have 4 cats (including 16 week kitten) and a 9 week puppy. I put cat food in an ice cream container in one room and puppy's food in a low bowl in another room with her pen. Occasionally the cats eat her food but rarely as it's in her pen and is 'no go' zone. However recently my puppy (shih tzu) has become big enough to get her head in the ice cream container and eat some cat food. What should i do???
2007-10-20 23:43:02 · 24 answers · asked by one_sweet_little_thing 1 in Pets ➔ Dogs
yes
2007-10-20 23:45:25 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 4⤋
Please do not listen to the other answers who said yes they can eat the same food.
They do not know what they are talking about.
They should not be eating the same food.
Dogs and cats need different foods.
They have different nutritional needs.
Cat food will make your dog fat and can also cause health problems.
What you need to do is get a baby gate and block the puppy from going into the room the cats are eating in. Any cheap baby gate will do just make sure that the puppy cannot slip through the bars because some of them are too big and the dogs can slip through.
2007-10-20 23:57:50 · answer #2 · answered by Silver Moon 7 · 3⤊ 0⤋
Dogs and cats should have different food because of the different make up of each. Each food addresses the health needs of that animal. Occasionally it does not hurt if one eats the other but you should not make it a habit. They have special food containers for each and the other can not get into each. Short of that start feeding the cats at a height that the dog can not get to. A counter top. Also you can leave water out for them both but feed them once or twice a day and then pick up the bowls whether they finished their food or not. eventually both dog and cats will know they only get to eat for so long and then it is gone.
2007-10-20 23:49:49 · answer #3 · answered by debbie f 5 · 3⤊ 0⤋
The cat food wont hurt the dog, however the cats should not eat the dog food, Cats have a very sensitive urinary tract and therefore there is additives in the cat food to help keep everything under control, it stops urine crystals forming. Dog food does not have this and can cause problems for the cats. So try to avoid letting your cats eat dog food, no biggy if the dog eats the cat food. However this is not the correct diet for a dog.
2007-10-20 23:51:45 · answer #4 · answered by Leonie V 3 · 0⤊ 2⤋
Occasional eating is not a problem but their dietary requirements do differ so they should primarily eat their own food.
Cat food is very rich compared to cat food and has a lot of protein in it that can affect the kineys and pancreas. So dont feed the dog cat food instead but a few licks here and there wont hurt him.
2007-10-20 23:52:46 · answer #5 · answered by Leizl 6 · 2⤊ 0⤋
It is not an issue to cause great concern, however it should not happen on a regular basis. Cat food contains a higher level of fat, because cats have different dietary needs. Some dogs or cats require special food, if any of your animals is on this then the food should definitely not be shared. Ask your vet of his opinion, he is the expert, not people on Y! A
2007-10-20 23:49:05 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 3⤊ 0⤋
Best try feeding your cat in a place where your dog can't get it if you are giving dry commercial feeds. It is of no concern really if your pets eat each others food. But, cats and dogs have different nutritional needs. For cats, a fatty acid (arachidonic acid if i am not mistaken) needs to be given in their diet unlike in dogs which can synthesize their own. Further more, cat food is higher in niacin i think because cats needs greater amount of it.
You can try giving natural diet... It would be much easier...
2007-10-21 00:49:27 · answer #7 · answered by jfule_1283 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
should they? NO dogs and cats have different dietary needs.
What do you do? Put the cat food someplace the puppy can't get to it. If you think about it a bit, I'm sure you can figure something out.
occasionally eating each other's food won't kill them...but
2007-10-21 06:16:23 · answer #8 · answered by Marna O 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
They don't need to eat the same food. Because their nutritional needs won't be met. It is O.K. if it occasionally happens. Cat and Dog food are not the same.
2007-10-20 23:58:07 · answer #9 · answered by BABYDOLL 3 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Occasional won't hurt but they shouldn't eat each others food. Cats and dogs have different nutritional needs. Dogs especially will munch cat food.
2007-10-20 23:48:49 · answer #10 · answered by kathy R 3 · 4⤊ 0⤋
If the dog is about the same size as the cats, it can eat the same food.
The question is, do you want to dog to eat the same food and do you want it to eat anytime there is cat food around.
Most people prefer to have all animals eating out of different bowls because that makes it easier to control what and how much they eat. (And if they need to take medicines in their food, they are already used to have their own bowl.)
2007-10-20 23:48:52 · answer #11 · answered by Willeke 7 · 0⤊ 4⤋