Can dogs eat cat food?

UKTigerlily

Is the protein in Dog & Cat food different? By that I mean my Dog has a mega high protein food (Over 40%) but i'm sure the Cat's isn't that high? I'll have to check it though as I honestly can't remember but i'm sure it's not higher.

CiciBaltimore

UKTigerlily wrote: »

Is the protein in Dog & Cat food different? By that I mean my Dog has a mega high protein food (Over 40%) but i'm sure the Cat's isn't that high? I'll have to check it though as I honestly can't remember but i'm sure it's not higher.

it should be coz cats need more protein than dogs. dogs dont need so much

Mojisola

He may have eaten well at the kennels because of the competition - having the sounds of other dogs around makes them eat quickly!

My friend found her dog and cat preferred to eat the other's food. Her vet said that it wasn't a problem for the dog but that cat food has an enzyme in it that cats need so it was important that the cat had her own food.

Paparika

ok so perhaps mixing a bit of the cat food in with his just so he thinks he is eating what he wants?

he thinks its cat food yet most of it will he his own just covered in the cat food, its was a very small pouch and i dumped it on the food he already had and he wolfed it down, his food as well...

Mind you if i used the cat pouches i would need at least 6 a day for him. but thinks 1 a day mixed in with his own for a while may be good. he doesn't eat at a fast pace as there is no competition for the food bowl at my house, he's a bit like me a slow eater :rotfl:

Mrs_pbradley936

Some of us have been keeping pets since way before you could buy Iams or Hills Science Diet! Before we had supermarkets butchers would sell pet mince. I suspect all the old cuts/waste but tin food was seldom fed to people or pets. I used to go to a slaughterhouse and buy whole tripes - they look like a huge smelly blanket and you had to take your own dustbin. You also had to give large breed pups bone-meal for calcium. It is so much easier now that you can buy dry all in one suitable for any size/age but we used to manage.

Kerriebaby

dogs should not have cat food, mainly because the make up of the food is different to what a dog should have.

Its not the protien that is different ( both my dogs and cat have almost 100% protien in their diets, as they are fed RAW ) but the amino acids, cats need a hell of a lot more than dogs.

What I recommend the OP do, first have a vet check to ensure that there is no medical reason for not eating. Then to choose a food that s/he wants to feed, that is suitable for the dog ( so something you can easily obtain, and is in your price bracket ) work out from the pack how much the dog needs for his size/temperment/exercise levels, and reduce that by 25% ( manufacturers usually over estimate ). Split this amount into two meals ( breakfast and dinner is the usual one ) give dog his bowl, if after 10 mins he doesnt eat, pick it up and do not offer anything else ( no treats, scraps, bowls of milk etc ) and repeat at each meal time. He may decide to eat on day one, or he may hold out till day 4...but keep going

Dogs are not stupid they will not starve themseleves if food is being offered, likewise they are not born fussy, but fussiness is created, adding tinned food,cat food, cheese etc is simply going to make matters worse!