Do you live in a household with multiple pets, including cats and dogs? Have you ever wondered what would happen if you just fed the same food cause it’s just convenient and possibly even cheaper?
We live in a world where dogs have been immensely popular household pets for a longer time than cats have, and so there are multiple varieties of dog food available in different brands.
They also happen to be cheaper than cat food. While it would be so convenient just to buy one kind of pet food and feed it to both your pet dog and cat, there are many reasons why this is not advised.
It turns out cats and dogs don’t have the same palate preference, nor do they have the same dietary requirements.
In fact, cats require a more specific kind of nutrition that cannot be substituted with dog food at all. While cat food can sometimes be fed to dogs in small amounts, cats cannot be fed dog food.
Differences between the Dietary Requirements of Cats and Dogs
Cats and all felines are obligate carnivores. This means that they derive all their nutrients from consuming animal muscle and organs. They do not require any vegetables as they derive no nutrients from them.
Amino acids
The primary dietary requirement of cats consists of protein made up of essential amino acids that all cats need to survive.
Without certain essential amino acids such as taurine and arginine, cats can develop deficiencies causing life-threatening medical issues and can even be fatal. These essential amino acids are primarily derived from consuming raw meat.
Cats have always lived in the wild and have hunting instincts. They hunt and catch their prey, and hence their digestive systems are built to process raw meat.
Household cats’ digestive systems have evolved over time, and their digestive tracts have become smaller. Their liver enzyme capacity has also altered over time as their eating habits are not predatory anymore.
On the other hand, dogs synthesize their own taurine in their bodies and do not require this essential amino acid in their diet.
Fatty acids
Cats require certain fatty acids as well in their diet as their bodies cannot synthesize this essential nutrient either. Arachidonic acid is one such example of a fatty acid that cannot be obtained from their diet.
It is essential to maintain optimum functioning of the blood clotting mechanism, digestive system, reproductive system, and proper skin growth.
Dogs, on the other hand, manufacture their own Arachidonic acid and are not required to be fed a diet consisting of this essential fatty acid.
Vitamins
Vitamins are essential to maintain the optimum functioning of the body and all its different systems. Niacin or Vitamin B is another essential nutrient required by cats for eye and skin health as well as for energy conversion of proteins and carbohydrates that are not synthesized in the cats’ bodies.
While a dog’s body is well equipped to convert the inactive vitamin form to its active form to be used in the body, cats don’t possess this ability and therefore require niacin from a food source.
Cat food has to be specially formulated to provide all the essential nutrients required for optimum growth and functioning of the cat’s body. The Association of
Animal Feed Control Officials (AAFCO) has outlined the minimum amount of nutrients required by dogs and cats in all stages of their lives for a balanced and complete diet that cat owners and veterinarians can refer to, to ensure a long and healthy life for their pets.
How Is Cat Food Different From Dog Food
Here are some of the obvious and main differences between dog and cat foods.
- Dog food is made in larger pellets, while cat food pellet size is smaller. This is obviously due to the difference in the size of both the animals and to assist easy digestion in cats
- Cat food has much higher protein content than dog food. This is due to the great demand for protein for the ideal functioning of a cat’s body.
- Dog food is also rich in plant fibers, whereas cats don’t require any plat derivatives in their diet.
- Dog food has much less fat content than cat food
- Dog food lacks many essential nutrients, such as vitamins, amino acids and fatty acids, which dog foods don’t possess. This is because cats cannot synthesize their own essential nutrients and obtain them from their diet.
- Dog food contains vitamin D, whereas it is not present in cat food.
- Cats need more thiamine in their diet, and cat food is specifically formulated to provide these essential nutrients
- Cat food tends to be way juicier than dog food. Dog food tends to be blander.
- There is no sweet content in cat food as cats cannot taste sweet.
Taste Preferences between Dogs and Cats
We enjoy food because of the thousands of taste buds and taste receptor cells present on our tongues. Thanks to these cells, we are able to appreciate the different types of flavors that exist, such as sweetness, saltiness, sourness, and bitterness.
While humans have been found to have 9000 taste buds, dogs have 1700 in comparison, and cats have an even lesser amount of only 470 taste buds. This restricts their taste palate by a significant amount.
While dogs can taste sweetness, cats are unable to taste sweet foods. So what is tasty for us might not be enjoyed by our household pets at all. The ability to smell food has a big role in placing the taste of food as well. Without the ability to smell, you would not be able to taste and appreciate many different kinds of flavors.
For pet food manufacturers, the scent is of primary importance as that is the first thing that attracts the dog or cat to their food.
The texture of the food matters as well. Some pets prefer their food to be crunchy and dry, while others prefer moist, canned food.
Which type of food is best for cats?
Cats are strictly carnivorous, so their diet consists primarily of protein mixed with a few carbohydrates in the form of grain and fats. They don’t require any plant-based food in their diet, and so vegetables and fruits are not required to be fed to cats.
Cats should ideally consume a balanced diet consisting of dried kibble as well moist and semi-moist food. Moist food has more than 60 percent water content. This is very important as cats inherently don’t drink a lot of water.
Due to this reason, their kidneys extract much of the water from their diet to produce very concentrated urine consisting of urea and uric acid. These break down to release ammonia and that’s why cat litter smells so strongly of ammonia. Ammonia is a strong-smelling pungent gas and is very distinct.
Cats are encouraged to drink water by placing more water bowls around and mixing a little bit of tuna juice in their water bowl to add flavor. This is because as cats age, the most common disease that they suffer from is kidney disease caused by dehydration.
This can cause bladder infections, UTIs, bladder and kidney stones and even arthritis. The best way to prevent kidney disease too early in cats is to feed them a diet consisting of moist food that is available in pouches and cans. This is usually fish, chicken and other meat sources.
Cats and Dental Disease
Cats also tend to suffer from dental diseases as they age. This is also due to the way they have to tear their food as they eat it, causing the food to get stuck in between their teeth and settle. Accumulation of food debris causes dental infections and gum infections in the cat.
To combat this problem, cats are fed dried kibble. This is cat food in the form of dried pellets called kibble, and eating this provides abrasive action on the teeth helping to remove any food debris that is stuck between teeth. Kibble helps to scrape away tartar and plaque, helping to delay the progression of dental disease in cats.
Can Cats Eat Dog Food?
Cats and dogs have completely different dietary requirements, as discussed above. While an occasional bite of dog food will not harm the cat, it should not be substituted for cat food and ideally not consumed in large amounts.
Some ingredients are not recommended for cats to eat. Cats don’t generally like eating dog food as they have fewer taste receptors, and hence dog food does not tempt them or appear appetizing to them.
Dog food does not contain the following essential nutrients such as:
Taurine
- Essential for the efficient functioning of the heart
- Deficiency can cause loss of vision
- For efficient functioning of the liver
Vitamin A
Cats are unable to synthesize Vitamin A in their bodies, unlike dogs; hence dog food does not contain vitamin A. Vitamin A deficiency can result in:
- Night blindness
- Muscle weakness
- Poor quality of coat
Arachidonic Acid
This essential fatty acid is naturally manufactured in the dog’s body. Whereas in cats, it is not naturally synthesized and is required to be added to their diet. Without Arachidonic acid, cats suffer from the following issues:
- Skin diseases
- Abnormal liver and kidney function
Niacin
Another important nutrient required by cats is not present in dog food. Without these essential nutrients, cats can suffer from serious medical illnesses that can become life-threatening as well.
Dog Treats
Dog treats are not enjoyed by cats the same way as dogs enjoy them due to a difference in taste buds and palate preferences. Cats must not be given too many treats as cats tend to become obese and diabetic as they age. Therefore, a balanced diet and adequate activity are important to maintain optimum health in cats.
Buying Food for Your Pet
When adopting a pet dog or cat or shopping for pet food, you must always check its ingredients to make sure it is of the best quality. When buying moist or canned food, it must be important to check the can for damages or mold.
You must always check to store instructions and follow them properly. Most importantly, expiry dates and best before dates must be checked.
Food that has been left out or comes out of damaged containers can go bad due to air exposure and bacterial invasion. This can cause a host of infections in your pet and is very dangerous, and can become life-threatening.
Conclusion
To ensure a long healthy and happy life for your pet cat or dog, it must be important to give them enough attention in the day. Bring in new pet toys to encourage them to be active and play with you or on their own.
Cats like scratch posts and balls of wool. Dogs like human interaction and love the outdoors. Greet them when you come home and always make sure to provide clean water and food in clean containers. Ensure their litter and kennels or sleeping baskets are clean and kept in a warm and clean location.
Scolding your pet or neglecting them can cause a lot of anxiety in your pet and may cause them to become scared and reclusive. They may start avoiding you and may start hiding from you. They may stop eating and become ill.
Just as in humans, your pets are very sensitive and aware of their owner’s personalities and their moods. Hence, it is important to take full responsibility for your pets when you decide to adopt one.
You can also read:
- What Is the Average Lifespan of a Domestic Cat?
- What Dry Foods Are Best for Cats?
- How Much Food Should A 5-Month-Old Cat Eat?
- What To Do If You See An Injured Cat On The Road?
Hi !!! I am Alice. The love of pet animals especially the bonding with cats inspired me to write. I am a trained specialist with depth knowledge about cat, their food habits, their behavior and how to take care of cats. Here at www.petcatinfo , me and my team members tried our best to share the information about cats.