Can Cats Eat Dog Food? Know What’s Safe and What’s Not
“Can cats eat dog food?” This was the first question that my cousin asked me when they came to our house last week with her pet cat Millie!
Like I have previously mentioned, I have a pet dog called Bruno whom I adore. When my cousin came to our house and it was time to feed Millie, she wanted to know if it was okay (read: safe) for the cat to get the same food as Bruno.
And that made me realized that it was something I had never thought about much in detail. Of course, this is a common topic of discussion among most pet parents, but what is the real answer?
If that’s something you want to know, keep on reading!
Can Cats Eat Dog Food?
The likelihood of dog food enticing cats long-term because of its nutritional benefits is next to none. Some short-term hazards exist when a dog is fed dog food, but cats hardly demand these in a workout.
The important thing here is that cats are carnivores and require the whole set of amino acids and nutrients; anything short of this is considered starvation for cats.
Some other deficiencies that might develop if cats eat dog food, so the let’s see if can cats eat dog food:
1. Diminution of Taurine
Taurine is an amino acid constitutive of meat. It is a major agent of heart functioning, vital to vision, and involved in digesting fats.
The cat cannot produce this amino acid and gets a meager amount from its diet. Putting its need for taurine at a much higher level than in dogs.
2. The Protein Concept
Dog food lacks protein, and cats’ overconsumption of dog food would damage their health, resulting in muscle wasting and weakness.
These cats wastefully make vitamin A by excessively using arachidonic acid, which is only found in animal foods. If dog food were sufficient, at least it could satisfy those requirements.
3. Nutritionally Unbalanced
The canine diet is for omnivores, thus consisting of a plethora of carbohydrates that will not do overweight felines any good in seeking to escape falling prey to problems of obesity, diabetes, and disease that call for it.
4. Fatty Acid Deficiencies
Some important fatty acids, such as arachidonic acid, are in short supply, which the dogs must synthesize.
Even a few bites of dog food may not harm a well-fed kitty. Still, through the insidious processes of accumulation, the severe effects of chronic dog food consumption advertised will invariably show very grim health consequences further down the track.
These include heart affections, ocular abnormalities, compromised immunity, and digestive disorders.
What’s the Difference Between Cat and Dog Food?
Different types of cat and dog foods have their requirements: one for the cat and the other for the dog. The following are some of the differences between them:
- Protein Content: Cats require more protein than dogs as their metabolic needs are greater than theirs.
- Taurine: Taurine is an essential amino acid that cats need, but dog foods do not require.
- Vitamin A: The cat requires vitamin A in its already formed state, while in dogs, beta-carotene from food can be converted into vitamin A.
- Arachidonic Acid: Necessary for cats, not for dogs, since dogs can make the fatty acid themselves.
- Level of Carbohydrates: dog foods would have more carbohydrates, which are not needed in large amounts by cats.
- Texture and Size: Cat food kibbles tend to be smaller and more protein dense. While dog food is usually larger and intended for omnivorous digestion.
Such differences can easily lead to malnutrition and, consequently, various health conditions with time when feeding a cat or dog food.
Why Do Cats Like Dog Food?
For cats, there can be many different reasons as to can cats eat dog food. Even though dog food is not full of nutrients to sustain their beautiful beings:
- Curiosity: A cat’s instincts are curious, so it might want to try something new.
- Hunger: It’s starving time, and the cat will look elsewhere for food if it doesn’t get enough satisfying food.
- Taste and Smell: Some dog food contains animal fats and animal flavors that entice cats.
- Texture: The crunch or texture of dog kibble might be something cats enjoy.
- Competition: In homes with several pets, cats may eat dog food simply because it’s available and they don’t want to miss food.
- Boredom: A bored cat can sometimes sample unfamiliar foods, especially if they have been eating the same boring meals for too long.
As much as your cat may like dog food, it is important to limit their occasional indulgence to avoid nutrient and disease deficiencies.
Ways to Stop Your Cat from Eating Dog Food
So, your little cat sneaks into the dog’s bowl and steals its food? It is important to help your naked little friend learn not to indulge in this kind of behavior. Here’s what you should do:
1. Feed in Different Areas
If possible, feed your dog and cat in different rooms. This will prevent the cat from having access to the dog food and ensure that the dogs eat their own meals.
2. Elevated Feeding Stations
Cats can easily jump onto counters or elevated surfaces, while most dogs cannot reach that height. So, if you place your cat’s food in an elevated place, it will be out of the dog’s reach and vice versa.
3. Stick to a Feeding Schedule
Free feeding (leaving food out all day) lets a cat sneak in some dog food. Instead, scheduled feeding directly takes uneaten food away afterward.
4. Store Dog Food Properly
Seal and store bags of dog food away. This way, your cat won’t be able to access the food when you’re away.
5. Train Your Cat
By positive reinforcement, train your cat to stay away from the dog’s food by redirecting it to its own food whenever it goes for the dog’s bowl.
Keep Your Cat from Straying to the Dog Dish
Sure, call them and check how they can interchange his nutrition schedule. If can cats eat dog food and continue this habit.
The likely concern is the quality of the cat’s food, which must be ingestible for them, making sure the high-end protein-rich cat food meets their nutritional needs.
If they complain a lot about what they eat, the brand or formula that would best fit must be switched or tried.
Engaging your cat in interactive feeders, puzzle games, and scheduled playtime activities has great potential to reduce boredom and lessen your kitty’s tendency to scope out food from the dog’s portion.
Feed them separately and let them eat from higher feeding stations. Make sure your cat is very well nourished to keep cats and dogs off. This will help avoid inducing bad conditions in the pet cats and feeding away from the dog dish.
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