Feline and Canine Diet Differences
What is the most common feline and canine diet differences?
Cats use litter boxes, dogs need walks. Cats meow and dogs bark. Dogs wag their tails when they are happy, in cats it often means the opposite. Dogs are very loyal, while cats are more independent. There are many obvious reasons why cats and dogs are different, but did you ever think about how different their diets are?
If you have a cat and a dog you probably think their foods are similar. Dry cat food looks similar to dry dog food. If you read the ingredients of cheap pet foods you may not be able to find that many differences between cat and dog food. If that is true, then know your pets aren't at their optimal health. Many commercial pet foods are grain-based. This is bad for both cats and dogs, but worse for cats. Dogs are actually omnivores. In the wild, a dog can live off of vegetation and berries, it wouldn't be their ideal diet, but they would survive. A wild cat, couldn't not live without eating meat. Cats are strict carnivores. Cat and dog food should both be meat-based, especially cat food. Your pet may seem happy and healthy eating their grain-based food, but if you switched to an organic food, you would see the difference it makes.
If your pet is overweight and you need to put them on a diet be careful. Putting a dog on a diet is less complicated than putting a cat on a diet.
If you have an overweight cat, consult your veterinarian about a diet. You should never starve your pet, simply reduce their portions instead. However, a dog doesn't actually need to eat every day. A dog's body can utilize its fat reserve for energy if the dog is starving.
On the other hand, cats have faster metabolisms than dogs and require more protein. Cats cannot tolerate prolonged fasts. utilizing their fat reserves messes up all their internal chemical balances. If a cat is starved it can lead to a dangerous disorder or death.
Consult a veterinarian if you have any questions about the different nutritional needs of cats and dogs.
The information provided on this site is for informational purposes only and is not intended as a substitute for advice from your veterinarian or other health care professional. You should not use the information on this site for diagnosis or treatment of any health problem or for prescription of any medication or other treatment.