can i use cat food as dog food?

Answer 1

Only if you want an obese, malnourished dog. Dog food contains specific protein, carb, and fiber ratios that are balanced for canine digestive processes.

Answer 2

It's richer than dog food, so the dog will probaby end up with a tummy ache or diahhrea or bad gas especially if you're referring to canned foods. However, if it's just because you've run out of dog food and happen to have some cat food until you get to the store for the proper food, the cat food won't "hurt" the dog for a day. If it's to feed a starving stray, better cat food than no food. Dogs and cats require different nutrients, and the manufactured foods are balanced properly for each animal. As a stopgap measure, the dog will be OK on a brief diet of cat food but don't feed it too long.

Answer 3

No! Cats and dogs are not the same and their foods should not be interchanged-cats are true carnivores while dogs are omnivores. Cat food has a very high protein content and additional nutrients (such as taurine) that dogs should not eat. A dog can have an occasional bite of cat food or as a small treat, or for a day or two while you get to the pet store for more dog food, but it should not be fed on a regular basis as it can cause a slew of health problems, from diarrhea to kidney failure. Make sure you read the ingredient labels so you can stay away from wheat gluten and rice protein (ingredients involved in the recent pet food recalls), and invest in a decent dog food for your canine friend.

Answer 4

No! Cat food is very high in protein which a cat needs but a dog doesn't. Cat food is very attractive to a dog for this very reason, it will give a dog a bad stomach.

Answer 5

I don't know about dog nutrition, but I do know about cat nutrition and your cat will not be healthy on dog food. It doesn't contain taurine which is essential to a cat. Aslo I'm sure it's full of grain, which is basically carbohydrates and your cat can develop diabetes and become fat. You need to be strict for their own sake and feed them high quality species appropriate diet. Feed them at the same time in different rooms. Take the food away after 30 minutes if they don't eat it and refrigerate it. Try again in a few hours. No animal will starve itself just out of being fussy about their food. The cat would be harder to adjust, but the dog will give in pretty fast. Pour some tuna juice over the cat's food, it should make it more appealing. You can try mixing it gradually, but you need to make a change or you are risking your pets' health in the long run. More about cat nutrition here:

Answer 6

No- Dogs need nutrients that cat food just doesn't supply them with. They need dog food and if not that, a dog owner has to supply them with all the needed nutrients. I would think of that as a difficult thing to do unless you have knowledge about dog nutrition.
Dog food is for dogs; Cat food is for cats

Answer 7

No. The cat food doesn't contain the necessary vitamins and minerals you dog needs for it's nutrition. Although cat food IS filling for your dog,in the long run,your dog will suffer from bad eyesight and shedding fur including digestive problems as well.

Answer 8

No, cat food is too rich and may make the dog sick, dogs and cats have very different needs nutritionally, it would be like giving pepperoni to a baby, the stomach couldn't take it.

Answer 9

Not very often. Vitamin requirements for both are different. So giving cat food to your dog on a regular basis or vice versa would not be good for the dog as far as meeting its daily vitamin requirements.

Answer 10

No.

Cat food has entirely different nutrients than dog food. It would completely screw up a dog's digestive system if he had to eat cat food his entire life.

Answer 11

No. It is not healthy for your dog. There are nutrients that your dog needs in dog food that are not in cat food.