The matter of pets on plant-based diets reminds me of the exact energy that the matter of trans women in women's sports has.

Opposition to it is often seen as "basic common sense" on the surface level by people who have not a single idea about the intricacies of the subject, and those who are actually willing to make a case for why such a hasty dismissal isn't as valid as others think it is get scolded and demonized simply for speaking objective, factual claims on the matter.

Cats can survive and thrive on plant-based diets, yes. No animal necessarily needs certain ingredients (such as flesh or plants) more than they need certain nutrients*. Cats need taurine, and humans can include that in plant-based cat food. I wouldn't say that the case in favor of plant-based cats is 100% conclusive, but it sure as hell is leagues more on the "in favor of it" side than what most people vehemently opposed to it are thinking that makes them rebuke positive takes on the matter without question or any degree of openness.

To defend such opposition, people will often say "Cats are obligate carnivores!" without knowing exactly what that means. "Obligate carnivore" is a term in ecology referring to animals that must eat other animals out of survival/nutrition or being unable to digest plants. Domesticated cats who live with human beings and are being fed to them manmade food constructed by the power of human technology don't have this dilemma going on.

It's often immediately painted as "animal abuse," but that's because such a narrative is pushed so hard in a "It's not up for discussion, and we don't need to hear an alternative take on this matter" type of sense.

*Source

Although special attention must be paid to ensure adequate levels of certain nutrients such as proteins, amino acids (e.g., taurine, carnitine, methionine, lysine, and tryptophan), vitamins (e.g., Vitamins A, B3, B9, and B12), minerals (e.g., calcium, iron, zinc, and copper), and certain fats [25], it is important to remember that dogs, cats—and indeed all species—require specific nutrients, rather than specific ingredients. There is—at least in theory—no reason why diets comprised entirely of plants, minerals, and synthetically-based ingredients (i.e., vegan diets) cannot meet the necessary palatability, bioavailability, and nutritional requirements of cats and dogs [25]. Indeed, a growing number of commercially-available diets [26] aim to do so.