Pet food question

MUDGUTS

I have a cat, can I feed it dog food?

The reason I ask is that I suspect dog food is cheaper than cat food and I think you can buy it in larger quantities.

I can't think that there is much difference between the two.

Is there anyone that already does this who can offer me some advice. Cat food maybe isn't much but if I can feed the little fella dog food and he likes it and it's cheaper we all win. Maybe there is a Vet who can offer an opinion.

Thanks in advance.

welf_man

I'm not a vet, but I'm a long-time cat owner!

Cats are true carnivores - they can ONLY eat meat, unlike dogs which are omnivores. Dog food contains non-meat fillers and therefore does not have the amount of protein and taurine that are obtained from meat and which a cat must have.

What you save in buying dog food you'll just pay to the vet instead!

Mel.

Raksha

Welf-man's right - taurine is an amino acid which is essential to cats. Whilst dogs can live on cat food, the reverse isn't true.

Raksha

Welf-man's right - taurine is an amino acid which is essential to cats. Whilst dogs can live on cat food, the reverse isn't true.

Beetrooper

Hi
I have both cats and a dog, the dog being a lab will eat anything in her path but the cats will only eat their own cat biscuits of which I buy a 15kg bag for £11 and this lasts three cats over a month which is not really that expensive
considering the dog cost me £16 a month for IAMS

keep the cat on cat food

Beetrooper

Hi
I have both cats and a dog, the dog being a lab will eat anything in her path but the cats will only eat their own cat biscuits of which I buy a 15kg bag for £11 and this lasts three cats over a month which is not really that expensive
considering the dog cost me £16 a month for IAMS

keep the cat on cat food

MUDGUTS

Ok, thanks,

I've just done a little research and can see the difference re. the Taurine and protein.

I think you are right and I'll stick to cat food.

*debbie*

My very fussy cat (used to eat IAMs only) likes the Aldi dried cat food, about 1/3 of the price. A great find, thanks to this site.

HR360

Im with welf_man on this one. The instant I tried to change my cats diet she was sick , and just would not eat anything until I went back to her usual dried food.

Not sure if she has a delicate tum or is just a fussy so and so making a point

Knowing cats, im going with the fussy option