2007-02-06 04:03:03 · 15 answers · asked by mwah 2 in Pets ➔ Cats
No, it isn't if you aren't giving the cat any cat food.
There are different ratios of nutrients in dog food than cat food. And cats need taurine, often not found in dog food.
Dogs and cats are totally different physiologically, they are different species!
If the cat just nibbles now and then on dog food, then no, not a huge problem, but you didn't specify whether dog food is all the cat eats or if it snacks on dog food every so often.
2007-02-06 04:14:08 · answer #1 · answered by Avsky 3 · 2⤊ 0⤋
I say it would be okay, as long as the food isn't any bigger than the cat's mouth. Try getting dog food that is the same size of a small dog because the bigger the dog food, the harder it would fit into your cat's mouth and it would be a good chance that your cat could choke on bigger serving sizes of dog food. Try getting dog food that chihuahua's eat since the chihuahua have smaller mouths, about the same size what a cat has.
2007-02-10 03:27:27 · answer #2 · answered by Roxas of Organization 13 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Cats need different nutrients than dogs do. I would not be concerned if he ate some food out of the dogs dish, but if he makes a steady diet of dog food,then I would be concerned. Cats need their own food to be healthy and live a long life.
2007-02-06 05:34:24 · answer #3 · answered by Kitty Mom 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Some dog food won't hurt the cat, but it needs to have cat food too. There is an essential nutrient in the cat food that isn't present in dog food.
2007-02-06 04:07:24 · answer #4 · answered by erinn83bis 4 · 2⤊ 0⤋
Yes. My dog eats my cats food also.
2007-02-06 06:44:19 · answer #5 · answered by Blonde 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
NO, it isn't alright for a cat to eat dog food. Taurine is an essential amino acid for the cat and is destroyed in the cooking of commercial pet food. Taurine is added to all cat foods and not to dog food (dogs and humans can manufacture taurine in their bodies - cats can't).
Without taurine in their diet cats can develop serious heart problems and/or blindness.
2007-02-06 04:14:50 · answer #6 · answered by old cat lady 7 · 2⤊ 0⤋
I have had many cats that liked eating dog food for some reason, so I don't think it is problem. Even when I would put out cat food for the cat, they would disregard it and eat the dog food. It will not harm them.
2007-02-06 04:08:06 · answer #7 · answered by pinkestcamaro 2 · 1⤊ 2⤋
It doesn't hurt her if she eats some once in a while, but it can't be her regular diet, because cat food must have much more protein than dog food has.
2007-02-06 04:07:33 · answer #8 · answered by cpinatsi 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
It won't do any harm. But, pet foods are formulated specifically for each species, so it would not be a good idea to give your cat dog food for an extended time.
2007-02-06 04:08:45 · answer #9 · answered by Skyhawk 5 · 1⤊ 0⤋
you could but its not healthy for the cat because cat food has a high amount of proteins that cats need. dog food has less protein
2007-02-06 04:21:48 · answer #10 · answered by Serenity Rose 2 · 1⤊ 0⤋