Can cats be given dog food?

Many cat owners are interested in the question of whether dog food is suitable for their pet. Dry food is becoming increasingly popular among pet owners, as it is very convenient to use them. They do not spoil for a long time, they do not need to be cooked. If the product is made according to all requirements, then it will be balanced. This means that the cat will receive the complex of nutrients that it needs. Not so long ago even food developed specifically for sick cats or prone to allergies appeared. But is this animal suitable for dog food, or is it not worth giving it?

Relevance of the issue

On the one hand, the question of whether it is possible to feed a cat with dog food can cause bewilderment. Why not just feed them food intended for them? But this question still pops up. There are several reasons for this.

1. Dog food is often cheaper when compared to the prices of one particular manufacturer.
2. Due to the fact that dog food is not being bought up as actively as cat food, stores arrange regular promotions. Thus, dog food becomes even cheaper. This causes a great temptation for cat owners. They stock up such feed for a long period.
3. If a dog and a cat live in the house, and the owner buys dry food for those and others, you can often notice that the cat steals food from the dog.

As a result, the owner comes to the conclusion that there will be nothing terrible if the cat eats dog food. Moreover, the cat eats it with such pleasure. Some of them even refuse their food, demanding exactly a dog treat. Why it happens?

This may be due to a lack of vitamins and other substances in the body due to poorly chosen food. The animal will rush to any delicious food. Maybe he attracts her so because of the more appetizing smell. There may be several reasons, and they need to be identified.

General rules

Ready-made feeds have their pros and cons. But since modern people often simply have no time to cook food for animals, they still buy ready-made.But, if there is such an opportunity, then the animal can be fully fed with food prepared on its own.

Industrial feed has its own classification. By class, he is an economy (i.e. cheap), premium (food for every day). There is also a holistic feed and super premium. By types can be divided into wet, dry, and semi-humid.

In the feed super premium has all the necessary substances. Feed can be alternately different types of food. It is desirable that they were the same company.

If you buy economy and premium, it is important to remember that there may be preservatives, and there will be less important substances and vitamins in them. But premium is suitable for daily use if the animal is healthy.

You should be careful with food economy, because it is the most risky option. Manufacturers advertise it and set a low price. But such food can harm the health of the pet. Many people buy it unknowingly, and some simply because they have no money for high-quality food. In this case, it is better to choose natural food.

Today, on the shelves of pet shops there are many types of food. You can choose the right one even for a very capricious pet.They are very fond of wet food. It may be more difficult to choose a dry option, as it does not smell so good.

There are several reasons why a buyer chooses dry food. It is cheaper than wet and semi-humid. In addition, he will definitely not spoil if the pet does not finish the portion. In this case, you can even put an automatic feeder.

The lack of a dry type is that with constant use the animal's teeth deteriorate. When a cat is young, it is imperceptible, but by old age their condition becomes much worse. Also, veterinarians claim that eating only dry food can lead to obesity and intestinal disorders. In addition, it often happens that the animal gets used to dry food. He gets addicted. The cat will starve, waiting for exactly his favorite food.

How to choose food?

Here are a few guidelines for choosing.

1. Try to buy food known brand, which has a good reputation.
2. Pay attention to special rulers, which are designed for sick, pregnant cats, or allergies.
3. On the package should be information that will be clear to everyone.Examine the composition, place of production.
4. On the package with feed should also be a barcode, information about the manufacturer and supplier, logo.
5. Find the batch number and expiration date on the package.
6. Choose a food that is designed for animals with the appropriate parameters. Remember that there are a lot of species now. Feed must be matched by age and weight. There are also special foods for different breeds.
7. So that the cat does not gain excess weight, count calories. On 1 kg of weight of an animal no more than 90 kcal.
8. Do not give cat food for dogs. If you see information that it is universal, it is better to refuse such a product.
9. Look at exactly what kind of food your pet likes.
10. Do not mix food produced by different companies.
11. Do not add bait to high-end feed.

Why not feed the cat with dog food

At first glance, this is nothing terrible. The cat eats this food, and it has no side effects or illnesses. But this is only the beginning. If such nutrition continues for a long time, the consequences will come.Few people can understand that the reason for the change is exactly this type of food.

We list the main dangerous consequences:

1. Over time, the cat will lose its muscle mass. She will start to gain weight, obesity will develop. This is due to the fact that cats need proteins in large quantities, because they are predators. And dogs are more omnivorous. The investigator, and the composition of the feed for them is developed different. Dog food contains a lot of carbohydrates, as they spend more energy while walking and training.
2. Feeding the cat with dog food will lead to heart problems and blurred vision. Taurine, which is absent in dog food, is added to cat food. This amino acid is important because it affects the metabolism.
3. The cat's digestion will be disturbed, as in dog food there are more components of plant origin.
4. Wool will deteriorate, as there will be a lack of fat.
5. Anemia and weakness. This is due to the fact that the cat's body does not produce enough amino acids. Therefore, eggs are added to cat food.
6. Another important point is the lack of vitamins B. In the dog food it is added much less than in the cat.And if the cat will miss them, it can lead to serious violations in the body of the pet.

In the end, we can say that to feed your cat food for dogs in order to save is not recommended. These species of animals have completely different needs and characteristics. If there are no funds for high-quality food, it is better to cook your own food. It does not cost more, and when it becomes a habit, it will not take a lot of time.