Why does a cat eat dog food

If you have several pets in your home, you may have noticed how a cat and a dog steal food from each other from time to time. And although they can be best friends, sleep and play together, it’s still not worth giving them the same food. Why are cats attracted to dog food and is it safe for cats to eat what a dog eats?

Photo: flickr

Why do cats like dog food?

There are several reasons why cats may be attracted to dog food.

1. The smell of certain ingredients. Cats are naturally carnivorous, and the aroma of meat can encourage them to stick their nose into a dog bowl, especially if it’s not dry food, but canned food. And if the cat does not like the food that you have chosen for her, but is attracted by the smell of the dog, Purr may well try to join Druzhok’s dinner.
2. The texture of the food is another reason why a cat may nibble on dog food. All cats are different, with different preferences, but if you see your cat trying to put its paw in the dog bowl over and over again, it may be that she likes to feel on her tongue exactly the kind of food that your dog eats.
3. Perhaps the cat is simply uncomfortable eating her own food. For example, cats with short muzzles (such as Persians) may have trouble picking up bits of food from their bowl, and the food you give your dog is more comfortable in this regard.

Photo: pexels

Is dog food harmful to cats?

According to PetMD, dog food is not the best food for a cat. At least as a main component of the diet.

The fact is that the composition of dog food is different from the composition of cat food, which means that cats that eat dog food lack important components. For example, vitamin A is often added to cat food because cats need an additional source of this vitamin. The same applies to taurine and arachidonic acid. These ingredients are not added to dry dog ​​food, and a lack of, for example, taurine for a cat can cause cardiovascular diseases.

After all, cats need more protein than dogs, as they are strictly carnivores, while dogs are carnivores. And dog food for cats is too poor in this respect.

How to keep dog food away from cats?

If a cat eats dog food only occasionally, there is nothing to worry about. However, it is still best to keep the cat away from the dog bowl. The best way is to feed the pets in different places and exclude free access to each other’s food.