Mary Allen
Proper nutrition for dogs and cats is very different. What happens when your four-legged friend nibbles on someone else’s bowl?
Is cat food harmful to dogs? Or are dogs allowed to eat cat food?
Dog and cat are different
Cats and dogs are fundamentally different, as the old saying goes. Anyone who has already had both animals in their home knows what we are talking about.
A dog will do anything to please and be close to its owner. Cats, on the other hand, want peace. Most cats only want to be petted when it suits them.
The dog is a pack animal.
Cats, on the other hand, are loners.
But what about the diet of the two pets? On this page, we clarify whether cat food is comparable to dog food.
Despite important differences in food, dogs are allowed to eat the kitty’s bowl empty. Not ideal, but mostly unavoidable.
Can you feed a dog cat food?
At first glance, it looks as if dogs could be fed cat food. And a cat with dog food. After all, both are carnivores.
But appearances are deceptive. Because fur noses and velvet paws have very different needs when it comes to their food.
To this day, the domestic cat is still very original. She has remained more of a wild animal. As such, it is one of the real carnivores, i.e. meat eaters.
In the course of domestication, the dog has adapted more to humans and their food.
Cats eat mice
A cat that is allowed to go outside will continue to hunt despite being fed. Even their teeth are evidence that meat is the most important part of their diet.
Their diet consists of small vertebrates such as mice. They contain everything the velvet paw needs.
This is fresh meat with a protein content of around 60 percent protein, fat, fiber, trace elements, minerals, and vitamins.
Vegetable food components are contained in the stomach of the prey. They are also eaten by cats in small amounts.
Dogs hunt for fun
The same is true of the dog. He would also prey if he could hunt. Its prey items would match the size of the animal.
He would also use up all of the prey, just like cats do. In the great outdoors, anything else would ultimately be a waste of energy.
A dog fed at home may hunt. But seldom will a dog consume the prey. The dog normally prefers its food in the food bowl.
So what are the other differences between a dog and a cat when it comes to nutrition?
Meat provides protein
Both dogs and cats have a high protein requirement. Proteins form the basic building block of life and guarantee cell growth and regulated metabolism.
The best source of protein for both pets is meat. This must be of high quality and easily usable. Lean meat is ideal for dogs and cats alike. Whether this comes from beef, horse, ostrich, elk or venison is not important.
The cat needs to eat a lot of protein. Because cats cannot compensate for a temporarily reduced supply. They need their daily amount of protein.
The dog, on the other hand, can compensate if he cannot eat animal protein in between.
The cat needs taurine
Cats are dependent on the amino sulfonic acid taurine. They even have a very high need for this substance. Therefore, they quickly suffer from a taurine deficiency if they take in too little food.
Taurine is necessary for:
- the fluid balance,
- the insulin level,
- the heart metabolism
- the immune system
- and many other processes in the cat’s body.
The prey mouse is a very good supplier of taurine. Food for house cats must therefore be enriched with taurine.
Is taurine harmful to a dog?
Dogs can synthesize taurine themselves in the body. You, therefore, do not need it additionally. A deficiency in the amino sulfonic acid could lead to heart disease, blindness, and diabetes.
Recent studies suggest that supplementation with taurine may help prevent heart disease in dogs. However, these initial studies have not yet been confirmed.
Dogs need carbohydrates
Dogs and cats need fats, vitamins, and minerals in equal measure. These must be sufficiently present in the feed.
The situation is different with carbohydrates. Dogs need a certain amount of carbohydrates per day to meet their needs.
For short-term needs, a dog’s body can convert protein into carbohydrates. However, the process puts a heavy strain on the organism. Therefore, a supply of carbohydrates in the daily diet is necessary.
The cat lacks the necessary enzymes to break down carbohydrates. They obtain the necessary energy exclusively from proteins and fats.
Grain is completely useless and unhealthy for both cats and dogs.
How dangerous is cat food for dogs?
If you look closely at the needs of both animals, you conclude that the food for dogs and cats must be as different as the animals themselves.
Feeding your dog exclusively cat food is just as unhealthy as vice versa.
Food for cats contains a significantly higher protein content than dog food. It is therefore very rich in energy and causes obesity in dogs. In addition, too much protein causes problems with the kidneys.
In addition, the food of a house tiger lacks carbohydrates. Vitamins, minerals, fats, and trace elements are also geared toward the requirements of cats.
Can dogs eat cat food?
Dog owners who also have cats know exactly how much dogs like to empty the velvet paw’s food bowl.