What's the difference: Can you feed cat food to dogs?

Cats and dogs are carnivores in the animal kingdom, and they eat meat. But even with such similarities in their diets, their nutrition can differ significantly. This is because dogs have spent too much time with humans, sharing their lifestyle and, consequently, their diet. This has led to a dog's body adapting to processed foods that are not found in the wild. At the same time, they have difficulty digesting and often even rejecting unprocessed natural foods.

Differences between cat and dog food

Dogs have long ceased to be pure carnivores; they've become more omnivorous. And with each day spent living alongside humans, this trait only intensifies. Therefore, meat accounts for approximately 30-50% of a dog's total diet, and this is completely normal. Dogs have learned to seek out protein and other essential components for normal functioning not only in animal meat but also in other foods.

This raises doubts, given that cats have also spent a significant amount of time in close proximity to humans, as cats have shared homes with their owners since the time of Ancient Egypt. However, cats have remained pure predators, like all their relatives. Thus, humans have been unable to influence the cat's character and habits; even domestic cats still hunt small animals in or around their homes.

Can you feed dogs cat food?

Cat and dog food manufacturers develop food specifically for each species, taking into account their unique characteristics. Therefore, replacing store-bought cat food with dog food is not recommended. For example, a cat that constantly eats dog food without the opportunity to catch small game will experience biological starvation, which can lead to organ dysfunction and even serious illnesses that can lead to death.

Dogs find cat food tastier. Of course, it does, because it contains more animal protein. But this is precisely the problem. It's the excess animal protein and fat that has a detrimental effect on a dog's health, specifically its liver. If a dog is severely allergic, symptoms will appear immediately. It's more difficult with other dogs; they'll simply eat cat food as if nothing were wrong. But then they might simply fall ill with a host of serious illnesses that will require lengthy and painstaking treatment, though it's not guaranteed to be successful.

If your dog regularly eats cat food, the following health problems may arise:

rapid weight gain;
digestive problems;
ulcers, gastritis, fatty liver and other problems with internal organs;
delayed growth and development due to improper selection of nutrients;
partial hair loss;
diabetes mellitus;
Problems with urination and urolithiasis.

Such disorders will have a significant impact on your dog's health and reduce its quality of life. All of these problems are solvable and treatable, but much will depend on your dog's individual characteristics.

Dogs can eat cat food one time, as one meal will not cause significant harm to your pet.

Therefore, it's best to avoid feeding your dog cat food and buy only high-quality food. And if your dog suddenly becomes addicted to cat food, you should wean it off immediately.

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