Can Cats Eat Dog Food? The Impact of Dog Food on Cats and Choosing the Right Cat Food!
Can Cats Eat Dog Food? The Impact of Dog Food on Cats and Choosing the Right Cat Food!
We often hear people say that "good" is a perfect state of life, and Pipi Cat wants to say that being both a cat and a dog is the ultimate goal of all cat and dog parents.
Many people think that having an extra dog or cat is just a simple matter of having one more bowl. However, feeding cats and dogs is very different. Pipi Cat wants to debunk the myth first, cats and dogs can't eat the same food. In other words, it is actually a ridiculous mistake to feed cats dog food for a long time. Here are the reasons why Pipi Cat is specifically talking about this.
Dogs need different nutrients.
Why can't cats and dogs eat the same food? The simple and brutal explanation is that cats are very simple and strict carnivores, while canines are omnivores. You can't force a person who only eats meat to eat vegetarian food. That's what you mean, so if you think you should use it to give your cat meat, that's completely sensible.
The ingredients of ordinary commercial cat food and dog food are different. Cat food has a higher proportion of meat than dog food, and dog food has a higher proportion of grains. However, the large amount of starch and carbohydrates in dog food can even have adverse effects on cats, such as obesity and diabetes!
Although cats won't be directly killed by eating dog food, cats that eat dog food for a long time will have serious health problems due to lack of necessary nutrients and develop some diseases.
1. Cats need more protein
The main food of carnivores is meat, and the most abundant nutrient in meat is protein. Cats maintain their energy and blood sugar levels by consuming protein.
Omnivores mainly use carbohydrates in food to produce energy for the body, which means that cats fed dog food can hardly reach the protein content they need.
Cats have a higher demand and consumption of protein than dogs. Normally, cats' diet should be mainly meat, and the protein content of cat food should be at least 26% to meet basic needs.
Consequences of deficiency: Lack of protein intake can lead to digestive dysfunction in cats and make them more susceptible to anemia. Inadequate intake in kittens can affect development and even reproductive function.
2. Cats need more fat
Fat is another energy source for cats besides protein. Cats primarily need glycerol from fatty substances to produce the energy their bodies need. You also need fat to store a variety of vitamins, which are fat-soluble.
The two essential fatty acids for cats are linoleic acid and arachidonic acid, which are indispensable elements in cats' diets. Especially this substance called arachidonic acid, can only be supplemented by ingesting animal tissues, liver or egg yolks, so cats have a much higher demand for animal fat than dogs.
Consequences of deficiency: The calorie content of fat in a cat's diet should account for 20%-40% of the total calorie intake, otherwise, it will lead to slow growth, dry hair, dandruff on the skin, and poor physical condition.
3. Cats need taurine
Cats that can't catch mice are not good cats. This was once the idea of many people. Does a cat really like the taste of mice? Cats prey on mice simply because they lack taurine in their bodies, not because they have a heavy taste.
Most cats nowadays have lost their ability to catch mice. That's because most cat food today contains taurine that cats need, so they don't have to bother catching mice.
Taurine is an amino acid that cats cannot produce themselves, but fish, poultry, and hearts are rich in taurine. It should be noted that taurine is easily lost during high-temperature processing.
Consequences of deficiency: Taurine's function in cats is to enhance their night vision. An adult cat needs about 60-80 mg of taurine per day, which is basically enough to meet its needs. If there is a long-term deficiency, it can lead to blindness, active dilation, and even infertility, miscarriage, and other serious consequences.
4. Cats need more vitamins
Cats also have an essential need for active vitamin A and vitamin B.
1. Active Vitamin A: Cats cannot convert carotene in fruits and vegetables into vitamin A like humans and dogs, so they can only obtain active vitamin A from animal bodies. Cod liver oil, animal liver, egg yolks, and dairy products can all be ingested. However, it is important to note that vitamin A is a fat-soluble vitamin, and long-term excessive intake can accumulate in the cat's body, causing harm.
2. Vitamin B: Cats have a 6-8 times higher need for vitamin B than dogs. In general, high-quality cat food on the market is fortified with vitamin B, which basically meets the cat's needs. However, if it is a sick cat, you need to supplement it.
Consequences of deficiency: Long-term intake of these two vitamins has a significant impact on the nervous system and brain health of cats. It can also lead to decreased vision in cats, dry hair, poor skin resistance, affecting muscle health and the healthy development of the reproductive system.
From the above explanation, it can be seen that feeding cats dog food for a long time or mixing it is harmful to the body. Cats usually eat cat food, so what are the standards and requirements for choosing cat food?
How to Choose the Right Cat Food
1. Look at the ingredients
Regular cat food packaging must have a clear nutritional information table. You should choose according to the nutrients that cats need.
The proportion of meat in cat food is relatively large, so the source of the meat determines the quality and price of cat food. The ingredient list must clearly state the types of meat. Generally speaking, cats with protein content below 30% cannot reach the growth stage and growing stage. However, the most important thing is to make choices based on the actual situation of each cat parent.
2. See the needs
Every normal brand of cat food will produce cat food with specific formulas according to the cat's age, body shape, and other physical conditions. For example, if the cat is thinner, you can choose cat food with higher protein and fat content; obese cats can choose cat food with higher cellulose content for weight loss; cats with certain diseases can choose prescription drugs, etc.
3. Smell the smell
It is best to choose cat food with less preservatives and treated with natural preservatives. This kind of cat food has a short shelf life and should be paid attention to in time. After opening the cat food, you can smell the aroma. If there is a particularly strong oily smell, then food attractants can be added.
It is most important to ensure the healthy growth of cats. Eating is the most important thing. Don't take illness lightly. Cat parents must not be careless!
We often hear people say that "good" is a perfect state of life, and Pipi Cat wants to say that being both a cat and a dog is the ultimate goal of all cat and dog parents.
Many people think that having an extra dog or cat is just a simple matter of having one more bowl. However, feeding cats and dogs is very different. Pipi Cat wants to debunk the myth first, cats and dogs can't eat the same food. In other words, it is actually a ridiculous mistake to feed cats dog food for a long time. Here are the reasons why Pipi Cat is specifically talking about this.
Dogs need different nutrients.
Why can't cats and dogs eat the same food? The simple and brutal explanation is that cats are very simple and strict carnivores, while canines are omnivores. You can't force a person who only eats meat to eat vegetarian food. That's what you mean, so if you think you should use it to give your cat meat, that's completely sensible.
The ingredients of ordinary commercial cat food and dog food are different. Cat food has a higher proportion of meat than dog food, and dog food has a higher proportion of grains. However, the large amount of starch and carbohydrates in dog food can even have adverse effects on cats, such as obesity and diabetes!
Although cats won't be directly killed by eating dog food, cats that eat dog food for a long time will have serious health problems due to lack of necessary nutrients and develop some diseases.
1. Cats need more protein
The main food of carnivores is meat, and the most abundant nutrient in meat is protein. Cats maintain their energy and blood sugar levels by consuming protein.
Omnivores mainly use carbohydrates in food to produce energy for the body, which means that cats fed dog food can hardly reach the protein content they need.
Cats have a higher demand and consumption of protein than dogs. Normally, cats' diet should be mainly meat, and the protein content of cat food should be at least 26% to meet basic needs.
Consequences of deficiency: Lack of protein intake can lead to digestive dysfunction in cats and make them more susceptible to anemia. Inadequate intake in kittens can affect development and even reproductive function.
2. Cats need more fat
Fat is another energy source for cats besides protein. Cats primarily need glycerol from fatty substances to produce the energy their bodies need. You also need fat to store a variety of vitamins, which are fat-soluble.
The two essential fatty acids for cats are linoleic acid and arachidonic acid, which are indispensable elements in cats' diets. Especially this substance called arachidonic acid, can only be supplemented by ingesting animal tissues, liver or egg yolks, so cats have a much higher demand for animal fat than dogs.
Consequences of deficiency: The calorie content of fat in a cat's diet should account for 20%-40% of the total calorie intake, otherwise, it will lead to slow growth, dry hair, dandruff on the skin, and poor physical condition.
3. Cats need taurine
Cats that can't catch mice are not good cats. This was once the idea of many people. Does a cat really like the taste of mice? Cats prey on mice simply because they lack taurine in their bodies, not because they have a heavy taste.
Most cats nowadays have lost their ability to catch mice. That's because most cat food today contains taurine that cats need, so they don't have to bother catching mice.
Taurine is an amino acid that cats cannot produce themselves, but fish, poultry, and hearts are rich in taurine. It should be noted that taurine is easily lost during high-temperature processing.
Consequences of deficiency: Taurine's function in cats is to enhance their night vision. An adult cat needs about 60-80 mg of taurine per day, which is basically enough to meet its needs. If there is a long-term deficiency, it can lead to blindness, active dilation, and even infertility, miscarriage, and other serious consequences.
4. Cats need more vitamins
Cats also have an essential need for active vitamin A and vitamin B.
1. Active Vitamin A: Cats cannot convert carotene in fruits and vegetables into vitamin A like humans and dogs, so they can only obtain active vitamin A from animal bodies. Cod liver oil, animal liver, egg yolks, and dairy products can all be ingested. However, it is important to note that vitamin A is a fat-soluble vitamin, and long-term excessive intake can accumulate in the cat's body, causing harm.
2. Vitamin B: Cats have a 6-8 times higher need for vitamin B than dogs. In general, high-quality cat food on the market is fortified with vitamin B, which basically meets the cat's needs. However, if it is a sick cat, you need to supplement it.
Consequences of deficiency: Long-term intake of these two vitamins has a significant impact on the nervous system and brain health of cats. It can also lead to decreased vision in cats, dry hair, poor skin resistance, affecting muscle health and the healthy development of the reproductive system.
From the above explanation, it can be seen that feeding cats dog food for a long time or mixing it is harmful to the body. Cats usually eat cat food, so what are the standards and requirements for choosing cat food?
How to Choose the Right Cat Food
1. Look at the ingredients
Regular cat food packaging must have a clear nutritional information table. You should choose according to the nutrients that cats need.
The proportion of meat in cat food is relatively large, so the source of the meat determines the quality and price of cat food. The ingredient list must clearly state the types of meat. Generally speaking, cats with protein content below 30% cannot reach the growth stage and growing stage. However, the most important thing is to make choices based on the actual situation of each cat parent.
2. See the needs
Every normal brand of cat food will produce cat food with specific formulas according to the cat's age, body shape, and other physical conditions. For example, if the cat is thinner, you can choose cat food with higher protein and fat content; obese cats can choose cat food with higher cellulose content for weight loss; cats with certain diseases can choose prescription drugs, etc.
3. Smell the smell
It is best to choose cat food with less preservatives and treated with natural preservatives. This kind of cat food has a short shelf life and should be paid attention to in time. After opening the cat food, you can smell the aroma. If there is a particularly strong oily smell, then food attractants can be added.
It is most important to ensure the healthy growth of cats. Eating is the most important thing. Don't take illness lightly. Cat parents must not be careless!
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