Is It Okay For Your Dog To Eat Cat Food?

Did your dog eat your cat’s food? Or does the dog always make a beeline to the cat food when you put it out? You’d be surprised to know that sometimes, dogs prefer cat food to their food. This doesn’t make it okay because if dogs and cats could eat the same meal, there would be no need for pet foods made specifically for each animal.

If your dog just ate your cat’s food, don’t worry, there’s no need for you to be scared. Your dog is not going to die or be harmed. Although, if you continue to feed your dog a cat’s diet exclusively, then it might become dangerous to the dog’s health. The number one question is cat food bad for dogs?’ and today we will be answering that question.

Here are a few reasons dogs should not eat cat food

Different Food Groups

There are primarily three food groups that all animals belong to; Carnivores, Herbivores, and Omnivores. Cats are considered carnivores, which are animals that eat only meat while dogs are omnivores, which means that they eat but plant and meat. That being said, most cat meals are primarily made up of meat, unlike dogs who require a more balanced diet.

Stomach Upset

Most cat meals are densely packed with protein, as it is a meat eater’ meal. Dogs each such large amounts of protein will cause them to have upset stomachs, especially for ones with sensitive stomachs. Continuous intake of cat food will be hard on your dog’s liver and kidney, and over time cause damage.

Vomiting and Diarrhea

Dogs with very sensitive stomachs may experience diarrhea or might start to vomit, after ingesting cat food. Vomiting and diarrhea may occur because a dog’s gastrointestinal system was not created to digest high-protein and high-fat cat meals.

Nutritional Requirements

Cats and dogs require different nutritional components to remain happy and healthy. If your dog continues to ingest cat foods, then he or she might be at risk of a vitamin or nutrition deficiency. Most cat’s meals contain the right balance of minerals and vitamins to keep your cat healthy, but this will not be good for your dog in the long run. For instance, dogs require more zinc and vitamin E in their meals, and this is significantly less in cat food. Dogs do not need taurine (an amino acid necessary for cats), but it is prevalent in cat diets.

Obesity

Over-indulging on cat meals will not do well for your dog’s waistline; in fact, it will cause your dog to become fatter and eventually obese. Being obese is not good for your dog’s health and heart. Cat meals contain very high-fat contents and ingredients, which is not good for dogs. Dogs require more carbohydrates than cats, which is not a dominating nutrient in cat foods. Dogs need the carbohydrates, as this is what gives them energy while cats use fat as their energy source.

If your dog is already used to eating cat food, then here are few tips on how to slowly wean them off it:

• You can try feeding your pets in separate areas of the house with restricted access
• Put your cat food on a higher surface that is not easily reachable for your dog.
• You can also invest in a cat crate, where you can also feed your cat. The dog should not be able to fit into the crate.

Final Words

Is cat food bad for dogs? Yes, it is, especially if it not taken in moderation. It is advised that you separate both diets. Let the dog eat dog food, and cat eat its own meal as well.