Can a kitten eat puppy food?

Question

i feed them kitten food but then they go right to the puppys food

Answer 1

I have 1 cat that I have had since he was 4 weeks. I have always fed him cat/kitten food but he still loves the dog food. My vet said that the dog food will not hurt him but that I need to keep feeding him cat food because there is something in it that will keep my cat from going blind. He can't get that from dog food.

Answer 2

it probly won't hurt them but the kitten formula food has vitamins and minerals just for kittens where as puppy formula food is formulated just for puppies. you might try feeding the kitten on a counter or table or feeding it before or after you feed the puppy that way it only has one option. you could also just keep moving the kitten back to it's bowl until it gets the message....

Answer 3

You shouldn't "punish" per se, but correct the behavior. It might help if you didn't free feed the kitten and had scheduled eating time. When it's time for the kitten to eat, put him/her in a separate room. Dump the remaining kitten food out (or back in the bag/container) so the dog can't have any left overs. Keep the kitten bag in a cabinet or out of reach so he can't poke his head in there either. Dogs shouldn't be food aggressive, if your dog starts showing signs...don't think of it as "oh, it's a dog thing", because it's something that needs to be corrected right away.

Answer 4

Kittens can eat meat, chicken, or fish products. So it's normal if they liked the puppy food if it contains any of that.

By the way, Kittens, not cats, can be taught to eat vegetables, rice, popCorn, chips. You are just gonna have to do it alot till they get used to it.

Answer 5

They can, but they also need to be offered kitten food. Cats and kittens cannot make Taurine (an essential amino acid - so companies add it to their food). If they eat only dog food as their primary food, they can go blind - seriously!!

See the link (not that ia advocate the food - but it explains it).

Answer 6

I have a dog that only eats my cat's food. My dog food will still be in the bowl two months later. My vet says this is not healthy for her, but shes nice and healthy and fluffy enough.

But dog's nutritional needs are pretty close to humans, meat and potatoes. Cat food is higher in fat and protein.

I dont think the dog food, in itself, will hurt the kitten, but it certainly will be lacking alot of the nutritional values it needs.

Answer 7

Yes... I've seen a cat and kitten eat dog food a lot of times...

Answer 8

Cats need more protein than dogs. You should really give kittens kitten food.

Answer 9

As we often say, "Cats are not small dogs." In the case of diet, it is important to realize a cat's nutritional requirements are much different than those of a dog. For example, cats require higher levels of protein than dogs. Cats must have the amino acid called 'taurine' in their diet; dogs can actually make their own taurine. A cat eating food deficient in taurine can develop severe heart disease and other health problems. Almost all cat foods now contain added taurine.

Cats require a different form of Vitamin A than dogs do. Dogs can use beta-carotene as a source of Vitamin A; cats cannot. Cats can not manufacture the fatty acid called 'arachidonic acid' and must have it supplemented in their diet; it is not essential for dogs to have this fatty acid in their food.

So, you see, if a cat is allowed to eat a significant amount of dog food, the cat would be eating a diet deficient in many of the cat's required nutrients. For your cat's health, be sure she is eating quality cat food.
































Your Cat's Eating Habits

Cats love their meat. In fact, these furry carnivores must eat animal tissue to maintain their long-term health. Cats require high amounts of amino acids, "building blocks" that prevent disease. Vegetarian diets, therefore, are out of the question for cats.

Kittens (cats less than a year old) need food specially designed for their young systems- with an increased level of the necessary proteins for growing muscles and bones.

Many cats enjoy raiding a dog's food bowl. But cats are not small dogs and do not receive proper nutrition from dog food products. That means meal swapping is not allowed: Cats should eat only cat food. When choosing a food, cat owners should look for one that contains proteins, fats, minerals, and vitamins. Extra vitamin and mineral supplements are not only unnecessary but potentially harmful. Supplements can unbalance a complete and balanced cat food.

Cats are efficient eaters. They eat to satisfy their need for energy then stop eating when that energy demand is met. So cats tend to eat small but frequent meals. Owners can usually leave food out and not worry about a cat overeating. But while most cats naturally regulate their eating habits, some do indulge. Since obesity is the most common feline nutritional problem, if your cat needs to lose five or more pounds, visit the veterinarian before you begin a weight loss program.

Many cats eat in cycles, a trait passed down from their wild ancestors that ate depending on the success of the hunt. Do not mistake these peaks and valleys for dissatisfaction with the food. Switching brands frequently can reinforce bad habits and create finicky eaters.

Answer 10

If cats can servive eating dog food and dog can servive eating cats food, then I guess we will find something out in the market saying "Meow and Bow-Wow Mix", and that will make my life much easier :P

No, sorry, the two animals have different needs in nutrition, so you better let them feed on they own food.