The grease is always greener on the other side philosophy. Cats shouldn’t eat any chocolate, or onions, which contain toxins dangerous for cats. Try to make some homemade meal for your feline first, so you can provide needed nutrients. If this is the case, then you may wonder if you can feed your cat dog food in an emergency. Can cats eat dog food and vice versa? Our website uses cookies. To have a healthy cat, make sure to feed your cat only with proper nutrition food that is designed for cats. So how about dog mate doing the same. Can Cats Eat Dog Food? However, there will be some difficult question that you will have to address when you are sharing a space with both canine and feline. Read on and discover is it really OK for your feline to have a bite of dog food. Maybe you simply forgot to buy some. Can cats eat dog food for a day !? Moreover, your canine can become stressed if the cat keeps on messing with his place and food. 7 Surprising Ways that Cats Show Affection, Just Watch These Border Collie Puppies Meet Sheep for the First Time, Cat Shaming: Rank These 52 Cats Getting Hilariously Roasted for Their Crimes, Rescue Dog Kratu Plays His Way through Agility Competition and We Are Here for It, 8 Dog Supply Organizers to Declutter Your Pet’s Stuff, Sit Back and Get Cozy With These Dog-Themed Reality Shows, Streaming on HBO Max, Everything You Ever Wanted to Know About the Manx Cat, Here’s What You Really Need to Know About Cat Declawing, Amino acids like taurine and arginine (from meat or fish), High-quality animal proteins (at least 30%), Healthy, animal-based fats (about 15% to 20%), Essential vitamins, minerals, enzymes, and fatty acids, No by-products, fillers, or artificial additives. “Although for us, it’s a ritual to eat together, that is not true for cats!”, Delgado also brings up an excellent point about cat’s natural instincts: “They prefer their space and privacy while eating, and they don’t always want to take turns at a shared bowl.”. If you have a cat and a dog, it’s possible that they sometimes interchange each others food. Maybe they like the smell or taste of the other’s food more than their own. Taurine is an amino acid that is important for normal heart function, vision and reproduction. If it happens it’s OK, but you shouldn’t make it a daily habit. Feeding your cat with commercial dog food should never be an exclusive diet. It’s pretty common for the whole family to snag bites of food from each other’s bowls if they can, but is it OK? The easiest solution for feeding your cats and dogs: separate feeding areas. A taste now and then probably won’t upset pet’s stomach and collapse rock-solid nutrition, but it can make pets tail go in a twist. The answer to this ultimately comes down to the nutritional requirements for each animal. While an occasional nibble of your dog's food won't hurt your cat, long-term feeding of food formulated for dogs certainly can. One of the bigger issues that you will have to deal with is should you let your feline have a bite of dog’s food or not? Overall, cats’ enzymes are constantly set for a high level of dietary protein. If you aren’t absolutely positive, it isn’t worth taking the risk. The answer is: No, not really. To be honest, he had better not, for the sake of his health. Or two, your day got away from you, you’re totally out of cat food, and wondering if you’re also totally out of luck. Cats and dogs can live together harmoniously, but their food dishes just don’t mix. It’s not common for cats to eat, or even to like commercial dog food. Yes, cats can eat dog foods, but that is limited to only a few which we will be discussing in detail. Bottom line: Cats can eat dog food for a short period of time, but not forever. Tips to get your cat to eat their food. But, some cat food nutrients are dangerous to dogs as well. If you are in an emergency situation where you forgot to stop by the store to pick up more cat food and all you have is dog food, feeding it your cat will be fine, Dr. Ochoa says. Having a cat and a dog under the same roof means a lot of funny and hilarious moments. Dog food may also cause gastrointestinal upset in the form of vomiting and diarrhea in some cats. Cohabitation between cats and dogs is not always easy! But just because your cat wants to eat dog food doesn’t mean it’s healthy for him. As a general rule, you should never feed your cat something if you aren’t 100% sure that it is safe. It’s not common for cats to eat, or even to like commercial dog food. Tips, stories, and reviews for people who love dogs, powered by Rover.com, the world's largest network of 5-star pet sitters and dog walkers. Those are good moments. The main reasons why cats shouldn’t eat dog food: You shouldn’t feed cat dog food because of the caloric density, heavy doses of fat, and high protein levels. Felines are known for having unique dietary requires and unlike dogs, they are obligate carnivores meaning that they have to eat meat to survive and maintain proper health. Dog food contains other nutrition, including more carbohydrates, that dogs need but aren’t necessary, and may actually be harmful in large quantities or for sustained periods of time for cats. Cats have different nutritional needs from dogs and become malnourished if fed a diet designed for canines. No, cats cannot eat dog food. By continuing to use our site, you agree to our use of cookies. Sign up and get $25 off pet sitting and dog walking! The answer to the question, “can cats eat dog food”… the answer is yes. Can Cats Eat Dog Food & Vice Versa. And if your cat takes a few pieces of food out of your dog’s bowl, there’s nothing to worry about, she adds. Signs That Your Cat May Have Food Poisoning. Can Cats Eat Dog Food: When dogs and cats live together, it is not uncommon to see them steal food from each other. There are differences in the dietary needs of cats and dogs, which means that the formulas for commercial dog and cat food contain different nutrients. As carnivores, cats need foods high in protein, fats, and taurine in their diets. To reiterate: Dog food is dangerous for cats to eat as their daily, main meal. It’s unhealthy. Cats have unique dietary requires and unlike dogs, cats are obligate carnivores, this means that they have to eat meat in order to survive. An occasional bite is fine and won’t hurt your cat. Overall, feeding your cat with dog food is a bad idea, especially if it happens regularly. If you miss your supply of cat food for a day and the dog’s kibble supply is still there, then you can let your cat have some, but that is it. In a word, yes, but the answer is not that simple. The Dangers of Dog Food to Cats Cats are carnivores, which means that they eat meat, exclusively. Yes, they can, but ONLY FOR A DAY! So, the short answer to whether or not cats can eat dog food: yes, but only in an emergency or for a short period of time. Cats hovering around bowls, dogs drooling over literally anything. For example, cats cannot create their own Taurine, an essential amino acid only found in animal-based proteins, so they must get it from external sources, ie. A strong bond between a dog and cat is a truly special sight to see. Cats have higher needs for many essential nutrients, and their food tends to be higher in protein, vitamins, fat, and minerals. Your email address will not be published. Dog food comes with its fair share of risks, especially when it comes to food safety. Create a feeding routine, and reward your dogs and cats for eating their own meals. Dog food is dry and heat-processed. Dog food isn’t dangerous to cats, but it shouldn’t be eaten in place of cat food on a regular basis. 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