in common with wild cats?

Your house cat is genetically very close to its wild ancestor, the North African wildcat, and most of the behaviors that seem mysterious (hunting in short bursts, sleeping much of the day, scent marking, hiding when stressed) are direct inheritances from that wild ancestry. Cats are sometimes described as having domesticated themselves, and the science behind that framing helps explain why they are so different from dogs.

Dr. Jonathan Losos, evolutionary biologist at Washington University in St. Louis and author of The Cat's Meow, traces domestic cat ancestry to the moment humans first began storing grain in early settlements in the region we now call the Middle East. The grain attracted rodents, the rodents attracted North African wildcats, and the boldest of those wildcats (the ones willing to live near humans for the easy food) passed those traits on to their offspring. Over time, the human-tolerant cats out-bred the rest, and the result is the modern domestic cat: still genetically nearly identical to the wild ancestor, but emotionally adapted to humans. NAVC continuing education on feline behavior emphasizes that understanding this evolutionary background changes how owners should approach common cat behaviors. Vertical territory, predatory play sequences, scent marking, and the need for hiding spaces are not optional comfort features. They are baseline behavioral needs shaped by hundreds of thousands of years of feline biology. Research from the Human Animal Bond Research Institute (HABRI) further documents that cats form strong bonds with their humans through routine, predictability, and choice, not through the kind of pack-based social structure that shapes dog behavior.

APPA's 2026 State of the Industry Report shows cat ownership grew 5 percent year over year in 2025, with roughly 53 million U.S. households now owning at least one cat. The category is having a sustained moment, and pet parents who match their care to actual feline biology (vertical space, hunting play, scent enrichment, choice and control) will see calmer, healthier, more bonded cats.

Should I keep my cat strictly indoors, and how do I help an indoor cat thrive?

Most veterinary and wildlife organizations now recommend keeping cats indoors, both for the cat's own safety and for the wildlife population. Indoor cats live significantly longer than outdoor cats on average, and free-roaming cats are responsible for substantial declines in local bird and small mammal populations. Indoor life is genuinely the better choice for nearly every cat.

Outdoor cats face real and documented risks: vehicle collisions, predation from coyotes and other animals, exposure to infectious disease, parasites, fights with other cats, and toxin ingestion. NAVC-aligned veterinary guidance is consistent that indoor cats benefit from controlled exposure to risk and significantly reduced veterinary emergencies. On the wildlife side, the conservation case is equally strong: cats are exceptionally effective predators, and because pet cats are well-fed at home, they kill at densities that wild cat populations could never sustain. The combined effect on songbirds and small mammals has been documented as one of the largest human-caused pressures on those populations. The challenge is keeping indoor cats happy. Cats need outlets for the predatory and exploratory behaviors that the indoors does not naturally provide. APPA's pet owner research consistently shows that cat parents increasingly invest in vertical territory (cat trees, wall shelves, window perches), interactive enrichment (puzzle feeders, wand toys, food-dispensing toys), and scratching infrastructure, reflecting a cultural shift toward understanding cats as emotionally complex companions that require active environmental support.

Practical levers that make indoor life genuinely great for a cat. First, add vertical space. A single cat tree changes how a cat experiences your home. Second, build a daily 15 to 20 minute play session around a wand toy, ending with the cat "catching" the prey at the end. Third, consider a catio (a screened outdoor enclosure) if you have the space, which delivers the sensory benefits of outdoors without the risks. Indoor does not have to mean understimulated, and the lifespan difference is meaningful.

How are AI and telemedicine changing veterinary care, and should I use them for my pet?

AI-powered triage tools and veterinary telemedicine are making it dramatically easier for pet parents to get fast, expert guidance on whether a symptom warrants an immediate vet visit, can be monitored at home, or needs an emergency call. Used as a complement to (not a replacement for) your regular veterinarian, these tools can save time, money, and unnecessary stress.

APPA's 2026 State of the Industry Report shows that AI tools emerged as a tracked source of pet healthcare information for the first time in 2025, with adoption strongest among Gen Z and Millennial pet parents. The same report shows that 67 percent of pet owners still rely on scheduled veterinary visits as their primary healthcare information source, indicating that AI and telemedicine are layering onto traditional care rather than replacing it. NAVC continuing education on veterinary telemedicine emphasizes that the most valuable use case is triage and continuity of care: AI tools that walk a pet parent through symptom questions and route the case appropriately, followed by a veterinarian who can review the AI's summary, request photos through an app, and decide whether to schedule an in-clinic visit. Dr. Henry Yoo, a veterinarian who has built preventive medicine systems across the U.S. and China, frames it as a way to extend the reach of clinical expertise: a veterinarian in one city can review an app-based case from a client 50 or 500 miles away and provide informed guidance that would otherwise have required an emergency visit or no visit at all. Research from the Human Animal Bond Research Institute (HABRI) and parallel veterinary access work documents that financial and logistical barriers cause many pet owners to delay or skip veterinary visits, and well-designed telemedicine reduces those barriers measurably.

Three practical guidelines for using AI and telemedicine well. First, treat AI triage tools as a first-pass filter, not a diagnosis. A reputable tool will route serious symptoms to a human veterinarian quickly. Second, use telemedicine through platforms connected to your regular veterinary practice when possible, so continuity of care is preserved and your pet's records stay together. Third, never use telemedicine in place of an emergency vet visit when your pet shows signs of acute distress (difficulty breathing, ongoing seizures, suspected poisoning, severe trauma, inability to urinate, or collapse). The technology is genuinely useful. Knowing when not to use it is part of using it well.

Topics Covered