I have been told by many people that dogs can eat cat food and it's ok but if cats eat dog food they'll go blind. Then, today, the lady who gave me my cats told me that cat food is bad for my dog but it is ok (but not recommended) for cats to eat dog food. Can someone please give me a definite answer so I can act accordingly? My dog loves eating my cats' food and I saw one of my cats last night eating my dog's food.
2006-10-10 06:25:54 · 19 answers · asked by M. S 1 in Pets ➔ Cats
No one really has the right answer here about the cat food. Cat food has taurine added to it now. Ten years ago vets didn't realise that lack of taurine was causing cats to go blind and develop fatal heart conditions. Taurine is destroyed in the cooking process (all commercial foods are "cooked") so now taurine is added to all commercial cat food. Dogs and people can make taurine in their own bodies, cats can't. Cats also cannot make vitamin A in their bodies which humans and dogs can. Humans cannot make Vitamin C in their bodies so they must eat foods that contain Vitamin C. Cats make Vitamin C in their bodies and don't need a supplement for their health.
So the dog can eat cat food and the cat cannot survive on dog food. Since I have never owned a dog I do not know if cat food is actually harmful to them. Commmercial pet foods all have less than 40% protein in their formulations and I don't see how that little extra protein (in a cat food) could possible harm a dog. Protein is not fattening and dogs too are carnivores, just not "obligate carnivores" like the cat. They can eat vegetables like carrots and potatoes which supply them with good nutrition. Vegetables are useless to the cat.
2006-10-10 07:04:47 · answer #1 · answered by old cat lady 7 · 0⤊ 1⤋
Cats and dogs have different nutritional needs. Cats are more of a predator species, whilst dogs tend towards scavengers. A cat that is fed solely dog food will go blind and it can damage their kidneys to the point of failing. This is not due to what is in the dog food, but rather what is NOT in the dog food.
If you have both kinds of foods available to your cats and dog, they should be getting the nutrition they need, even if they do steal from each other a little. The only concern I have is that your cats may not be getting enough nutrition if the dog is eating their food and then they have to eat the dog's food. You may want to consider separating them while they're eating or even feeding your cats on a counter or a table so the dog can't get to their food.
2006-10-10 07:17:43 · answer #2 · answered by Avie 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I don't think it's bad for dogs to eat cat food, but they just aren't getting all the nutrition that they need and vice versa. For one thing, cats are totally carnivorous and all they need is meat. Technically, they shouldn't eat dry cat food at all as the extra stuff is not anything they need. Dogs on the other hand need the fillers and cereals in dry food. And no, cats won't go blind from dog food, unless it's because they're not getting the proper nutrition. Try to feed the cat up on a shelf or a stool or something so the dog can't get at the cat food. As long as the cat eats it's own food, it probably doesn't matter if it eats a little dog food.
2006-10-10 06:46:57 · answer #3 · answered by Sally P 1 · 1⤊ 0⤋
hey,,, a definite answer is ,, cats should eat cat food and dogs dog food,, and the reason for this is that cat food basicly has more protien in it then dog food, cats are true carnivours and dogs are both carnivours and herbavours, meaning dogs eat both plant and animal matter. dogs need protein also, but at a different level and a higher quality, so their kidneys dont work as hard, especially older dogs. if a dog eats cat food, over a long period of time it may become obese and have organ issues, theres not enough protein in dog food to sustain a cat. i have caught my cats eating the dog food also, and certainly wont hurt either the cat or dog to do so in a blue moon, but for diet purposes make sure that your cats stick to the cat food. good luck!
2006-10-10 06:35:00 · answer #4 · answered by irishgirl 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
they make foods for dogs....certain proteins and vitamins and they make food for cats...certain proteins and vitamins. I've never heard of a cat or dog for that matter going blind by eating one or the others food. I have cats and dogs both in the house and the dogs eat in one area of the house and the cats in another, I use a blocker that just big enough for the cats to get into and it keeps the dogs out. If dogs and cats could eat the exact same thing there would be foods made that say, for dogs and cats.
2006-10-10 06:32:30 · answer #5 · answered by sred 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Dog food is bad for cats, it doesn't have the nutrition they require. Dogs, however can eat cat food and mine do because they don't like to have different from the cats. They seem to do well on it.
2006-10-13 03:08:28 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Cat food is bad for dogs because it has too much protein for dogs so it could hurt them, but I'm guessing that dog food for cats isn't very good for them either.
2006-10-10 16:12:07 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Cats can eat dog food, it won't hurt them, but it doesn't have enough of the nutrients cats need.
Dogs can eat cat food, you just have to limit it because it can make them fat. My little house dog has only eaten cat food all her life. It's ok.
2006-10-10 13:09:16 · answer #8 · answered by toomeymimi 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Dogs can eat cat food, but cats cannot eat dog food.
Think of it this way, dogs will eat anything. Cat's are more finiky. You wouldn't want to feed your dog nothing but catfood though, but mine eats it along with his food all the time.
2006-10-10 06:40:47 · answer #9 · answered by Becky F 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
cat food is very bad for dogs my dog ate cat food a lot vet said it was cause of her diabetes my new dog is not allowed cat food table scrapes rarely
2006-10-10 08:38:22 · answer #10 · answered by little_outlaw_angel 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋