Can dogs safely eat dry cat food?

Answer 1

not very

Processed dog food doesn't contain the amino acid taurine, which is necessary for healthy eye development in cats, so a cat should never be fed exclusively on dry dog food.

There is debate, though, over whether dogs can eat dry cat food exclusively; the cat food is higher in protein, and there are a few other factors involved, but if you have a dog and cat living together with you, you can safely let them eat from the same bowl of dry cat food; this is convenient and means both animals will - if the food is kept topped up and made constantly available - simply regulate their own diets in a healthy manner.

Feeding them in this way will avoid friction and stress, which is a good outcome for all of you. Wash the bowls regularly.

Both animals can share a fresh water bowl which should be kept in the shade if outdoors; cats should never be given milk, for digestive reasons, and it's best avoided for dogs, too, because of hygiene concerns.

They can be given separate extras: dogs and cats given the same food leftovers will eat differently, dogs eating most of it and cats eating only small parts. Both animals can have a bone once or twice a week, given separately (!) and of suitable sizes.

Sweet treats, and fatty foods, are out.

I've raised both cats and dogs for many years in this way; they've all lived well into their normal lifespans and maintained a healthy weight and general wellbeing throughout their lives.

Answer 2

No. Dog food can seriously malnourish the cat after a period of time. Cats have far more nutritional needs than a dog and dog food doesn't contain these essential nutrients such as taurine. A small amount of dog food will not harm the cat, but this must NEVER consist as part of cat's daily diet.

Cats need a diet consisting of a high meat content - probably more so than dogs. Meat is mostly made out of Proteins and Fats, and cats use these as their primary energy source. Here are a few things that are present in cat food that are not in dog food:

Taurine: Cats cannot synthesize this compound (unlike dogs and most other mammals), so they must get it straight from meat. Animal tissues such as poultry and fish are natually high in taurine. Not enough taruine in the cat's diet can lead to heart problems and blindness.

Vitamin A is another component cats cannot produce. Dogs can use a compound called "beta carotene" (its what gives fruits and vegatables such as carrots the red-orange colour) and turn that into Vitamin A. Cats cannot. They need to get Vitamin A from meat.

There are also number of fatty acids cats cannot synthesize in their bodies but dogs can, so feeding a cat food specially made for them is the safest option as all the nutrients are included in the food.

Answer 3

I doubt it, there are possibly a lot of things good for dogs in it.