Can Cats Eat Dog Food?

Perhaps your cat likes her dog friend’s food, Read More to find out 4 Reasons Why Your Cat Should Not Eat Dog Food.

If your family includes both a dog and a cat then surely many a time you must have seen them eating from the same bowl. 

Like many other cats, your cat too perhaps likes her dog friend’s food, and you are left wondering, can cats eat dog food? Your answer is, No. 

The nutritional requirements of dogs and cats are different. Cats are carnivorous and dogs are omnivorous. Thus felines and canines need different nourishment to grow and thrive properly.

4 Reasons Why Your Cat Should Not Eat Dog Food

Will Cause Health Problems

No one likes spending unnecessarily and this does tempt a few people into feeding their cats with dog food, which is cheaper. 

You anyway must have seen your cat stealing food from your dog’s bowl, which makes you believe she likes them, so why not let her eat what she enjoys? 

Well, if you do allow your cat to eat dog food eventually she will suffer from malnutrition, digestive, and cardiac problems. 

So, if you do not want to ultimately increase your vet bills then do not feed your cat what your dog eats.

Dog Meals Do Not Have Enough Taurine

Dog food lacks enough taurine, an amino acid that is very important for cats.
Cats cannot produce taurine themselves and thus need it through their food. 

A taurine deficiency can cause tooth and hair problems and also affect the cardiovascular and reproductive systems of your cat.

Dog Food Does Not Have Enough Proteins and Fat

Arachidonic acid, a kind of fatty acid must be present in cat meals as they are not able to produce it on their own, and it is necessary because it helps break down their kind of vitamin A. Thus dogs do not require any extra fatty acid to be included in their diet but cats need it. 

Dog Food Lacks Moisture

Dog food, on the other hand, has not been designed keeping in mind their daily water need. Remember, dehydration can cause various health-related problems.

Should You Worry if Your Cat Steals a Bite?

Dog food is certainly not good for cats, but if your cat steals a few pieces of their dog friend’s food once in a while there is no cause to worry. 

It is only if your cat is dependent on dog food alone, and that too for the long term that it will face troubles. 

However, to be on the safer side it will be best to try and make sure there is no dog food lying around your cat. 

Maintain different feeding schedules for your cats and dogs, and if your dog does not finish his food, remove the extra from his or her bowl. 

Keeping an eye on all this and maintaining proper schedules may seem very difficult, but gradually it will become a habit, and you also will be able to enjoy complete peace of mind.

READ MORE