Why is a cat eating dog food and is it safe?

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If several pets live in your house, you may have noticed how the cat and dog from time to time drag each other's food. And although they can be best friends, sleep and play together, you should not give them the same food. Why is cats attracted to dog food and is it safe for cats to feast on what the dog eats?

Photo: flickr

Why do cats like dog food?

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

The smell of certain ingredients. Cats are predators by nature, and the aroma of meat can cause them to stick their nose in a dog bowl, especially if there is not dry food, but canned food. And if the cat doesn’t like the food that you have chosen for it, but it attracts the smell of the dog, Murlyka may well try to join the friend's dinner.
The texture of the feed is another reason why a cat can encroach on dog food. All cats are different, with their own preferences, but if you see that your cat is trying to “start paw” into the dog bowl over and over, maybe she likes to feel in the tongue exactly the kind of food your dog eats.
Perhaps the cat is just uncomfortable eating her own food. For example, cats with a short face (such as Persian) can have difficulty digging out pieces of food from their bowl, and the food that you give the dog is more convenient in this regard.

Photo: pexels

Is dog food harmful for cats?

According to PetMD, dog food is not the best way to feed a cat. At least as the 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 feed on dog food lack important components. For example, vitamin A is often added to cat food, as 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 deficiency of, for example, taurine for cats can cause cardiovascular disease.

After all, cats need more protein than dogs, because they are strictly carnivorous creatures, while dogs are carnivorous. And dog food for cats is too poor in this regard.

How to protect dog food from cats?

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