There are many people who keep both cats and dogs at home. Many times cats will run over to eat dog food. Many people think this is harmless. In fact, of course it is best not to do this. Cats are not suitable for eating dog food. The following Let’s do an analysis for everyone.

The food of cats and dogs is very different. Although dogs like to eat meat, they are actually omnivores, while cats are indeed pure carnivores.

Both cat food and dog food are formulated according to the nutritional needs of cats and dogs. Naturally, dog food is difficult to adapt to the nutritional needs of cats. It doesn’t matter if you eat it a few times occasionally, but if the cat eats it often, it will Oh no.

Lack of vitamin A in dog food

Cats’ physical development requires the participation of vitamin A. A lack of vitamin A will cause cats to suffer from night blindness, rough fur and muscle weakness. Cats' immune systems also require vitamins to promote growth and neurological development. Vitamin A can generally be found in animal livers, fish oil and egg yolks.

As a purely carnivorous animal, cats have a relatively large demand for vitamins and a higher tolerance to vitamin A.

Lack of taurine in dog food

Taurine is an essential amino acid found in large amounts in human organs. Cats cannot synthesize taurine in their bodies and need to obtain it from foods rich in taurine. Dog food often doesn't have this essential nutrient. Cats need taurine for their eyes, ears, and heart to work properly. Taurine combines with bile acids to aid digestion.

As with vitamin A deficiency, taurine-deficient cats may suffer from night blindness and weakened immunity. Taurine is usually not available in dog foods and is not needed because dogs can synthesize it themselves.

Lack of protein in dog food

Cats need protein more than dogs, but according to one data, the protein content in dog food is generally only 18%, while the protein content required by cats generally needs to be at least 26%. In addition, a large part of the protein in dog food comes from plant-based proteins such as soybeans, which cannot be effectively absorbed by cats.

There is nothing wrong with cats eating dog food occasionally. Dog food just does not provide enough nutrition to cats, but it is not toxic to cats.