Page 1 of Feeding cats dog food?

I`ve always swapped and changed the dried cat food I feed my cats (so they don`t get hooked on the same one!) but they`re getting rather fussy/fed up of supermarket brands now.
As much as I love my three cats, I`m loathed to pay for Go Cat or Whiskers. I just can`t afford it. I bought some Whiskers today but also some Pedigree dog food!

Can anyone tell me if there`s any reason why my cats (ages between 3 and 6 years) this dog food? I gave them a small amount and they loved it!

Any advice would be welcome... don`t want to make them ill.

Jill

I think they require a different mix of vitamins and minerals etc. Although the food is safe for human consumption(ooh) it is probably best to stick to cat food except in emergencies.

The dried food bought in bulk is probably better value but yes cats do get fussy! I used to give mine the occasional tin of sardines or tuna-although she preferred the tomato sauce on the sardines.

I do know that cat`s can`t be veggies, unfortunately, but dogs can.

Hopefully we will have some vets on here to give some more detailed advice-and a large bill!

Sue Davies

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Interesting question....I have no idea to be honest but a quick google brought up this from here

Quote:
There`s nothing in dog food that will directly harm a cat within a short period of time, but the point is what is lacking. Simply put, dog food does not provide the nutrients required by cats. Eating a little bit of dog food won`t kill a cat. But a cat fed exclusively on dog food can not only go blind, but can develop a heart condition, called feline dilated cardiomyopathy.

The difference primarily is taurine, found in muscle meat, heart, and liver. Studies have also been done that showed pregnancy failure in queens with long-term taurine depletion, including increased resorption of fetuses, reduced litter size, and increased incidence of stillborn kittens.

Taurine supplement has been added to commercial cat foods for several years, for these reasons.

and some more info (basicly saying the same...its all about the taurine) here


hope this helps :)

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This item was edited on Saturday, 8th October 2005, 10:01

& also (if i`m remembering my days from pet care college right) cats need a LOT more protien than dogs so cat food is more loaded with it than dog food.


(i really did go to pet care college btw :D )

not that it matters if you have a devon rex like mine below :) she`ll eat her legs if she ever sits still long enough, greedy bugger that she (& the breed in general) is


FEED MEEEEEE

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general nobody @ www.dvdreviewer.co.ukformerly known as Chris Ogden

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This item was edited on Saturday, 8th October 2005, 12:28

Great Photo Ogster!

I just remember back when I was a kid and we had both cats and dogs and they all ate whatever food was put down for them.

Thanks for all your help, I`ll buy them the expensive stuff (and I don`t mean iams!) once a month - around payday, maybe.

Jill

ren (the cat) will also generally kick our dog out of the way & pinch her food as well

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general nobody @ www.dvdreviewer.co.ukformerly known as Chris Ogden

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dog food is bad for cats as it doesnt have the right vitamens in but dogs are ok on cat food

but dogs are ok on cat food

although it`s to rich for them to eat it all the time, so it`s not good for them, if jade (our dog) gets cat food it allways gives her the s***s :¦

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general nobody @ www.dvdreviewer.co.ukformerly known as Chris Ogden

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Quote:
...its all about the taurine

If that`s the case, let it eat dog food, and give it Red Bull or similar to drink instead of water (taurine`s the active ingredient). LOL :D

No idea about if it`s good or bad but the cat regularly nicks the dogs food while the dumb idiot (Golden Retreiver) stands there and watches and we`re regularly serenaded by the sound of the dog pushing the cats bowl all round the floor trying to get the left overs out of the corners.

Something about the grass being greener I suppose.

Snaps

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