If i run out of cat food before payday can i give my cat a good dog food? Perhaps beniful or dog chow? He's over a year old and as big as a small dog. A friend said they could spare some dog food to feed my cat until payday.
2007-11-10 11:52:13 · 15 answers · asked by DOROTHY L L 3 in Pets ➔ Cats
I'm leary of going to the dollar store for Ultra cheap cat food, due to the pet food scare. He won't eat tuna or wet cat food. Hates it! However he loves cheese and eggs. Perhaps that with the dog food for a few days will be ok? Though the diareah would be no fun.
2007-11-10 12:08:10 · update #1
No, dog food is too low in protein, has different mix of vitamins and minerals, and isn't a good idea. Giving the wrong food can make the cat have diarhea or constipation--it's' a totally different kind of food (wrong species).
Can you get a 12 oz can for 89 cents at the grocery store? Little Friskies runs about that and should feed him for two days or a little more.
Walgreens has some low cost food that isn't bad. You can also get a baked chicken and share the meat with him.
2007-11-10 13:38:11 · answer #1 · answered by Elaine M 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
The rule is a dog can live on cat food , but a cat can`t live on dog food. Dog food doesn`t provide a certain enzyme that cats need, however if payday is only a short time away it is better to give cat dog food than no food at all. Your cat my not eat dry dog food but might eat canned dog food. If the cat won`t eat the dog food then maybe if you have some Tuna or salmon for humans that would work.
2007-11-10 12:05:27 · answer #2 · answered by Scorpian S 4 · 2⤊ 1⤋
NO.
Dogs can have cat food but cats can't have dog food.
Working at the shelter we some times give dogs that are very sick cat food because it smells stronger and some times a sick dog will eat it when they won't eat any thing else.
When cats eat dog food there is an ingredient in dog food that can cause kidney problems.Please go to the 99 cent store or some thing and get some cheap cat food until you can afford it. Changing the cat food can also give them diarhea, so have fun with that.
2007-11-10 12:05:08 · answer #3 · answered by Dr Doolittle 6 · 2⤊ 1⤋
When it comes to food quality, it depends on the brand not the species. Of course it's better that you feed your cat with cat food but if you run out of it and you give him some dog food he's not going to die, don't worry.
However, you might want to pay attention to the size of the dry food. Remember cats don't thave the same kind of strong teeth dogs have (even the small ones) and they could get hurt from chewing it. Maybe you could cut it up a little before giving it to the cat.
2007-11-10 12:15:43 · answer #4 · answered by Noelia 2 · 3⤊ 1⤋
If you run out of food before payday, call a local shelter and see if they can give you the food you need for a few days. They would rather give you a bit of food than to see you have to abandon the cat. : )
2007-11-10 12:05:49 · answer #5 · answered by susanmaried 6 · 3⤊ 0⤋
If you absolutely have to feed your cat some dog food, then make sure the dog food is roughly the same size as the cat's normal cat food (since dog food is normally larger than most cat foods, you may consider putting it in a sandwich bag and break up the food with a book or a hammer).
Also, you should put some lunchmeat in with the food, to help offset the protein imbalance
2007-11-10 12:05:06 · answer #6 · answered by Joe H 1 · 1⤊ 3⤋
cat food has more meat and protein in it
dog food has more veggies
some of my cats will try 2 eat dog food... make sure they get meat 2
2007-11-10 11:54:55 · answer #7 · answered by Hules 2 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Ive done it on and off in a pinch for a few years and nothing has happened to my cats. heck sometimes the dogs have had to eat cat food for a couple of days. The main thing is not to make it long term. A few days yea, but no more than a week. Just crush it up a bit if its in really big pieces.
2007-11-10 12:32:50 · answer #8 · answered by N M 3 · 1⤊ 4⤋
The problem with your question is that cats require something called taurine in their food. Dog food has none.
I agree that you cannot feed your cat dog food, even temporarily for a short-term solution. Any animal welfare organization will help you out as long as you don't make a habit out of asking for extra food for kitty.
2007-11-10 12:29:36 · answer #9 · answered by Leslie L 5 · 2⤊ 2⤋
No No No ...I am a DVM student and there is no way you should feed dog food to cats. The PH balance is way off. If you must feed can of tuna drained very well. If you can't afford to feed an animal you probably shouldn't have one. What if that was your child ? Would you feed it hamster food ?
2007-11-10 12:20:03 · answer #10 · answered by kathy b 6 · 4⤊ 2⤋