Wouldn’t it be nice if we could feed our dogs and cats the same primary diet? Unfortunately, these species have different nutritional requirements.
“Dog food cannot be a cat’s primary diet, as it does not contain all the nutrients a cat needs in their diet to be healthy,” says Leni K. Kaplan, MS, DVM, senior lecturer at Cornell University’s College of Veterinary Medicine. “It is fine if a cat snacks or munches on dog food, but they should eat a nutritionally complete and balanced cat food as the majority of their daily food intake.”
Obligate Carnivores
Unlike dogs, our feline friends must have protein from animal sources (i.e., meat) in their diet. Cats must get vitamin A, arachidonic acid, and taurine from their food to lead normal, healthy lives, and they need more of some amino acids. Because of these factors, dog food usually doesn’t contain the full spectrum of nutrients that cats need.
Try Canned and Dry
Experiment to find a nutritionally complete and balanced cat food that your cat loves. “I don’t think I have ever met a cat that won’t eat some form of cat food,” says Dr. Kaplan. “They will usually eat either dry or canned or both.”
If you have been offering canned food for your cat and he just isn’t into it, try switching to a different texture or offering dry kibble. Some cats truly prefer the crunch of kibble! You can also pick a cat food with the same protein source as the dog food that your cat likes to steal, since you already know that he likes that flavor.
When to Seek Help
“If the cat absolutely refuses to eat cat food, canned or dry, they should schedule a visit with their veterinarian,” says Dr. Kaplan.
These signs indicate your cat needs a veterinary exam:
- Decreased appetite
- Weight loss
- Approaching the food bowl and then turning away/avoiding it
- Difficulty chewing
- Tilting head and only chewing on one side
- Eating non-food items such as paper, wood chips, hair ties, etc.
- Vomiting
- Diarrhea
- Dropping food while chewing
Bottom Line
Snacking on dog food once in a while or as a treat is perfectly safe for your cat, but feed him a food designed specifically for cats as his primary source of calories.
And remember that cats can eat out of boredom or when they aren’t really hungry, just like we do. “Most of the cats I know will seek out human or dog food because they are always looking to eat!” says Dr. Kaplan. For these highly food-motivated felines, keep leftover food safely shut in a cabinet or the refrigerator to prevent thievery.ν
Adopted an Adult Cat?
Start with an appointment with your veterinarian. “For newly adopted older cats, they should be seen by a veterinarian to evaluate their oral health. If they are diagnosed with dental disease, they will usually need a dental procedure under anesthesia to address their dental health,” says Dr. Kaplan. “Once their teeth are cleaned and pain free, the owner can start to work with the cat to acclimate to daily tooth brushing.”
