Can Cats Eat Dog Food In An Emergency

A cat that regularly eats dog food will lack key nutrients.
Can cats eat dog food in an emergency. The cat should not eat dog food because due to different nutritional formulas a dog s diet cannot fulfill the requirements of the cat s nutrients. If this is the case then you may wonder if you can feed your cat dog food in an emergency. There s nothing in dog food that s going to make your cat sick. Cats and dogs eat different food because they have completely different dietary requirements.
However if there is an emergency they can survive on it for a brief period of time. This will affect the cat s health in the longer term. This is because dog food and cat food formulas have different nutritional components in order to meet the different nutritional needs of these two species. Your cat can eat dog food for a little while.
In an emergency situation eating dog food should probably be one of your last options although eating dog food might increase the chances of your survival but it comes with a lot of risks. This is because cats and dogs have fundamentally different nutritional needs. It will be better than starving in most cases. The answer is yes.
If a cat is only fed dog food for a long period of time then detrimental if not deadly consequences can occur. While the cat will miss some essential nutrients in the long run there are enough nutrients in the dog food to help the cat until you can get some more. That s the good news. Cats should only eat dog food in an emergency.
While your cat is eating dog food you should use that time to either get some cat food or prepare an alternative so that your cat s nutritional needs are covered. No cats cannot be maintained on a dog food diet. But if there is an emergency you can provide your cat with a little dog s food but do not give a regular basis. There s nothing in dog food that s going to make your cat sick.
However it is absolutely not sustainable. The bad news is that dog food lacks many vital nutrients that cats can only get through their diet. Over time it s what dog food doesn t have that will eventually make kitty sick. In fact for some dogs like those battling cancer and experiencing weight loss muscle wasting and a poor appetite cat food may be an ideal alternative to many dog foods.
Cat food tends to be more palatable provide more calories per serving and offer a more nutrient balanced option compared to many home prepared diets in these cases. As a short answer yes cats can eat dog food if it is an emergency situation and you have absolutely nothing else that you could feed the cat. Felines simply won t get enough essential nutrients from eating dog food. The short answer is yes your cat can eat dog food in an emergency.
The bad news is that dog food lacks many vital nutrients that cats can only get through their diet. If you have forgotten to buy cat food or your local store has closed don t worry.