In a household with both a dog and a cat, this situation happens all the time. You’ve just put out the dog’s food, and the cat instantly runs over to the dog’s bowl and starts eating with such an appetite that it seems as if she’s not interested in her own food at all. At the same time, the dog might be so well-behaved that it doesn’t even try to protect its food. But is this safe for the cat, and should you let it eat dog food?
Why do cats love dog food so much?
For many cats, another cat’s bowl seems more interesting than their own. They’re drawn to the unfamiliar smell, the different taste, or even the mere fact that another animal is eating the food. Driven by curiosity and a natural hunting instinct, a cat may regularly check what’s in the dog’s bowl, even if it isn’t hungry at all.
This happens especially often when the dog eats slowly and doesn’t mind the cat taking some of its food. As a result, this can become a habit, and the cat will start to prefer dog food over its own.
Can a cat eat dog food?
If a cat accidentally eats a few kibbles of dog food, nothing serious will usually happen. However, you shouldn’t feed it this food on a regular basis.
The fact is that cats are obligate carnivores. Their bodies require higher amounts of protein, fats, and certain nutrients, particularly taurine, which is essential for the health of their heart, eyes, and nervous system. Dog food is formulated to meet the needs of dogs, so its composition does not provide a cat with everything it needs.
If a cat regularly eats only dog food, over time this can lead to a deficiency in important nutrients and negatively affect its health.
How can you stop a cat from eating from a dog’s bowl?
It’s best to feed the animals separately. If possible, place their bowls in different rooms or feed them at different times. For the cat, you can use a raised feeding platform that the dog can’t reach, or conversely, remove the dog’s bowl immediately after feeding.
Also, make sure your cat actually likes its own food and is getting enough to eat based on its age and activity level. Sometimes the problem isn’t that the cat likes the dog’s food, but that its own diet seems less appealing to it.
Conclusion
Eating a few kibbles of dog food once in a while usually poses no danger to a cat. But you shouldn’t make it a regular part of its diet. Each species has its own specific nutritional needs, so the best solution is to feed your cat high-quality cat food and your dog food that’s specifically formulated for dogs.
