If you catch your cat eating dog food, there’s no need to panic. A few nibbles won’t harm your cat, but eating dog food long term is a big no-no. Cat and dog foods may look and, sometimes, smell the same. But despite those similarities, several key differences exist between dog food and cat food. That’s why cat food is for cats and dog food is for dogs.
Cats Need Meat in Their Diet
Cats are not small dogs, and dogs are not overgrown — or pint-sized, in the case of toy breeds — cats. They’re different species and have very different nutrient needs. Cats are obligate, or strict, carnivores, which means healthy cats require meat-based ingredients in their diet for their bodies to function properly. In contrast, dogs are omnivores and are able to obtain all the essential nutrients they need from plants and meat.
Cat Food Meets a Cat’s Unique Nutritional Needs
Many of the ingredients used to make cat and dog foods are similar, if not the same. What is different, however, is the amount of each ingredient in a particular formula to meet the nutrient profile for dogs or cats. Nutrients are components of food that the body must have to support life. Ingredients are nutrient delivery vehicles — they’re the raw materials used to make pet foods to supply the nutrients your pet requires.
A quick comparison shows how different a dog and cat’s nutritional requirements are. For example, cats have:
- A unique energy and glucose metabolism
- A higher protein requirement
- A requirement for dietary taurine, an amino acid
- A sensitivity to inadequate dietary arginine, another amino acid
- A requirement for dietary arachidonic acid, a long-chain fatty acid
- An inability to convert beta-carotene to active vitamin A
- An inability to convert the amino acid tryptophan to niacin, one of the B vitamins
Is Dog Food Bad for Cats?
A bite of kibble here and there generally won’t cause health issues for your cat — dog food isn’t toxic to cats. However, if a cat’s diet consists mainly of dog food, it can have serious consequences on their health, since they won’t be receiving the nutrients they need to stay healthy. Therefore, feeding them dog food is not recommended — healthy cats need high-quality cat food formulated to meet their nutritional requirements. If you’re concerned about your cat eating dog food, contact your veterinarian. Your vet can also help you choose the right cat food for your cat.
Why Is My Cat Eating Dog Food?
There are a number of reasons why your cat may be eating out of your dog’s bowl at mealtime. Sometimes cats eat dog food out of curiosity. Cats are inquisitive by nature, so if they see your dog eating something, they might want to check it out for themselves. They might also be exerting their dominance over your dog if they believe they’re “top dog” in the household. Or maybe they’re just hungry, and their bowl is empty.
Your cat may also be drawn to the smell of the dog food in your dog’s bowl — mmm, is that chicken I smell? Pet food is formulated to meet nutritional needs first and then the taste, smell and texture (mouthfeel) that each species likes. A dog food diet is formulated for the nutrient needs and taste preferences of dogs, but some cats may like the taste and mouthfeel, too. Whatever their reason, it’s not a habit you should let your cat continue.
What Happens If a Cat Eats Dog Food?
If you share your home with a cat and a dog, you may have caught them checking out each other’s bowls or tasting each other’s food. A few bites here or there won’t hurt, so don’t panic if your cat sneaks a mouthful of your dog’s food or vice versa. You may, however, want to find a new arrangement at feeding time so that it doesn’t become a regular occurrence. You may have to avoid free feeding and automatic feeders, and find a new way to feed your pets’ meals, like staggering meal times for each pet or feeding them in different rooms, taking away anything they didn’t eat.
Can Cats Eat Dog Treats?
Like dog food, it’s not recommended to feed your cat dog treats because they are formulated for dogs. However, if your cat races to a treat on the floor and wins, it’s not a problem if they nibble on one. The ingredients in dog treats shouldn’t be toxic to cats. You should stick with feeding cat treats to cats and dog treats to dogs, though.
Can Cats Eat Wet Dog Food?
Again, it doesn’t matter what type of dog food it is — dry dog food, canned food, dog treats — regularly eating dog food of any kind can have negative effects on your cat’s health. Any part of your dog’s dinner should be kept just for your dog. If your cat seems especially interested in wet dog food, try feeding them wet cat food to see if it’s the texture or mouthfeel that interests them.
Different Species, Different Nutritional Requirements
Feeding your cat dog food can have serious health consequences for your feline friend. Likewise, feeding only cat food to your dog (who might really like cat food) can have negative effects on your dog’s health, since cat food tends to be higher in fat, protein and calories. So feed dog food to dogs and cat food to cats to keep everyone healthy.
