Are Cats Allowed to Eat Dog Food?
How different cats are from them dogs , their nutritional needs are just as different. In case theYour cat never eats dog food, this does not need to worry you. If your cat ate constantlydog food , then there would be serious effects on her health. You should definitely avoid this.
Basically, cats need to get the food that is meant for them. This is because cats need a protein-rich food with a sufficient amount of the amino acid taurine, as cats cannot produce it themselves. Dogs in turn can produce it independently, but they do not tolerate protein so well and need a carbohydrate-rich food. At the same time, the level of taurine, an amino acid so important to cats, is very low indog food , which could lead to deficiency symptoms in cats. THETaurine is especially important for cat health because the cat’s liver cannot synthesize it independently. The reason: The enzymes responsible for taurine conversion are less active in cats. Therefore, the amino acid must be provided through food.
If cats are constantly fed dog food, significant symptoms of cat deficiency can occur. These can be manifested by dull hair or poor eyesight. In the worst case, the deficiency leads to retinal degeneration – a disease of the retina that is irreversible, and which in the long run can even lead the cat to blindness.
Animal protein is found in large quantities in meat and fish products. Vegetables, on the other hand, are mostly high in carbohydrates. For this reason, dog food contains a higher percentage of vegetables, while thecat food contains fish. In addition, dog food does not meet the nutritional needs of cats, as it contains too many carbohydrates due to the high percentage of vegetables and very low percentage of meat for carnivorous felines.
How can I prevent my cat from eating dog food?
- It is helpful to feed cats and dogs in a separate area, ie in different rooms, if possible or at least in different parts of a room.
- If you appreciate working with itclicker , you can also use it to distract the cat from the dog’s food, if needed. Cats do not always find dog food tempting. In many cases this issue does not even arise.
- You can also prevent your pets from eating each other’s bowl by filling your dog and cat’s bowls at specific feeding times . This gives you the opportunity to observe what is happening and if necessary, to intervene. After all, this is the only way to completely prevent your kitten from tasting your dog’s food. An important parameter is of course that cats and dogs should learn from the beginning that they should eat food only from their own bowl.
- Another tried and tested option is to offer the food in a limited time of only 15 minutes. So you put the bowl in front of the dog and take it after this time. In this way, the dog learns that he must eat all his food within a set time frame.
Of course, it is not absolutely necessary for the cat to eat from the dog’s food, because the dog usually eats his meals very quickly and without leaving “even a crumb”. In this case, the roommate usually has no chance to taste the contents of the dog’s bowl, as he simply leaves nothing for the house cat, devouring everything and at high speed.
What should I consider when buying cat food?
A high quality food has a positive effect on the health and well-being, and therefore on the life expectancy of the cat. That’s why one is so importanthigh quality food . The food should contain the ingredients that are necessary for the optimal health of the cat and should not contain substances that can harm its health.
Based on the accuracy of the information on the label you can identify if a food is of high quality. On the other hand, great care is recommended in vague information such as “derivatives”. Terms such as “animal by-products”, “fish by-products”, “dairy products” and “bakery products” are euphemisms for waste products that have arisen in the production of food for humans. In the worst case, cat foods with such ingredients contain carcass waste, including animal blood, urine and claws. Just as consumers may be wondering where the foods in your diet come from, it is also advisable to check in cat and dog food what ingredients may be hidden behind certain conditions – especially since they can even harm your pet. That’s true, including if they contain hidden sugar. If you love your cute pet, take a close look at the label information.
There is nothing better than a harmonious coexistence between dog and cat, which despite their differences complement each other so beautifully! It is unique to observe the dog and the cat lying harmoniously side by side on the carpet or sofa after eating separatelybowl _ Because despite their special dietary needs, dogs and cats agree that sleep is the most beautiful thing in the world. In addition to food, of course.