Most people are familiar with the greedy cartoon cat Garfield who’ll eat anything you put in front of him, and then some. Unfortunately, our real life kitties can also be incredibly voracious eaters who will try to eat more than the cat food we put out for them. In homes where cats and dogs live together this can be a problem if the feline starts to eat the pooch’s food. This post is all about preventing your cat from eating dog food.
It’s not just the fact that having your cat eat your dog’s food is going to hike up your pet food costs, but it can actually cause your kitty problems when they eat dog food. Their diet is very specific and requires nutritional boosts of taurine, arginine, and important amino acids that keep them healthy. Dog food doesn’t contain any of those elements because it’s tailored to the dietary needs of canines, and often includes cereal that has no benefit for cats.
What will happen if my cat eats dog food?
Don’t panic. If your cat eats dog food once or twice, it is totally okay. What you do not want to do is allow it to continue. Your cat has different nutritional needs than the dog, so making sure she has her own food she likes is important.
If this happens on occasion, there is no need to separate the fur babies, especially if they are BFFs but it is something to stay aware of. The anatomy of a cat is quite different then a canine, and for this reason, they do have different nutritional needs.
“Amino acids are the individual components that make up a protein. Cats have higher requirements for proteins and amino acids than dogs. Cats break down protein very rapidly and are unable to adapt when dietary supplies are low by reducing the rate of breakdown.” – Pet Food Manufacturing Association
How Can I Get My Cat To Stop Eating The Dog’s Food?
A simple way to stop your cat getting into your dog’s meal is to buy them both automatic pet feeders that dispense food at a specific time of day. Put feeders far apart from each other, and time them to feed at the same point every day. It’ll take a little patience to get both your cat and dog used to the schedule but eventually they will, and hopefully your cat will stick to their feeder and by the time they’re finished your dog will have eaten its dispensed food.
Thankfully, it’s not very difficult to stop this from happening and making sure your cat is satisfied with their food, whether that’s regular dry or wet food or occasional treats like Temptations, which are great for boosting your cat’s nutrition while staving off their desire to snack on dog food. The guide below offers some top tips for how to stop your cat from eating dog food.
Monitor your dog and cat while they eat
Another easy way to prevent your cat from eating dog food and making sure it eats cat food only is to watch your dog when you feed him. Dogs love to eat and sometimes very quickly, so this won’t take a huge chunk of time out of your day. And it means you’ll know that your dog’s bowl is empty so that your cat won’t have any choice but to eat the cat food you’ve left out.
Be a detective because, rest assured the pets know when you are spying on them and they will adjust their behavior when in your presence. The best solution? Get a camera and watch their every move. The new pet nanny video camers out our wonderful. You can even watch live while you are away from home! This can even be an added stress reliever while you are at work. Do quick check ins to put your mind at ease and know once and for all, what they do while you are gone all day!
Keep your cat’s appetite at bay with treats
For an inexpensive way to make sure your kitty only eats her dinner and isn’t hungry for the food of its canine companion, buy a bag of cat treats. A great example is Temptations, because they have only two calories per piece and have an ideal mix of all the nutrition that your cat needs. When they snack on a few of these, kitties won’t even be thinking about dog food.
Experiment with cat food varieties
Why is my cat eating the dog's food?
One reason your cat might be eating the dog food is simply that he likes it better! He might not be eating his own food because he doesn't like the flavor or texture. Experiment with different types of wet and dry food until you find one that they like. It’ll be pretty obvious that they’re a fan of the brand when they rush over at feeding time and clean their bowl, because cats tend to pick at their food throughout the day instead of gulping it down at once.
Kritter Kommunity Contributor
