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. Your cat must take essential daily nutrients, taurine and arginine, that are found only in meat. Her work has been featured on Huffington Post, Seattle Met Magazine, and The Mighty. A cat can have an occasional bite of dog food. Carbohydrates like rice and corn in small amounts are fine for cats, but they aren’t necessary for a cat’s diet. When it comes to taurine, VCA Animal Hospitals explains that the amino acid is critical for vision, digestion, heart function, fetal development, and a healthy immune system in cats. And if they do get along, this food problem is a minor trouble but easily fixable. Bottom line: Cats can eat dog food for a short period of time, but not forever. The answer is yes. And get exclusive content not found on the blog. A dog eating their feline friend’s food—either as an occasional treat or even in place of their own food—is not necessarily “bad” for the average adult dog. When Cat Food Is Safe for Dogs. Dog food won't hurt your cat, but it certainly won't keep him healthy. Can cats eat dog food instead? 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. Yes, they can, but ONLY FOR A DAY! So, make sure to do what you can to prevent a cat from eating dog food. Your email address will not be published. My parents haven't went shopping and the cat food ran out. Cats have different nutritional needs from dogs and they can become lean if fed a diet designed for canines. Therefore, it is not wise to feed an exclusive diet of dog food to cats, nor cat food to dogs. Drooling; Vomiting; Loss of appetite; … Can Cats Get Dog Food Occasionally? Dog food may also cause gastrointestinal upset in the form of vomiting and diarrhea in some cats. The answer to this ultimately comes down to the nutritional requirements for each animal. When cats and dogs share the home they often steal each other’s food. Your dog can safely sample a bit of your cat’s food, but a diet consisting solely of cat food won’t give your dog the balanced nutrition they need. For proper nutrition, feed your kitty only food specifically labeled for cats. Unfortunately, during the heating process of cooking, taurine is destroyed. So, dogs could eat most cat food, while cats shouldn’t eat dog foods. Maybe they like the smell or taste of the other’s food more than their own. As carnivores, cats need foods high in protein, fats, and taurine in their diets. However if you are the lucky owner of one of each, you will be thrilled with the cuteness they will bring to your home! Even in the wild cats would have 5 to even 7 meals per day. Dogs are omnivores, which means they eat meat, grains, and vegetables, so they need a more varied diet than just meat alone to meet their nutritional requirements. 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. Why White Cats Are Deaf: Are They Prone to Deafness Or Not, The Benefits of a Cat Tree And How It Can Help You, Cat Adoption Checklist – What You Need To Have Before Welcoming A Cat To Your Home. Dogs snaffling cat food run a higher risk of suffering more from obesity and gastrointestinal ailments than others. Cats food is also smaller and significantly higher in calories. Tips to get your cat to eat their food. their diet. So, can I give my cat dog food? Although most cats don’t care for it some cats do enjoy eating it. Cats shouldn’t eat any chocolate, or onions, which contain toxins dangerous for cats. The caloric density, high protein levels, and heavy doses of fat aren’t ideally suited to canine gastrointestinal tracts, and it can lead to obesity or even pancreatitis. In a word, yes, but the answer is not that simple. Having a cat and a dog under the same roof means a lot of funny and hilarious moments. This is because cats and dogs have different dietary requirements. 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