Puppy eating cat food. Please help!!!?

Question

My Italian Greyhound puppy is eating the cat food. I can't get her to eat her puppy food. I am worried because she is not getting the right nutrients. I want her to grow up healthy. I have tried to keep her away, but that would mean confining the cats to the bedroom and that doesn't seem very fair to the cats.

Answer 1

You can place the cat food where she can't reach it - and don't give up on the puppy food. Put her food down at mealtime (don't free-feed, there are many reasons not to, including her digestive health, but that's another discussion!) Put her bowl down at mealtime, and is she doesn't eat it, pick it up and offer her the same at the next mealtime. This way, you avoid creating a picky eater. Good luck with your IGGY! I have an agility friend who has one and he's a true showstopper with a lot of heart. He blasts around those courses and takes your breath away!

Answer 2

Don't worry, it's just that the cat food is tastier to dogs. You can feed the cats separately, you don't need to confine them all the time, just for feeding. I mean don't leave the food lying around, feed them at specific times. The same goes for the dog. Give him his food in one room, and let him the food for 15 minutes. If he doesn't eat it, take it away. Repeat in the evening etc. He will eat the dog food eventually. Mix in a little bit of cat food for the smell at the beginning. You could also put a small cat door to the bedroom door, that only the cats can go through.

PS. YOU CAN PUT THE CAT FOOD SOMEWHERE HIGH, ON A DESK OR CUPBOARD OR SOMETHING. I BET THE CATS WILL REACH IT, BUT THE DOG CAN'T.

Answer 3

You don't need to confine the cats to the bedroom, just find a place where you can put the cats' FOOD, where the puppy can't get to it. What about a high shelf where the puppy can't jump up, but the cats can? Or a small, enclosed space with enough room for the cats to enter, but too small for the dog? You could even use one of those covered litterboxes that kind of curves around, and just put their food dishes inside, so the cats could enter the box to eat but the dog couldn't follow.

Answer 4

You need to place the cat food in a place where she can't get it. It sounds like you are free feeding your cats (keeping food out for them all the time) which is not best for them anyway. They should be fed two meals a day at set times and picking it up after about 10 minutes anything they haven't eaten. They will complain at first, but will eventually get used to the new feeding routine. If you portion their food correctly, this approach will keep them from overeating and eventually getting fat (if they aren't already).

Then for the dog, gradually start mixing dog food into the cat food she has been eating and slowly increase the amount until she is eating all dog food. She may resist somewhat, but eventually she will make the transition, especially if she has no access to the cat food. The same feeding program should go for the dog as for the cats - give her her dinner and anything she doesn't eat gets picked up after 10 minutes - no free feeding. This approach is healthiest for the pets in the long run and allows you to control their diets. It also prevents mice or rats coming into your house or yard to eat the available pet food.

Answer 5

Puppy isnt' getting the right nutrients from puppy food, either, and the cat isn't getting what she needs from her food.

The likelihood is that your cat's food is corn based, and cats are true carnivores and get no nutritional value AT ALL out of grains, corn, rice, etc.

Your puppy, though dogs sometimes will pick at overripe fruits and vegetables, requires a diet consisting of MEAT, bones and organs. If both of your animals were eating a truly species appropriate diet, then 1.), it wouldn't matter that your puppy was eating the cat food, and 2.) he would be getting the right nutrition in the right quantities, it would be bioavailable to him and he wouldn't feel the need to eat the cat's food.

Read this:

http://www.api4animals.org/facts?p=359&more=1

Read it all, but pay particular attention to the section labeled "the 100% myth"

Answer 6

Change where you are putting out the cat food, a place where you dont let your puppy go. I really think it is quite natural for dogs to eat cat food, seems like alot of people have the same problem.As long as your puppy is eating his own food I dont believe you have too much to worry about. Like I said change the placement of your cat dish and I'm sure your puppy will soon be eating it's own food.

Answer 7

Feed them all at the same time everyday.
You'll have to make it a constant routine.

Feed the cats and your dog separately. Your dog probably won't eat right away, she'll wait to see if there's anything left from the cats. You could also try to feed her first, then she won't be so concerned about what they're eating.

Don't get too worried if she doesn't eat for a day or two. She'll get hungry enough and eat her own food.

Puppies are like babies, and will test boundaries with us.

Answer 8

Very simple answer......... just put the cats food up high. Cats can get to high places and dogs cannot (not easily anyway). I suggest a pass out or a ledge of some kind in your kitchen, maybe even a window ledge? This way the dog has no choice, but to eat his own food.

Answer 9

Hi there,

I had the same problem with my chihuahuas when we adopted a cat!

The easiest solution I have found is to raise the cat food. I have purchased a little folding table and I put the cat bowl on it. It is too high for my dogs to get to it, but my cat has no problems jumping on it.

This way my dogs don't eat what they are not supposed to and my cat is not being punished and maintains access to her food whenever she wants.

After 8PM I also move the water bowl on this little table, so my dogs don't drink water anymore, but my cat can still access it if she wants to, as she is not on a potty schedule.

I hope this helps!

Good luck,

Melanie

Answer 10

Put that cat food up high where the dog can't get to it...cats can jump anywhere. No way to keep a dog from eating food that is placed on the floor! They will eat anything.