If you have a couple of pets at home, you’ve probably noticed how they eat food from someone else’s bowl.
They can eat meat and vegetables in equal proportions without harming the body. A cat’s daily diet should contain more than 80% protein and fats. For a dog, that number is much lower; the daily intake should be at most 30%. Dogs like dry and wet cat food because of the high meat content, and we will discuss whether dogs can eat cat food.
These animals are predators by nature. When they lived in the wild, they had to produce their own food before they became domesticated. Many think their food is similar—small animals, birds, fish. But that’s not exactly the case. Evolutionary dogs and cats are different species; their eating behavior is different. Let us consider in more detail the peculiarities of their diets.
Can Dogs Eat Cat Food? The Difference in Nutrients
Pet stores are full of pet foods, so choosing a suitable diet for your pet is not difficult. In quality foods, meat is listed first in the composition. But this does not mean that cat food is good for a dog, and vice versa.
— In the composition of cat foods, more protein is needed: about 70-80%, whereas, in dogs, it is 15-25%. This ratio is the norm for each species. Excess protein can cause obesity and heart and kidney problems. Such protein saturation will lead to toxicity and liver damage.
— Cat food is enriched with taurine. This amino acid gives the pet energy and increases the stomach’s acidity. In dogs, taurine is partially produced by the body. If you feed a dog with cat food, excess amino acids can result in heartburn and gastritis.
— Inadequate dosage of vitamin E in cat food will weaken your dog’s immunity.
— Dry cat food has a high fiber content, which can lead to intestinal problems in the dog.
It is essential to study the composition of the food so you are not gonna harm your pet.
Why do Dogs Love Cat Food?
Why are they so seduced by someone else’s bowl?
There is no clear answer to this question. If you have two pets in your house, you have probably seen how one can eat from another pet’s bowl.
— Another explanation for such pet behavior is malnutrition. Your dog’s diet doesn’t contain the necessary nutrients, and he can eat anything he sees, like eating potato or another food that’s in front of him. Try to slightly change the pet feeding routine, such as adding an additional snack.
— In addition, there is the assumption that if a dog eats from a cat’s bowl, in this way, it tries to show its dominance. This applies to large breeds. They perceive cat food as prey.
— Sometimes, pets choose someone else’s food for an absolutely obvious reason—they don’t like their own. Then, maybe you should try to give them a different food brand.
Is Cat Food Bad for Dogs?
If it is a large breed and ate the wrong food once, then it should be fine, and you should not worry. But when it comes to small breeds, the body can react differently.
— Because of the high protein content in cat feed, small breeds or puppies can develop complications. First, the liver and intestine suffer from dryness. Also, cats’ food has a high-fat content, which can cause pancreatitis and obesity. The vitamin difference in compositions for cats and dogs can also affect the work of internal organs and the development of the pet.
How to Discourage a Dog from Eating Cat Food
It is necessary to figure out why your dog eats cats’ food and then proceed to action.
— Determine whether the pet has enough food in its bowl.
The reason is that the dog might still be hungry, and your portion is too small. Try to increase the portion of his regular food.
— Suppose you have identified all the factors and changed the quantity and quality of the dog’s food, but it still eats cat food. In that case, you can try to take the following measures:
Feed your pets at different times. If you have space, you can keep pets in separate rooms for meals.
— Do not keep food in the open.
— Remove the bowl to the height. Place cat food in a window or in a refrigerator.
Such simple actions will help to re-teach the dog and preserve your pet’s health.
