Is It Possible To Give A Cat Dog Food: Why It Is Impossible To Feed It, How The Composition, Harm And Benefit Differ, The Opinion Of Veterinarians

2024 Author: Bailey Albertson | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-17 12:53

Can a cat feed dog food and why does she eat it?

Often, pet owners are moved when they see a cat stealing food from a dog's bowl. At first glance, there is nothing dangerous in this: both pets are predators and eat approximately the same food, so that the threat can only be in food conflicts. In fact, there are many physiological differences between pets, including in terms of the need for nutrients and amino acids.

Content

• 1 Physiological differences between dogs and cats

• 2 Is there a difference between dog and cat food

  • 2.1 Proportion of fats and proteins of animal origin
  • 2.2 Amount of carbohydrates
  • 2.3 Amino acid composition
  • 2.4 The need for acidification
  • 2.5 Mineral and vitamin composition
  • 2.6 Granule size
  • 2.7 Fiber concentration
  • 2.8 Calories
• 3 Why a cat can eat dog food

• 4 The benefits and harms of dog food for cats

  • 4.1 Dental problems
  • 4.2 Weakness
  • 4.3 Digestive disorders
  • 4.4 Skin and coat problems
  • 4.5 Amino acid deficiency
  • 4.6 Lack of arachidonic acid
  • 4.7 Asphyxia
  • 4.8 Urolithiasis
  • 4.9 Chronic diseases

• 5 How to wean a cat from eating dog food

  • 5.1 Preventing access to the feed bag
  • 5.2 Purchasing high-base bowls
  • 5.3 Separate feeding
  • 5.4 Eliminating free access to food for the dog
• 6 Opinions of a veterinarian and biologist

Physiological differences between dogs and cats

The cat is an obligate predator and feeds mainly on meat. She is more prone to frequent meals as she hunts small game. From the stomachs of the victims, the pet can receive cereals, vegetables and fruits in a semi-digested form. They do not provide any particular nutritional value, but they help the cat to improve digestion.

Cats do not need grains: grains, of course, can be a source of fiber, but vegetables and fruits, which additionally contain vitamins and minerals, are preferable

Food and hunting behavior of the animal is not synchronous. The pet can attack the victim without feeling hungry. Not all attempts of a cat to catch game end in success. If she hunted only when severe hunger appeared, she would most likely die sooner or later due to exhaustion. For this reason, pets are less prone to heavy meals. They can taste food and save it for later. Due to physiological characteristics, cats have a faster metabolism.

In dogs, gregarious behavior prevails. Their regime is more orderly. Dogs hunt when necessary, not to satisfy hunting instincts. Animals cope with hunger in a different way: if there is no meat food available, they switch to a plant-based diet.

Wild relatives of dogs can also eat plant foods, but for wolves, it is only an addition to the main menu.

In addition, the fact of prolonged stay with humans affects the physiology of dogs. If cats are more independent and have retained most of their characteristics, then shaggy companions have adapted to the diet that they were offered. Dogs need less meat and tend to be omnivorous. There have been cases when they were transferred to a vegetarian diet without critical health consequences. However, we do not recommend repeating such experiments: serious long-term studies on this matter have not yet been carried out. For one dog, a fruit and vegetable diet may be suitable, while another, with the same diet, can be harmful.

Now I have 2 cats at home. Before them there was a dog. I was clearly convinced of the difference between food when, out of habit, I offered the cats apples. They are not contraindicated for them, they contain plant fibers, and a little vitamins will not hurt them. My dog adored apples, ate zucchini, eggplants and pumpkin with pleasure, even showed interest in citrus fruits, although occasionally received only a few slices. Both cats sniffed the fruit, but refused the treat. They behave in much the same way with most vegetables and fruits: at best, they try and leave. Dogs, on the other hand, love to gnaw carrots and corn, eat berries with pleasure, and crackers often prefer pelleted food. Differences in diet suggest that professional formulations differ just as much.

Is there a difference between dog and cat food

Professional animal feed formulations are developed by specialists taking into account natural needs. Since they differ in pets, the composition of the diets is different.

The proportion of fats and proteins of animal origin

Cats are predators, so the proportion of meat products in their feed is higher. The optimal rate is 50–70%. It may differ depending on the quality of the feed, but it is necessary to strive for a high concentration. Also, cats get more fat (10-15%, for kittens - up to 20%), as they are obligate predators.

Orijen dry food for cats contains up to 85% meat components

Proteins in cat food should be primarily from animal sources. Pets absorb plant compounds with difficulty. Most of the amino acids do not enter the bloodstream at all. Dogs are more loyal to plant proteins: their gastrointestinal tract is adapted to digest grains, vegetables and fruits.

Eating cheap dry food is more dangerous for cats than for dogs. If the latter can somehow survive without meat due to the independent synthesis of amino acids, then the former are rapidly feeling worse. Economy class feed can contain only 4% animal components. And this is not always pure meat: low-quality by-products and production wastes can get into the mixture. I have seen the consequences of such a diet personally. A friend of mine is convinced that both cats and dogs can feel great eating from the same bowl. He feeds his animals "Chappy" food: this is one of the cheapest ready-made rations. When I saw his pets for the last time, my heart was bleeding: one cat was constantly nauseous, she was lethargic and slept most of the time, the other had lost almost all its fur,the skin had sore wounds and scratches. The dogs felt relatively normal, which is predictable.

Amount of carbohydrates

Dogs, as omnivores, need more carbohydrates for energy. With their deficiency, shaggy companions become inactive and apathetic. Pets get carbohydrates from plant ingredients. Their gastrointestinal tract is adapted to this, so food with cereals generally meets their needs.

Overweight in a cat is a serious problem, as it undermines the health of all internal organs; joints are affected first of all

In cats, an excess of carbohydrates can trigger diabetes or obesity. Such food is not suitable for pets. In this regard, both cheap economy-class food and ready-made dog food are equally dangerous for them.

Amino acid composition

The canine body can synthesize many amino acids on its own. This is partly due to diet and adaptability: when fed exclusively on plant proteins, pets can not only successfully survive, but also feel quite good.

It is possible to improve the condition of the pet with the help of additives, but this is impractical: it will still not work to exclude other factors, so it is better to initially choose the right food

Cats cannot synthesize many amino acids. This applies, for example, to taurine. Pets can receive such substances only in their original form from an external source - meat. To meet daily needs, manufacturers add either more animal products or pure amino acids to the finished cat rations. The latter is more typical for budget feed. Taurine is not added to dog food because of the risk of overdose, so cats with such a diet are deficient in amino acids.

The need for acidification

Cat food is acidified to normalize the pH level. This helps prevent the occurrence of urolithiasis, to which mustachioed pets are more prone to develop. This is especially true for castrated and neutered pets. They have ICD more often due to inactivity and infrequent urination.

With ICD, cats hunch down when urinating, cannot relieve themselves for a long time, meow plaintively and refuse the litter box

Dogs do not need pH correction unless they have specific health problems. On the contrary, excessive oxidation of urine can cause them to form calculi and problems with the gastrointestinal tract.

Mineral and vitamin composition

Dog food has a higher concentration of zinc and vitamin E than cat food. After a single consumption of someone else's food, the mustachioed pet will not have any problems associated with the mismatch in the needs for vitamins and minerals, but with a long diet, an overdose is possible. With an excess of zinc in animals, the state of health worsens and attacks of vomiting are observed. Headaches and abdominal discomfort can make your cat nervous. Hypervitaminosis is fraught with diarrhea, weakness and apathy.

With a deficiency or excess of certain substances in cats, claws may exfoliate; when separating large plates, blood vessels are exposed

Cats need B vitamins more than dogs, so if the diet is wrong, the former develop hypovitaminosis. This manifests itself in the form of increased fatigue, inactivity and mood swings. The cat does not sleep well and becomes irritable. Foliation of claws is sometimes observed. When my friend's cat stole food from a dog's bowl, at first there were no symptoms. A few months later, the mustache pet's skin began to peel off. The cat was worried about itching, the molt intensified. The condition improved when a friend began to feed the animals separately.

Granule size

For cats and small dogs, the pellet size is about the same. However, for large pets, very large pieces are released. If the dog's teeth are adapted for both tearing meat and chewing, then the cat's fangs do well only with the second task.

Granules for large dogs can be several times larger than the granules for cats

Fiber concentration

Because dogs are omnivorous, they eat more grains, fruits and vegetables in their diet. Vegetable ingredients contain fiber. Its coarse fibers stimulate digestion and cleanse the walls of the gastrointestinal tract from rotting food debris.

Cats prefer more delicate formulations. They also need fiber to improve digestion, but the rate is much lower. An overabundance of fiber can provoke disorder, inflammation, or even the development of chronic diseases in pets. Coarse particles can damage mucous membranes. This causes blood flow and swelling. The lumen of the natural ducts narrows, the circulation of fluids and nutrients deteriorates, and tissue regeneration slows down.

Calorie content

The calorie content of the cat food is higher. This is due not only to the concentration of fats and animal proteins, but also to the natural characteristics of the diet: mustachioed pets eat a little, but often. To provide the body with energy, the product must be nutritious enough.

The dry food Grandorf for dogs contains an average of 390-400 kcal per 100 g, for cats this figure in similar food of this company is 10-20 kcal higher

Dog food is lower in calories. Loved ones get most of their energy from carbohydrates. There is less fat in the feed. Considering that cats, in addition, are less able to absorb nutrients from herbal ingredients, they are getting too few calories from dog diets.

Why a cat can eat dog food

By all accounts, cat food is more appealing for cats than dog food. The first contains more animal protein, which improves the taste for mustachioed pets. The high calorie content, the presence of fats and liver in the form of flavoring are more in line with the cat's needs. Eating dog food can be due to interest, instability in the pack, thriftiness, or illness.

Cats are very curious and often only choose their food after tasting. Pets can taste food without feeling hungry. Sparse attempts to steal food from a dog do not yet indicate that the cat regularly eats inappropriate food, but to prevent the habit from perpetuating, it is better to limit access to the bowl.

If a cat fights with a dog and steals food from it, it is necessary not only to restrict access to dog food, but also to take measures to consolidate the status of pets.

Eating someone else's food to confirm hierarchical status is more typical for dogs: for them food is an important resource that the leader distributes. This behavior is less common in cats, but sometimes occurs. Most often it starts in adolescence or when a new pet appears in the house. The cat does not behave this way because of hunger or taste preferences: she tries to demonstrate to the dog that she herself decides who gets what food and.

Stockiness is a trait of domestic cats. Often, pets prefer to starve, but leave some food for a rainy day. For example, one of my cats often asks for a bowl to be filled even if it is still half full. The other sometimes hides the granules in order, apparently, to return to them later, so you constantly have to clean up behind it. Trying to get to dog food may be driven by the desire to keep as much food as possible in your bowl. This behavior is sometimes seen in ex-street cats who have had to survive hunger.

If the cat eats not only dog food, but also inedible objects (earth, chalk, sand, etc.), it must be shown to the veterinarian

Eating dog food by cats borders on picacism, because it does not differ in its special taste. This is common in animals in poor health. For example, cats may try to make up for a tocopherol or zinc deficiency in this way. However, in some cases, the problems are more serious: almost any disease can provoke interest in inappropriate feed. The pet owner first of all needs to choose a different, more balanced diet in order to eliminate the likelihood of a deficiency of nutrients, and observe the pet's behavior. If you can identify other uncharacteristic symptoms, you should contact your veterinarian.

Sometimes the reason for eating someone else's food lies in the poor taste of your own. Try changing the brand. Most often, cats are not satisfied with high ash content (more than 8%). In rare cases, a one-time theft may be associated with spoiling your own food. Due to the oxidation of fats, the food becomes bitter, and the pet tries to get fresh food from someone else's bowl. Then, to eliminate the bad habit, it is enough just to buy a new package.

The benefits and harms of dog food for cats

The only benefit of dog food is that it helps the cat to get vitality and at least some useful substances. He has no other merits in the case of being eaten by cats. But dog food can provoke a deterioration in health.

Dental problems

Large granules force the cat to chew, which is unusual for her. It should be borne in mind that mustachioed pets have enamel 2 times thinner than dogs.

Prolonged improper nutrition increases the risk of dental injury

Since the canines are more adapted to tearing off large pieces, deformation and destruction of the protective shell gradually occur. Depending on the individual characteristics and the state of health, this may become evident both after 5-10 years, and after several months.

Weakness

Due to the consumption of insufficient amounts of animal proteins and fats, as well as low calorie content, cats quickly deteriorate well-being. They stop showing interest in games, sleep more often, try to stay closer to sources of heat. Later, the weakness increases due to the development of chronic diseases. Muscle health worsens due to lack of mobility and protein deficiency.

Digestive disorders

Several factors can cause indigestion at once: an excess of fiber, differences in the vitamin and mineral composition and overeating. The latter is due to the low nutritional value of the feed. Because of this, cats have poor control over portion size. They have to eat more to feel full. This can lead to rapid weight gain.

Skin and coat problems

Dog food contains grains. This is also true of cheap cat diets, but, unlike them, the presence of grains in food for shaggy companions can be conventionally called the norm. Cereals can even be added to quality feed. In cats, grains are often the cause of allergies and cause itching and hair loss.

Allergy symptoms worsen as the irritant builds up in the body

Skin symptoms can also be caused by differences in vitamin and mineral composition. An overabundance of tocopherols sometimes leads to increased work of the sebaceous glands. As a result, the coat becomes greasy. Deficiency of vitamins can cause flaky skin and baldness. The same symptoms can occur due to a lack of amino acids.

Amino acid deficiency

Taurine deficiency is inevitable in cats when fed with dog food. In kittens, this can lead to abnormal formation of the organs of vision. Lack of taurine is fraught with the occurrence of disorders of the cardiovascular system. Sometimes, due to an amino acid deficiency, hypertrophic cardiomyopathy develops.

Lack of arachidonic acid

The substance enters the cat's body along with fats. There is not enough lipids in dog food, so a deficiency occurs. For mustachioed pets, this is fraught with a deterioration in general well-being. Arachidonic acid is mainly responsible for the functioning of the digestive tract and the state of the reproductive system, but it is also required for the functioning of other internal organs.

Asphyxia

In some cases, trying to swallow large granules or biting into too large pieces can cause suffocation. If no one is at home to help the cat, it can be fatal.

Urolithiasis disease

In this case, several factors can lead to the development of urolithiasis in cats:

1. Lack of control of urine pH. Most often this leads to excessive alkalization of urine and the subsequent formation of calculi. Excessive oxidation is no less dangerous: it can also cause the appearance of stones. For this reason, it is important to purchase cat food, the recipe for which is developed by professionals.

   

   Each manufacturer resolves the issue of normalizing urine pH in its own way; for example, the Pronature Holistic line includes food with duck and orange

2. The intake of large amounts of minerals into the body. The problem is not only with the different nutrient balance in dog food. Due to the low nutritional value, the cat overeats and as a result gets too much minerals. This increases the saturation of urine and creates an ideal environment for stone formation.
3. Violation of the drinking regime. The factor is associated with overeating. Due to the lack of control over the size of portions and hunger, the animal eats more, and often drinks the same amount. As a result, the body is forced to spend more fluids to process food. Less moisture enters the bladder, which leads to stagnation and aggravates the oversaturation of urine with minerals.

Chronic diseases

Eating dog food can cause the slow development of diseases of almost any internal organ due to an overabundance of some substances and a lack of others. Even a healthy cat will eventually start to have problems with well-being, and in the presence of a predisposition, the situation is aggravated. This is most dangerous because in most cases, the owners fail to detect obvious signs of pathology. The disease develops asymptomatically until the first exacerbation. After a visit to the veterinarian, it often turns out that the animal's condition can no longer be normalized, all that remains is to maintain a satisfactory quality of life.

How to wean a cat from eating dog food

Preventing eating dog food when tempted is nearly impossible. You can, of course, try, but the only thing the thief will react to in this case is an imaginary threat. For example, sound traps from cans and nuts or cereals. You can wait for your pet to come up to the dog's bowl and scare him with noise every time, but we do not recommend doing this.

First, you have to be consistent and patient to do this. The cat will try again and again to get to the dog food. You will need to stop all attempts. If at least once the animal manages to steal someone else's food, the progress can be considered zero. Cats can be persistent, so think three times before declaring "war".

If you do not want to engage in the manufacture of traps yourself, you can purchase a ready-made version - Fisher discs

Secondly, you will have to leave the traps so that they trigger when you are not at home or you are sleeping. Otherwise, the cat will steal only at night and in your absence. If she realizes that there is no one to punish her, she will use it. In theory, of course, it is possible to organize such traps: fix them with threads, for example, so that when approaching the bowl, a plastic glass of water falls on the cat. But these designs have many disadvantages. The cat can eat the string and be injured. In addition, the dog can be scared in this way.

The main disadvantage is the possibility of psychological disorders. Noise, water, and other punishment can make your pet nervous. In animals with a weak heart, complications are likely to occur. To properly wean a cat from stealing in this way, you need to have great patience and take into account all the nuances. Otherwise, the pet may develop phobias. For example, a pet may refuse not only dog food, but also its own dry food, deciding that the whole problem lies in the granules. For this reason, we suggest turning to other measures. It is advisable to combine several methods to ensure success.

Preventing access to the feed bag

The cat can steal food straight from the bag. The owners do not always manage to immediately notice the loss, especially if a large dog lives in the house, for which they buy large packages. To prevent theft, the bag should be placed in the pantry, on the balcony or in another place protected from the attacks of the pet.

Containers also help solve the problem of dry food spoilage.

If free space is limited and there is no way to hide the packaging, you can purchase special plastic containers. Clothespins and other devices will not help preserve food, since the cat can easily cope with such structures. In extreme cases, she can gnaw a hole in the bag. The container is another matter: its walls cannot be bitten through, and the tight lid cannot be removed with the paws.

Buying bowls on a high stand

Rack-supported bowls help eliminate access to dry food. The method works only in the case of large dogs: small pets will no longer reach for the dishes, which will create a lot of inconvenience.

The stand can be adjusted to find the optimal height

There should be no other furniture or large objects near the bowls, even if there is a stand. They can create a kind of platform for the cat. The method does not always help, since flexible pets sometimes still manage to get into the bowl, so owners of overly daring pets need to combine several methods.

Separate feeding

The main way of weaning from theft. If you feed animals nearby and at different times, you yourself are encouraging the bad habit, because the cat also wants to try. In addition, instincts can work: the mustachioed pet is outraged that he, the leader, is not fed, and the dog, which occupies a lower position, is given food. This is a kind of provocation and a reason for conflict.

It is necessary to feed animals prone to theft at the same time, but in different rooms. It is advisable to close the doors to the rooms to reduce the temptation. A cat who is keen on the process is unlikely to want to fight with the dog for its food. If your pet starts to get nervous and demand to let her go to someone else's bowl, just remove the food after 15 minutes. Next time, a hungry cat will probably prefer to eat without persuasion.

Eliminating free access to food for the dog

Dogs tend to eat large meals in a limited amount of time. Free access to food is not natural for them, so it is better to feed the pet on a schedule. This will not only help wean the cat from stealing, but also maintain the health of the dog: due to the opportunity to eat at any time, the latter may become obese.

To prevent problems with appetite, you should limit time. If your dog hasn't eaten the entire serving in 10-15 minutes, remove the rest. Next time, reduce the amount of food a little: this behavior indicates that there is too much food. In the future, this can cause poor appetite due to weakening of instincts.

Veterinarian and biologist opinions

Dog food is suitable for dogs and cat food is suitable for cats. Despite the general similarities in the menu, the needs of pets are very different. You should not save or encourage the cat's bad habits, because later this will turn into a deterioration in well-being. The mustache pet needs to choose food that meets biological needs: with a high meat content and a minimum of vegetable carbohydrates.