Can cats eat dog foods? Is dog food healthy for cats? So, the simple answer to the question, can cats eat dog food, is yes, but only for a brief period of time or if you feed your cat exclusively with pet food.
This is because, like dogs, cats need – certain vitamins and nutrients, as well as protein, fat, carbohydrates and minerals to survive. Dogs, on the other hand, can survive on virtually all types of foods, with the exception of raw meat or organs. This is why it is important to provide your cat with a quality and balanced diet, which will provide its natural nutritional needs. Dogs, however, do benefit from eating food that contains meat, fish, poultry and eggs. This type of nutrition is beneficial to dogs as they can get their essential fatty acids, as well as B vitamins, by eating food that is rich in protein.
Pet food is formulated differently from commercially prepared food – and is not intended to be consumed by pets. Most pets, however, prefer to eat this kind of diet, as it contains various grains, beans, vegetables, fruits, nuts and legumes, which provide them with the necessary nutrients without causing them any discomfort. Dogs on the other hand, prefer diets that contain a variety of protein sources, carbohydrates and fat. This is why dog owners should make sure that the dog’s meals are composed of a varied diet, consisting of canned and/or dry food, with a mix of meats, fish, poultry and eggs.
In addition, some commercial diets – are made with meat meal as the primary ingredient. Although the mineral and vitamin content of this type of diet is inferior to that of kibble, some vets believe that it is beneficial to dogs and cats. Cats in particular need vitamin A and phosphorus, which they can get from beef. This can be supplemented by a homemade (grade B) supplement that can be bought at a pet store. To make sure that your pet gets all the nutrients he needs, consider making his meal out of rice, wheat or oatmeal.
Many pet owners do not know – that canned food is much different than kibble. While both can contain the same ingredients, only kibble contains meat meal as the main ingredient. It is important to make sure that the food you give your cat contains meat meal, not soy or corn meal. The reason why this is important is because these kinds of ingredients are not healthy for animals. Instead of giving him soy-based food or corn-based food, choose to make the diet of your pet out of raw food.
Some of the nutrients cats need – including taurine, zinc, magnesium, niacin and riboflavin. Taurine is an amino acid found in fish, as well as meat, milk and poultry.
Zinc is also an essential nutrient, and can be found in chicken, turkey, beef, seafood and poultry. Magnesium, on the other hand, is found in nuts, vegetables and whole grains.
