Can I feed my dog’s food to our cat (or the cat’s food to our dog)?
Dogs and cats have different nutrient requirements, which means commercial foods designed for dogs are not designed to meet the nutritional needs of cats (and vice versa). This is the primary reason why you should not feed dog food to cats (and vice versa).
In what ways are commercial cat and dog foods different?
There are several nutrients that are distinctly different between cat and dog foods.
- Cats require the amino acid taurine, while dogs do not.
- Cats need higher amounts of several other amino acids (like arginine) and an overall higher level of protein than dogs.
- Both dogs and cats require the essential fatty acid called linoleic acid, but cats also need a fatty acid called “arachidonic”, which only comes from animal sources.
- Dogs can make their own vitamin A when they have the precursor called beta-carotene in their food; however, cats lack an important enzyme and cannot do this, which means they need pre-formed Vitamin A directly in their diet.
- Both cats and dogs need niacin for a balanced diet, but cats need quite a bit more than dogs.
What might happen if dogs eat only cat food, or cats eat only dog food?
A healthy adult dog eating only cat food every day would likely gain weight and eventually become obese. Once a dog has met its essential amino acid requirements, any extra protein in the cat food will get converted (or metabolized) to fat. To reduce the chance of a dog gaining weight, it should not be fed cat food.
Cats that eat only dog food can develop signs of illness – sometimes within hours or over several days or weeks. Clinical signs might be nausea, vomiting, weight loss, or even seizures. A morsel or two of dog food won’t hurt most healthy cats, but commercial dog diets are not intended to be the sole source of nutrition for cats.
What about treats? Could I feed my cat’s treats to the dog (or vice versa)?
Most cat treats are small and have few Calories, usually only 1 to 4 Calories per treat. Therefore, feeding one or two small cat treats to an otherwise healthy dog each day would not pose a problem. Dog treats, on the other hand, can vary widely in size and Calories, so only a small treat with less than 5 Calories per piece should be offered to cats.
Avoid feeding excessive amounts of either dog or cat treats to reduce the chance of weight gain or obesity.
How do I calculate the number of Calories my pet needs each day?
Ask your veterinary healthcare team to help you calculate each of your pet’s daily Calorie needs. You should also talk to your family vet about the volume of food each of your pets should be offered at each meal.
Commercial dog and cat foods have different amounts of energy (or Calories) in each gram of food, which means you can measure out one cup of two different pet foods and each cup will have a different number of Calories.
A general guideline for treats is that no more than 10% of a pet’s total daily calories should come from treats, snacks, or people foods. This rule applies to both dogs and cats.
Does each pet need their own food bowl?
Although many pet owners prefer to use one food bowl for multiple dogs (or cats) to eat from, there are two important reasons to always feed each pet from its own bowl.
- Dogs and cats have individual calorie needs, which means each pet needs a different volume of food. Feeding measured amounts in separate food bowls is the best way to ensure dogs and cats are not over- or under-fed.
- When dogs and cats don’t feel well, they don’t eat as much (or not at all). If they are being fed in separate bowls, it will be obvious that they don’t feel well and should be taken to the family vet for a check-up. When only one food bowl is used, it could be days or weeks before a pet parent realizes that one of the pets is not eating its usual amount of food.
Can all our cats (or all our dogs) drink from one water bowl?
Yes, pets can share and drink from the same water bowl; however, there should be one source of fresh, clean water available for each pet in the home. For example, if there are two dogs and two cats living in a home, then there should be four different bowls of fresh clean water placed in various areas around the house.
Depending on where the animals spend time and where they eat, water bowls can be strategically placed in a kitchen, basement, backyard, office, mud room, laundry room, or garage.
Can our new puppy/kitten and our older dog/cat share the same food?
It is not recommended that growing puppies or kittens share the same food as adult pets in the home. Puppy and kitten foods are formulated to meet the nutrient requirements of “growth” rather than “adult maintenance”. Growth products have different nutrients and different amounts than what is typically found in adult foods.
Growing puppies eating strictly adult dog food are at risk for nutritional deficiencies that could show up as bone, joint, skin, or haircoat issues. Growing kittens eating strictly adult cat food might be at risk for some nutritional deficiencies, too. Any puppy or kitten that is not eating well or is rapidly losing or gaining weight should be examined by their veterinarian.
Most healthy adult dogs eating strictly puppy food would be expected to gain weight and eventually become obese. The same situation would be expected for many healthy adult cats eating strictly kitten food. Since obesity leads to several other serious disease conditions, all pet owners should help their pets stay in ideal body shape by practicing body condition scoring. See the handout “Body Condition Scores” or ask your veterinarian for more information.
"Any puppy or kitten that is not eating well or is rapidly losing
or gaining weight should be examined by their veterinarian."
Some pet food manufacturers market their brands as appropriate for “all life stages”, which suggests the product is suitable for growing animals as well as adults. Pet parents should know that these products are designed or formulated to meet the nutrient needs of growth and will have excess nutrients (Calories, protein, fat, etc.) for adult animals.
How do I keep my puppy/kitten out of our older dog’s/cat’s special food?
The “low tech” and least costly approach to keeping your puppy or kitten out of an older pet’s special diet is to feed each animal from its own feeding bowl and in separate areas of the home. Older pets may prefer the quiet space of a bedroom or bathroom, while younger pets can be fed in or near the kitchen and given access to a litterbox or outdoors so they can “do their business” shortly after eating.
"The “low tech” and least costly approach to keeping your puppy or kitten out of an older pet’s special diet is to feed each animal from its own feeding bowl and in separate areas of the home."
Automatic feeders are another option. These are set on a timer to release a controlled amount of food at specific hours during the day or night. Some models are designed to read a pet’s microchip and will only release food when that pet is nearby. Your family vet can calculate the number of calories your older pet needs and help determine the volume of food to be released at each meal. Automatic feeders range in price from about US$55 to US$300 and can be found at a variety of online stores.
Food puzzles are also a good investment and can keep a younger pet busy and engaged while slowing their pace of eating. Some pet parents use food puzzles every day (instead of placing food in a bowl), but puzzles can also be used a few times per week to deliver treats or meals.
This approach takes some patience while you teach the young pet how to work a puzzle to remove the food. Some dogs and cats enjoy certain puzzles more than others, and it may be helpful to read online reviews from people who have tried them. Commercial food puzzles range between US$10 and US$50, or you can check online websites for instructions on making your own. See handout “Feeding the Mind and Body: Interactive Feeders for Dogs and Cats” for more information.
