Can Cats Eat Dog Food? What to Know About Their Diet · Kinship Leave a comment

You recognize that meow. The one that claims, It’s time for dinner. Get to it, human. Hungry feline right here. You open the pantry door — cat meals, cat meals, cat meals. The place is the cat meals anyway? Wait, right here’s some pet food. Choice time, cat father or mother. Is it OK to feed your cat pet food? 

Right here’s what it’s best to know earlier than switching up the menu.

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Can cats eat pet food?

The fast, however on no account full, reply is sure. Based on veterinarian Dr. Maryanne Murphy, medical assistant professor of vitamin on the College of Tennessee, “There may be nothing in pet food that’s not secure for cats to eat.”

However similar to with people, “Are you able to eat it?” and “Do you have to eat it?” are two very totally different questions.

Is it secure for cats to eat pet food?

Veterinarian Dr. Lindsay Butzer says sure, it’s secure for cats to eat pet food however provided that pet dad and mom observe this essential caveat — they have to additionally feed them cat meals. Specialists say pet food is way safer than meals like chocolate, grapes, raisins, butter, alcohol, caffeine, spices, bones and citrus zest that are poisonous for cats and may by no means be a part of their food plan.

Occasional consumption vs. common food plan

Dr. Murphy says frequency is a very powerful issue. “The difficulty is that cats have totally different nutrient necessities than canine … and people ranges received’t be achieved for those who’re feeding your cat a canine food plan long-term, however [one meal] isn’t trigger for concern.”

Dangers of feeding cats pet food

She warns that an abrupt swap in meals, together with a bowl of unfamiliar canine kibble, may trigger some gastrointestinal misery in your cat, so look ahead to signs like diarrhea and vomiting.

Understanding carnivore and omnivore diets

Cats are obligate carnivores. Meat eaters. Meaning they want meat-based proteins and animal fat of their food plan for his or her finest well being. Dr. Butzer says a high-protein food plan is crucial for tissue restore, power manufacturing, and hormone manufacturing.

Canines, then again, are extra omnivorous and have a extra numerous food plan of each crops and animals than cats. So, although canine and cat meals might need a number of of the identical components listed on the label, cat meals additionally comprise components that aren’t utilized in pet food. 

Important vitamins wanted by cats

Protein

Cat meals is far increased in protein than pet food. Scientists have discovered that the feline high-protein food plan is crucial for his or her varied bodily features, together with tissue restore, power manufacturing, and hormone manufacturing.

Taurine

Cats want an animo acid known as taurine, which is crucial for his or her food plan as a result of it can’t be produced when ingested. Taurine is essential for imaginative and prescient, particularly retinal degeneration. Dr. Butzer says for those who discover a cat bumping into issues or wandering round confused, they might want taurine. Taurine deficiency can even trigger a coronary heart ailment known as dilated cardiomyopathy, a illness seen principally in canine, however lack of taurine causes it in cats.

Arachidonic acid

Cat meals additionally incorporates arachidonic acid which helps pores and skin and coat well being and can also be crucial for fetal growth and blood clotting. Not like canine, cats have restricted means to transform different fatty acids into arachidonic acid. Due to this fact, they have to get it immediately from their food plan. Animal-based sources, akin to meat and fish, are wealthy in arachidonic acid, making them very best to your cat’s vitamin. With out increased quantities and particular omegas in a cat’s food plan they are going to lack arachidonic acid to be wholesome.

Nutritional vitamins

Low vitamin A causes dry eye and pores and skin points in cats and might result in corneal ulcers and poor imaginative and prescient. Not like canine, who can convert beta-carotene into vitamin A, cats should get it via their food plan to be wholesome.

Additionally, Dr. Butzer says cats can’t convert daylight via their pores and skin into Vitamin D — they get their Vitamin D via food plan. So, whereas your cat might love sitting within the sunshine, they received’t get their vital Vitamin D that approach.

Niacin

Whereas canine can synthesize some niacin from the amino acid tryptophan, cats can’t. Due to this fact, it’s important for cats to acquire niacin from their food plan, Dr. Butzer says.

Energy

The added protein in cat meals additionally provides energy, making cat meals extra calorie-dense than pet food. Your cat might want to eat bigger quantities of pet food to fulfill their calorie necessities (however nonetheless received’t be getting the best nutrient steadiness).

Cats ought to keep away from excessive fats meals as a result of they’ll result in gastritis, pancreatitis and feline weight problems which might improve a cat’s threat for different well being points. “Keep in mind that animals that keep at a wholesome weight all through their lifetime can stay an extra two years over that of an chubby pet,” Dr. Lori Teller says.

What are the variations between cat and pet food?

Style

Don’t be shocked in case your cat turns their nostril up at a bowl filled with pet food. Cat meals has a stronger taste and aroma to make it appetizing to finicky felines, and pet food lacks the enchantment. In case you uncover that your cat has helped themself to the pet food bowl, don’t panic. Pet food isn’t poisonous — simply guarantee that it’s not their essential supply of meals: Cats want an entire and balanced food plan formulated for his or her particular dietary wants.

Methods to cease your cat from consuming pet food

In case your cat has acquired a style for pet food — lack of important vitamins and all — Dr. Butzer advises the only strategy: Don’t feed it to them. Additionally, when you have each a canine and a cat in your residing house, she advises this approach to keep away from dinner-time mix-ups.  “Feed your canine in a distinct space and decide up the bowl,” she says.

Alternate options to pet food for cats

Barring pet food, there are lots of secure human meals for cats, like broccoli, cantaloupe, carrots, hen, fish oil, inexperienced beans, pumpkin, salmon, sardines and turkey. These are all issues that may be added along with the meals you purchase them. Dr. Butzer doesn’t promote feeding your pet a strictly do-it-yourself food plan.

Excessive-quality industrial cat meals choices

Dr. Butzer recommends Royal Canin, which is bought at pet shops. Discuss to your vet for different choices they might advocate.