For those of us who have multiple pets at home, it’s a constant struggle trying to keep them away from each other’s food.
Most of the time dogs want to eat every food they see… even when it’s not for them. Sometimes this includes getting into food meant for the cat!
If this happens, you may be wondering what to do. Is it okay for dogs to eat cat food? Or is it something you should be concerned about? Well, let’s examine these questions…
Is Cat Food Safe For Dogs?
Most important to understand is that cat food is highly toxic for dogs. The worst-case scenario, if they eat, is if they get diarrhea or vomit. However, the reaction varies from dog to dog.
On the other hand, if your dog regularly eats (or steals) cat food, then that is a different story.
Cat food is not something a dog can have on a consistent basis. This is because cats and dogs have different dietary requirements.
For instance, cats are carnivores which means their diet is based mostly on meat, while dogs are omnivores which means they can eat both meat and vegetables.
Higher meat content on cat food means higher protein than dog food. This is one of the reasons why dogs find cat food appealing – cause they smell meat.
However, feeding your dog cat food can cause some complications and lead to nutrient imbalance.
Most of the time, it can lead to gastrointestinal upset, pancreatitis, and obesity. The high protein levels of cat food can also potentially have serious negative effects on your dog’s liver and kidney.
If your dog shows any sign of intestinal discomfort after eating cat food, it is best to contact your veterinarian immediately. For those who find their dogs regularly taking their cat’s food, it is probably best to feed your cats and dogs in separate rooms.
Our advice is to try to keep the cat food away from your dog’s reach at all times.
It is also good to reprimand them when they try to steal some cat food from your cat’s plate. This way, they know that they are doing something wrong and can be trained to stop eating cat food.
