Can Cats Eat Puppy Food? Is it Safe for Cats to Eat Puppy Food?

Can Cats Eat Puppy Food? Cats can eat puppy food unless it is a very high quality food, and there is no meat in the white kibble.

The only thing that does not match the four-legged pets is their food. Most cat owners often wonder, can cats eat puppy food? This article will answer this question and what you should do before giving your feline friend a meal.

If you have a cat and a dog living together under the same roof and run out of food in an emergency, you need to know about letting your cat try dog food.

Can cats eat puppy food?

The short answer is yes, but only for a short time or as a last resort. You can only use puppy food as an emergency solution when your cat runs out of food.

Regularly eating dog food for cats can be detrimental to their health and well-being. Since dog food is very high in protein and fat and low in many nutrients, dogs have a lot of energy, while cats are more prone to obesity and diabetes.

If your cat’s primary diet is canine-based food, you may find that it has harmed them. It is good to know what specific foods your cat should avoid before giving him those substitute meals.

Is it Safe for Cats to Eat Puppy Food?

If you have more than one dog at home or your cat is used to eating dog food, it could become a habit.

It’s usually not advisable to switch their diet too high protein food sources because dehydration or constipation can cause.

The main thing you need to watch out for is that there are no harmful bacteria in the puppy chow since dogs’ immune system is much stronger than cats’.

Can Cats Safely Eat Dog Food Long-Term?

No, cats can’t eat dog food safely in the long run.

If a cat is fed only dog food for a long time, harmful, if not fatal, consequences can occur. Do not let your kitty get used to eating dog food, and keep him on a strict diet when there is a shortage.

If you have no other choice, you can give your cat dried dog food as it is not filled with harmful bacteria. Also, please do not feed your cat dog food for longer than two months, and make sure that it doesn’t become a regular part of the diet.

Why is puppy food bad for cats in the long term?

Most regular dog food is too high in protein and fat, which are more harmful to cats than dogs. It is important to note that dog food is not good for cats long-term due to the following reasons:

1. It can cause dehydration and electrolyte imbalance in cats.

2. It causes constipation, enlargement of the abdomen, weight gain, and diarrhea in cats.

3. It can cause gastric problems like vomiting, diarrhea, and blood loss in cats.

4. It will harden your cat’s liver if he is overfed with it, leading to tummy troubles and even death later on.

5. Since cats are carnivores, they require certain nutrients usually found in cat food, like taurine. The lack of which will result in blindness and heart disorders.

6. High-protein puppy chow is good for dogs as it helps them grow more muscles but is not very healthy for cats as it can cause obesity and diabetes.

7. Cats cannot digest carbohydrates as well as dogs, which can result in diarrhea and vomiting, or constipation if left untreated.

What are the differences between cat food and dog food?

If you are using human food to feed your cat, there really is no difference in the nutrient composition since both cats and dogs are carnivores. The only difference is the ingredients present in each food.

Here are some of the key differences between the two types of pet food.

1. Proteins:

Dogs have around 27 percent protein in their diets, while cats have only 20 percent.

The percentage of proteins in dog food is high because it comes from meat and bones, while they are just a minor part of cat foods.

2. Carbohydrates:

Dogs can digest carbohydrates much better than cats, but they need more of them than cats to be healthy. If your cat has a low level of carbohydrates in his diet, he might develop constipation and diarrhea.

3. Food Source:

Dog food comes from grain which is essential for dogs that do not have an appetite to eat meat yet. Dog food can also cause allergies in many cats, so it’s important to feed cat food if you have more than one pet at home.

4. Taste:

Dog food tastes better than cat food since it has more variety in taste, texture, and smell. You’ll probably find that your cat will eat dog food more willingly than cat chow.

5. Vitamins:

Dog food has more vitamins, especially those that cats need. Since your canine friend has a more developed sense of taste, he can eat foods with fewer nutrients and still be satisfied.

6. Minerals:

Dog food has more minerals than cat food, but the two are not that different.

7. Fat:

Dogs require a higher fat content than cats to remain healthy because their metabolism is faster.

8. Arachidonic Acid:

One of the main differences between cat food and dog food is that dogs need more Arachidonic Acid than cats. This acid helps produce prostaglandins, which are essential for the growth and repair of cells.

Can Puppy Food Make Your Cat Sick?

If the diet is not changed for a long time, feeding your cat, only dog food can be fatal. In case you want to switch their diet, here’s how you should go about it:

1. Allow your cat to get used to the new diet first.

2. Introduce the dog food slowly, a little every two days.

3. Do not feed him for at least 6 weeks on this diet before switching back to the regular one you had in mind for a while now.

What happens if a cat eats puppy food?

There are many reasons why your pet may suddenly start eating dog food. It is important to find out why they started doing so and whether they will be able to recover.

It may be that the cat is already adapted to a different diet, or he has simply become bored with the same one.

One of the main causes is stomach diseases: cancer, ulcers, vomiting, and constipation.

Rest assured now as there are treatments for these illnesses that help a lot, especially in constipation or colitis (inflammation).

If your cat was eating too much dog food and switched to a more healthy diet, he could have been overfed with it and developed an intestinal problem.

If you notice your cat may be eating too much dog food, make sure that he is not sick and feed him a healthy diet.

How to prevent cats from eating the dog’s food?

You may be wondering how to prevent your cat from eating other people’s food. Well, you can actually make sure that he will not try to eat the dog’s food by doing these simple things:

1. Lock the Food:

FIRSTLY, place a little piece of kibble in your kitty bowl and a couple of tidbits of cheese and raw chicken for him to nibble on. This way, he’ll know where his food is, and he won’t even bother looking for something else!

2. Use Dog Bowls ONLY:

NEVER use older dog bowls, as they are usually too big for cats. The bowls should be plastic, exactly like the dog’s bowls.

3. Serve Your Cat his Food:

You can use a dog treat holder to serve your cat his dog food, but it’s not as fast as trying to do it one piece at a time with your hand. You can also feed him directly from a spoon, but make sure you don’t give him too much food.

4. Set up a routine:

If you have other pets, follow the same routine as your cat and feed them first.

5. Treats:

Some people say that if you serve your cat, some dog food treats from time to time, it will help him not look for other food types. This may work, but I’m afraid it’s not as effective as some claim it is.

Final Thoughts

In conclusion, cats and dogs are both carnivores that need protein in their diets. This is the main difference between cat food and dog food. They need to get this nutrient from meat, or their bodies will not be able to function properly.

Finally, cats can eat small amounts of dog food as needed. There is no need to switch their diet to see improvement or stay healthy.

One more thing to be noted here is that you should not feed them too much puppy food. If you do this, they may become sick and require medical attention. Always double-check your pet’s eating habits with your veterinarian!

I hope this article was helpful to you. Feel free to comment below and share your thoughts on whether cats eat dog food?

Thanks for stopping by, and good luck!

FAQs