Can cats feed dog food?

The long-standing concept of "living like a cat and a dog" has lost its relevance today. Our pets coexist perfectly on the same territory. Moreover, they still protect each other, sleep together and eat from the same bowl. That is why many owners are concerned about the question of whether it is possible to feed the cat with dog food, although she herself eats it with pleasure, pushing the dog aside and rumbling at the same time. Let's try to understand this issue.

The production of feed takes into account the difference between the digestive systems of cats and dogs.

Cats are obligate predators, they need a large amount of protein. And they can only get it from meat.

Dogs are omnivorous animals. They, unlike cats, have learned to obtain protein from plant foods.

Cats are only 10% able to assimilate plant foods. Their intestines are shorter than that of omnivores, and they also have lower digestive enzyme activity. They need more animal food. The body of a cat, unlike the internal systems of dogs, cannot synthesize amino acids, which play the most important role in their life. They must receive these substances with food.

• To strengthen the coat and skin, the cat needs linoleic acid. It also inhibits the development of inflammatory processes. With its lack, dandruff appears, wool begins to fall out, its shine is lost.Digestive disorders and frequent colds are also a clear sign of a lack of linoleic acid.
• Arachidonic acid is involved in the renewal of cells in the cat's body. It affects blood clotting, reproductive functions of the feline body.
• Arginine is needed to remove toxic compounds from the feline body. Ammonia compounds are formed in her body as a result of the breakdown of proteins. They are toxic. Irregular elimination of them from the animal's body can lead to serious ammonia poisoning. Intoxication is usually accompanied by nausea, lethargy, convulsive states, profuse salivation.
• Vitamin A responsible for visual acuity and immunity, regulates the growth of body cells.
• Vitamin PP affects the metabolism of carbohydrates and proteins in a pet. It also maintains normal mucous membranes in the animal's body. With its lack, dermatitis develops.
• One of the most essential amino acids for a cat is taurine. Taurine is involved in the formation of nerve and muscle fibers, regulates the work of the heart. With a lack of this substance in the body, vision and digestion deteriorate. Lack of taurine also leads to the development of cardiomyopathy, weakening of the heart muscle.

Cat and dog dry foods differ in nutrient balance.

They have a different composition of carbohydrates, proteins and fats.

• The composition of feline types of protein should be at least 40%. The main focus is on protein. Cats need a fairly high-calorie food due to their accelerated metabolism. In addition, cat foods have more phosphorus they need.
• In dog food, fiber is the basis. The protein in it is about 25%. Dog food contains more magnesium, potassium and calcium than cat food.
• With a lot of cereals found in dog food, The cat's digestive system is doing poorly.
• When a cat eats dog food, it is deficient in vitamin A. As a result, hair loss and visual impairment are possible.
• The cat needs taurine. This amino acid is not found in dog foods. Taurine supports the cat's immune and nervous systems. It stimulates the heart and affects blood clotting. This amino acid plays an important role in the digestion of fat.
• Dogs need less protein to function normally than cats. Therefore, cat food contains more of it.
• In dog food, the cat lacks iodine and biotin, as well as vitamins of groups B and E. And the content of vitamins D, K, C, A exceeds the amount necessary for the cat. There is also more calcium and magnesium in dog food than a cat needs.

First, let's clarify the differences between dry and wet food. Each type has its own advantages.

Dry food prevents the formation of plaque and tartar in your pet. It has a beneficial effect on the development of the jaw muscles, the need for chewing is satisfied... At the same time, a lack of moisture in the animal's body can lead to urolithiasis.

Wet industrial feed is 70% liquid, thereby reducing the risk of urinary tract diseases. Canned food is more easily absorbed by the pet's body.

The high carbohydrate content of dry food and their prolonged digestion can lead to overeating and obesity. Diabetes can follow these problems.

When combining these two types of feed, it is necessary to take into account the different periods of their assimilation by the pet's digestive system. Therefore, it is better to alternate feeding with a dry variety of food and a wet one every day. And it is advisable to use products from the same manufacturer: they are more suitable for each other.

The compositions of food for dogs and cats (both dry and wet) are balanced specifically for the organism of a particular animal. Therefore, when feeding a cat with wet dog food, the health problems may arise the same as when feeding a dry species.

If wet dog food serves only as a treat for the cat and does not get to her often, then there will be little harm from this. But there is no benefit either, since wet food contains fewer nutrients for the animal than dry food.

The main condition for a pet's health is proper nutrition. Choose feed necessary, based on a number of important criteria.

• The weight and dimensions of the pet. Modern manufacturers produce a variety of feed lines. The label usually indicates the feeding standards based on the weight of the animal.
• His age. As many already know, kittens should not be fed food intended for an adult cat. The digestive system of adults is different from that of kittens and older felines. Therefore, the food must be selected in accordance with the age.
• The intensity of the exercise during the day. The percentage of carbohydrates in the feed depends on this. If the animal does not move much, then an excess of carbohydrates will lead to health problems.
• Presence of diseases, recommended diet... It is necessary to take into account the recommendations of the veterinarian when choosing complementary foods for an not entirely healthy pet.
• Pregnancy or feeding of offspring. Here, too, there are some nuances: you need food with a high content of vitamins and microelements.
• Recommendations for the breed of a pet. Such feeds are also present in the line of manufacturers. Or you need to heed the advice of professionals in this area.
• Food appeal. It often happens that the pet refuses to eat certain types of food. Therefore, it is necessary to choose a diet that will not only be useful. It is also important that the food is to the liking of the pet, otherwise he may go on a hunger strike.

When feeding a cat with dog food, its body does not receive all the substances necessary for normal life. This leads to health problems for the pet.

It is better to feed the cat and the dog at different times or in different places. Then they will not be able to steal food from each other. It is necessary to train them to eat the whole portion at a time.

It will be safer to remove food in a place inaccessible to pets.

The rare use of dog delicacies by a cat will not do much harm to him, and the consequences will not be noticeable... And regular feeding with dog food can lead to serious illnesses, and the difference in the behavior of the pet will be noticeable.

The same can be said for feeding your dog cat food. Dogs, too, often like to eat from someone else's bowl.

Whether it is possible to give a cat dog food is discussed in the following video: