Is cat food safe for dogs?

Answer 1

"No, dogs can eat cat food too, especially tunas are good for dogs"

Someone else gave this answer to the question, and truthfully, it's just wrong. Dogs can eat tuna, and other fish if it's in the dog foods, however food made for cats, especially their wet food can make a dog ill. The proof of it, my dogs have both been nicking the cat food and have diarrhea as a result. Food for cats should be given just to cats, however not all dogs will get sick from cat food, it depends on the dog.

Stick to foods made for dogs. If your dog does get sick from eating food which they shouldn't eat it is always best to not let them eat for a day, then give them very bland food the next 24 hours before resuming their usual diet. You can get bland food from veterinary practices and many pet shops. Or your vet may recommend a bland diet of rice with a bit of lean, boiled ground beef, feeding small amounts at a time.

Cats require a diet higher in protein than dogs, so their food can be harmful to dogs since too much protein can result in damage to the kidneys. So only give your pet the kind of food made for that pet, as in cat food for cats, and dog food for dogs. And never give your pets bones of any kind to eat.

The bones can splinter, resulting in injuries to their mouth, throat, esophagus, stomach and intestines, sometimes even being fatal. They can also choke to death on the bones, too.

Answer 2

Cats have specialised nutrition requirements that slightly differ from a dog, so the ingredients and the vitamins, etc. used in cat and dog food will be different.

Cat food is unlikely to be harmful to dogs, although it is not recommended that they eat this. Cat food is very high in protein and fat compared to dog food, so it is likely that dogs would prefer cat food, as it would naturally taste better. Due to the higher fat and protein content, cat food could cause weight gain in a dog if it eats cat food on a regular basis.

Answer 3

A small amount of dog food will not harm the cat, but this must NEVER consist as part of cat's daily diet. Cats have far more nutritional needs than a dog and dog food doesn't contain these essential nutrients such as taurine.

Cats, being obligate (strict) carnivores, have a higher protein requirement than dogs. Meat is mostly made out of Protein and Fat, 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 naturally 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 vegetables 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 4

For a limited time, yes. However, you need to transition your dog to dog food for a complete balanced diet that is suitable for a dog. Cats have different nutritional needs, so their food is balanced for them.

Answer 5

Cat food contains more fat than dog foods and can cause diahrrhea in your dog.

Answer 6

No, but it is not good for them to eat it.

Answer 7

Yes. My Dog Eats Catfood Left Over From My Cat And Sometimes, My Cat Will Eat Dogfood!