Can cats eat dog food?

If your cat has already eaten this and you are worried, contact your veterinarian.

Why

Avoid as a diet. Dog food lacks taurine, which cats cannot make themselves; occasional accidental mouthfuls are a different matter from feeding it. Cats require taurine, an amino acid that dog food does not contain in sufficient amounts, and cats cannot produce it themselves. Relying on dog food will eventually lead to serious health problems like heart failure and blindness. While a single accidental bite is not an emergency, making it a regular meal is dangerous.

Watch out for

dog treats
dog chews
grain-free dog formulas

Better choices

Commercial cat food formulated for all life stages High-protein wet cat food Veterinary-prescribed therapeutic diets Occasional plain cooked chicken as a treat

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