is it ok to feed my cat dog food?

Question

i ran out of cat food this morning can i give her a can of dog food until i get to the store

Answer 1

dog food is basically meat so it should be fine. if your cat ate it it probably meant he thought it was okay so..

Answer 2

If it's just this once, then it probably won't be too much of a problem, especially if she eats it without fussing. Cats don't like change, though, so it's just as likely she'll be stressed out by the fact that you're not giving her HER food, but something else instead. If you can get to the store within the next few hours, it won't do her TOO much harm not to eat till then either, as long as she drinks.

The suggestion to always keep dry food at home is a good one. We mainly use dry food, giving canned food once a day, and it works fine for us.

Check how much grain/vegetables there are in the dog food, as well as ash and other substances mentioned above (and below, when more answers pop in, of course), and if it's not much, then it's fairly good for cats. Grain and vegetables won't be that HARMFUL to cats, what I know (with a few exceptions), but they're not really doing anything good either.

Answer 3

If you are on a tight budget, always keep on hand dry cat food - this way if you should run out of the canned food, you can always give your cat the dry cat food. The nutrition needs are different of course between a cat and a dog, kitten and puppy, but one time should not hurt the cat. Don't make this a habit though if you want to keep your cat healthy. Just go to the supermarket if you cannot get to the pet store and get a box or bag of the cat food and leave some out for the cat with plenty of fresh water always. Also, I have 2 cats and they love tuna just as long as you don't give it every day. .

Answer 4

Nutritionally dog and cat foods are incompatible. But as the caretaker of a dog and a cat trying to keep them out of each others food can be a challenge. Will your cat get sick? No. But I would use it as a long term solution. You may end up with a kitty with digestional problems. i don't think one meal will make much difference.

Answer 5

No, I wouldn't. Cats and dogs require different things. Cats are obligate carnivores while dogs require grains and veggies along with meat.

One can probably will not hurt your cat seriously, but a sudden change in food can cause diareahha, vomiting, and discomfort.

I'd just wiat and get her some kitty food :) So long as she isn't waiting longer than 12 hours for food, she will be fine!

Answer 6

No! Cats and Dogs need different types of food. A cat can actually go blind if fed dog food for a long period of time (see the source link).

"Simply put, dog food does not provide the nutrients required by cats. Eating a little bit of dog food won't kill a cat. But a cat fed exclusively on dog food can not only go blind, but can develop a heart condition, called feline dilated cardiomyopathy."

Answer 7

I personally don't think so. But the other way around is fine. Dog food is much more harder than cat food (cat food is softer for the cats teeth).

Answer 8

yes its ok to feed your cat dog food it might like it you never know until the cat tried it!!

Answer 9

It won't harm her one time and she can wait till you get the cat food. Her loud complaints will just let you know not to forget her food ever again.

Answer 10

do not do that as a regular thing--as an emergency, maybe--but make sure you give cat food--has the proper stuff in it for kitty--doggy food is good nutrition for doggies, but they need different nutrients than cats. one time is not a problem for kitty.

Answer 11

Check the ash content as it is important to the urinary system in cats. For a single feeding it is not important, but refrain from constant use. Your Vet can explain the idea of ash to you but it will lead to urinary problems.