Can Dogs Eat Cat Food?

Dog and cat food may seem pretty similar on the surface, but there are certain differences to take note of. Felines are carnivores and need meat as their main source of food. Canines, however, are omnivores and require diets with more fibres, something a strictly carnivorous diet can’t provide.

In addition to the necessary meat requirements that felines have, they also need certain B-complex vitamins and amino acids such as taurine, something that dog food doesn’t contain.

Cat food also tend to contain more proteins and fats than dog food, which is probably why it seems more appealing to Fido.

What Happens If My Dog Eats Cat Food?  

Pooches that overindulge in cat food may suffer from an upset tummy due to the high levels of fat in the cat food. This can result in diarrhoea or vomiting.

An occasional scoop or two of cat food won’t harm your dog's health, but in the long run, a pooch that only eats cat food might become overweight and may miss out on some important nutrients contained in dog food that cat food lacks.

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When your pup’s excretory system is unable to remove the extra protein provided by the cat food, the excess protein becomes urea. When urea accumulates, kidney problems can arise.

Try placing their bowls at different areas of the house to keep Fido away from Puss’s food. If your pup still has the tendency to steal some kitty food after he’s done with his, do place a gate at kitty’s feeding area to cordon off your greedy pup.

^{*This article was updated on 29 Jul 2020. It first appeared in PetsMagazine.com on 11 Oct 2016.}