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With so many options out there, it’s no simple task to choose the best diet for your pet. If your furry family includes both dogs and cats, the task becomes doubly difficult. Unfortunately, you can’t just feed them all the same thing and expect positive results.
Cats and dogs have different nutritional requirements. The healthiest diet for each is formulated with those needs in mind. But what if your cat sneaks a few bites from your dog’s bowl? Or maybe you’ve run out of cat food but have extra dog food on hand. You might be wondering: Is dog food bad for cats? And is cat food bad for dogs?
We spoke to veterinarians and animal nutrition experts to find out what happens if cats and dogs eat each other’s food. In this guide, we’ll explain the consequences and offer practical tips for feeding your pet in a pinch when supplies run low.
Cats Can’t Eat Dog Food
If a cat sneaks a few bites of dog food, they’re unlikely to suffer serious ill-effects. But it’s not a good idea to deliberately feed your cat dog food, or vice versa.
The fact of the matter is that dogs and cats have different nutritional requirements. By necessity, commercial diets for dogs and cats are formulated according to very different nutrient profiles.
Neus Torrent, DVM, a veterinarian, animal nutritionist, and Head of Innovation for Outdoor Bengal, explains. “While occasional consumption of each other’s food is unlikely to cause immediate harm, it is crucial to provide pets with food specifically formulated for their species to ensure they receive the proper nutrients for their long-term health.”
Let’s talk about how cat and dog food are different.
Cats are considered obligate carnivores, while dogs have adapted to a more omnivorous diet over millennia of domestication by humans. Protein is essential for both species, but dogs and cats have different requirements for the amino acids from which proteins are made. Certain vitamins are also more easily absorbed by a cat’s body when they come from animal sources versus plants.
“For example, cats need taurine, arachidonic acid, and preformed vitamin A,” says Dr. Torrent, “which may not be present in adequate amounts in dog food.”
Commercial cat food is generally formulated with higher dry-matter concentrations of crude protein and fat than dog food. A cat eating dog food as their staple diet might not get enough of these essential nutrients. Dog food also tends to rely more heavily on carbohydrates, which cats have a limited ability to digest.
Can You Feed Your Cat Dog Food in a Pinch?
Life gets hectic and sometimes the best you can do is work with what you’ve got. But when it comes to emergency meals for cats and dogs, a simple swap shouldn’t be the go-to solution. In other words, you shouldn’t give your cat dog food if their regular diet runs dry. Or vice versa.
Let’s discuss what to do instead.
In a pinch, you may be able to put together a relatively balanced substitute meal for your pet using items from your fridge or pantry. Keep in mind that an appropriate emergency meal for a cat will look different than one for a dog.
According to Greg Reinhart, PhD, the Vice President of Research and Development at Pet Honesty, “On a short-term basis, cooked meat or cooked eggs can be offered to a cat.” Remove any bones from the meat and avoid using seasonings.
For dogs, offer a blend of meat and carbohydrates. Nell Ostermeier, DVM, CVA, FAAVA, recommends a ratio of two parts meat to one part grain and/or vegetables. For example, a cup of cooked chicken breast with a half cup of steamed rice.
If cat- or dog-friendly ingredients aren’t available, a few portions of another pet’s food may be the only option. Dr. Torrent cautions, however, that while dogs may readily accept cat food, “cats may not be interested in or may refuse to eat dog food.” She also stresses the importance of keeping a backup supply of pet food on hand to avoid such a situation.
What Happens If My Cat Ate Some Dog Food?
If your cat isn’t the picky type, they might be tempted to sneak bites from your dog’s bowl. Given their food-motivated natures, dogs are even more likely to show interest in cat food. So is it bad for cats to eat dog food and vice versa?
The good news is that a few bites is unlikely to do any serious harm. But that’s not to say there’s no risk involved.
“Depending on the quantity of cat food consumed,” says Dr. Reinhart, “a dog may have digestive upset due to the higher fat and protein content.” A cat eating dog food could experience tummy troubles as well. It may simply be due to the sudden change in diet or exposure to unfamiliar ingredients.
Regardless of the species, when your pet eats something inappropriate, it’s important to monitor them for adverse effects.
Watch for signs of digestive upset such as vomiting, loose stools, or diarrhea. If symptoms worsen or continue for more than 24 hours, consult your veterinarian. Toxicity is unlikely with commercial diets for pets, since many of the same ingredients that are harmful to dogs are also harmful to cats. But you can always ask your vet or call the Pet Poison Helpline to double-check.
How To Keep Your Cat Out of the Dog’s Food
Keeping one pet out of another’s food could be as easy as changing how or where you feed your pets. It usually depends on which pet is causing the problem.
As Dr. Reinhart explains, “Dogs tend to be meal eaters, while cats tend to eat smaller portions throughout the day.” A little mealtime supervision goes a long way in making sure your dog eats their whole meal before the cat can get to it. For cat food-curious dogs, simply placing the cat food bowl above the dog’s reach may be sufficient.
Dr. Reinhart offers these general tips for keeping pets out of each other’s food:
- Supervise meal time and remove uneaten portions of food.
- Use elevated dog bowls or place cat bowls out of the dog’s reach.
- Utilize pet gates to limit access to feeding areas.
- Feed cats portioned meals using a dog-proof automatic cat feeder.
If your pets are particularly determined to sample each other’s food and mealtime supervision isn’t a viable option, consider using microchip feeders. These feeders sync to your pet’s implanted microchip or a wearable tag, keeping the food covered until the right pet comes within range.
Don’t forget to take steps to keep your pet food supply secure between meals. Proper pet food storage not only keeps your pets from sneaking snacks, but it also helps preserve the food’s flavor and nutritional value.