Okay, i know this seems stupid and you may just want to say ' duh that's why theres dog food and cat food' but the deal is this cat in my neighborhood had babies last week and it's a stray. i only have a dog and cannot afford to buy the mother proper food. so if i feed her the dog food will it hurt her or her babies? what else can i feed her to help keep them healthy?
2007-05-16 07:42:05 · 21 answers · asked by Numa Numa 1 in Pets ➔ Other - Pets
Cats can eat dog food if they so choose, but never give a dog cat food. So, if the cats will eat it, it's ok. (This is what my vet said.)
Do not give the cats milk or tuna. These will hurt the cats tummies and make them have diarrhea.
Try to call your local shelter to see if there's a trapping program for cats there. They can come out and use humane traps to catch the cat and her babies and get them the help they need.
Good luck! :)
2007-05-16 07:46:59 · answer #1 · answered by searching_please 6 · 3⤊ 1⤋
Cats are true carnivores - dogs are not. Dog food does not have the right nutrients and vitamins, nor a high enough protein content, to support a cat for long.
That being said, it won't hurt her if it's only temporary. It's better than nothing for the time being. As soon as possible, run out and buy some dry cat food for her so she and her babies can get what they need..
And get her fixed, even if you have to trap her and then release her again after! There are low-cost spay and neuter programs, I've done it with cats that just showed up around the pet store I work for for less than 40 dollars.
2007-05-16 07:52:08 · answer #2 · answered by Pythoness 3 · 1⤊ 0⤋
There is a nutrient in cat food that is not in dog food. While a couple of days probably will not hurt the cat in the long run it will cause an imbalance in the diet and create helath problems. This is magnified by the fact that you are talking about a mother cat. If she is nursing the kitten will also not get to needed nutrition.
2007-05-16 08:03:36 · answer #3 · answered by keezy 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Awhile back, I had asked the vet the same thing. The cat would eat the dog food, and the dog the cat food....he said it wasn't really that good for them. The dog food doesn't have the right vitamins/minerals for the cat, and the cat food would most likely give the dog diarrhea. You can pick up some cat food fairly cheap, a couple bucks for a large bag.
2007-05-16 07:46:24 · answer #4 · answered by tikitiki 7 · 3⤊ 0⤋
A cat can eat dog food, but it lacks certain nutrients that cats need specifically. For example, if the mother cat does not get taurine, which is not in sufficient quantities in dog food, the kittens' eyesight will not develop properly.
You should really call a local shelter to come and take the mother and kittens to care for until they can be found proper homes.
2007-05-16 08:32:15 · answer #5 · answered by figmint77 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
i understand that some dog food may make a cat sick. If the cat is a new mother she needs the best diet possible. Try turning her and her babies over to the Humane Society, if you cannot afford to feed her and her babies.
2007-05-16 07:50:14 · answer #6 · answered by oldmom 2 · 2⤊ 0⤋
Dog food does not have proper nutrition for cats. It's ok for dogs to eat cat food but cats will not thrive on dog food alone. It is better than nothing, though. I do not advise feeding tuna. Fish does not have taurine, which cats, as true carnivores require. Chicken would be fine, though.
2007-05-16 07:53:34 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 2⤊ 0⤋
Well, my dog got sick.R.I.P. Roxy but she started not eating anything and there was a time when my cats would sneak and eat the dog food when we werent looking. It doesnt give them the nutrients they need but nothing will happen. If your animals start getting sick from it then take it from them right away. Whatever your do, dont feed them the Royal Canin brand dog food. That is what killed my dog.
2007-05-16 07:56:41 · answer #8 · answered by Dylan Lange 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
It won't hurt them or anything. But cats need a lot of protein, more than dogs. They also need a mineral called taurine. Those are the main ingredients differentiating cat food from dog. Also cat food usually smells and tastes better cuz cats are finickier. So maybe you could offer some occasional tuna or well-chopped up chicken. Or just mix in some small cans of cat food. The store brands aren't too much. But don't ever give the kittens cow milk. They may drink it, but it will give them nasty diarrhea cuz they can't process it.
2007-05-16 07:48:59 · answer #9 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 2⤋
Go to your local dollar store and buy a bag of cat food for a dollar.
It's a bad idea to feed a cat dog food, it's not good for them.
2007-05-16 07:50:38 · answer #10 · answered by rustyredstar 3 · 1⤊ 0⤋